Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor.
State Senator Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, is officially entering the race for Maine’s Maine’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The announcement on Monday comes after months of speculation that the Bangor democrat was considering launching into one of the country’s most closely contested congressional races The seat is seen by both parties as crucial to achieving a slight majority in Congress.
While the Maine district is currently represented in Congress by moderate Democrat Rep. Jared Golden, President Donald Trump won the district by nine points in 2024. Particularly after Golden announced in November that he would not seek reelection following his fourth term, the seat is expected to be one of the most challenging for Democrats to hold.
To secure the Democratic nomination, Baldacci’s biggest opponents will likely be state auditor and former secretary of state Matt Dunlap and congressional aide Jordan Wood. Others who have filed Federal Election Commission paperwork to run for in the district as Democrats include 81-year-old Louis Sigel and social worker Paige Loud.
If Baldacci won the primary, he would likely face Republican former Gov. Paul LePage in the November election, who carries the endorsement of Trump.
Baldacci indicated his interest in the seat when he commissioned a poll in November, according to Punchbowl News. The results released in December showed Baldacci easily surpassing his primary opponents – though 38% of primary voters were undecided. It also showed Baldacci trailing LePage by one point, 43% to 44%.
Further showing his hand, when responding to a pollster’s analysis that he would be a “viable” candidate for the seat, on Jan. 1 Baldacci responded “Let’s do it!” on Facebook. He later clarified that the comment was not a confirmation of his campaign.
Baldacci is currently in his third term as a state senator, after serving on Bangor’s City Council for 12 years with positions including council chair and mayor.
Baldacci unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2016. His brother, John Baldacci, held the 2nd District representative seat from 1995 to 2003 and later served as governor from 2003 until 2011.
After a speech announcing his candidacy on Monday afternoon in Hannibal Hamlin Park in Bangor, the campaign said family, friends and supporters would gather at Orono Brewing Company.
The announcement of the event said Baldacci would be “highlighting his record of standing up to Paul LePage and his commitment to bringing Maine values to Congress.”
