Former Republican Governor and current 2nd Congressional District candidate Paul LePage says he’s running for two big reasons. He Joined WGAN Morning News on Thursday
LePage says the 2nd District has been seriously underrepresented by Democratic incumbent Jared Golden. He also says he wants to help President Trump with Republican support in the next congressional election.
“It’s the midterm for the President,” said LePage. “Usually, the midterms are not always the best for an incumbent president. So, this seat is vulnerable, and I think we can get it. And we’re going to go out and help the President with his agenda.”
LePage was a two-term governor before leaving office in 2019. He ran and lost against current Democratic Governor Janet Mills in 2022.
Anong other things, LePage says Golden is out of touch with 2nd District residents and never visits Northern Maine towns like Presque Isle.
“People say…he doesn’t come up here” LePage said. “He comes up for the Potato Blossom Festival parade. He gets up in the parade, and at the end of the parade, gets in the vehicle and leaves. He doesn’t talk to people. He doesn’t meet people.”
LePage says Golden only campaigns in Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor and neglects the rest of the district.
Among his other priorities, LePage backs the congressional spending plan just passed by the Republican controlled House. He says Medicare should be preserved because citizens have paid in the health care service through their paychecks and deserve coverage. He says the Medicaid health care coverage should continue for low-income children, pregnant women and disabled people. He says able bodied childless low-income people ages 19-64 should meet the work requirements included in the current legislation.
LePage claims Golden gets financing chiefly from out of state, specifically New York, California, Florida and Texas. He says he’ll raise his funding inside Maine.
LePage is 76 years old. The Bangor Daily news reports he would be one of the oldest freshman congressmen in history. He became governor in 2010 and set a record for vetoes of bill passed by the state legislature while in office.
