The National Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) expressed its support for Democratic Second Congressional District (CD2) nominee Matt Dunlap after doubts surfaced about his electoral chances against former Governor Paul LePage.
[RELATED: National Dem Support for Dunlap Uncertain Following Upset Ranked-Choice Voting Victory…]
“In a working-class, rural district like ME-02, the path to victory runs through candidates who reflect the district they’re running in — and Matt Dunlap is exactly that kind of leader. A lifelong Mainer raised on a Bar Harbor farm who has won statewide office twice as Secretary of State and now serves as State Auditor, Matt has spent his career proving he can win the working-class, ticket-splitting voters who decide ME-02,” said the DCCC.
“This November, #ME02 voters will send Matt Dunlap to Congress to protect Social Security, expand affordable health care, and put working families first,” they added in a social media post.
The DCCC’s announcement came at around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, days after Dunlap’s ranked-choice-voting victory and amid reports that national Democrats did not believe he would succeed against LePage.
Axios reported on Monday that multiple Democrats in Congress and Democratic operatives were unsure whether it would be worth investing money into Maine’s CD2 election with Dunlap as their nominee.
Prior to Dunlap’s upset victory through ranked-choice voting, the DCCC endorsed State Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) and added him to their Red to Blue fundraising initiative.
“Red to Blue is a highly competitive and battle-tested DCCC program that arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue to develop strong campaigns. Chip in to help us flip these districts from red to blue,” says the DCCC.
Though the DCCC did endorse Dunlap, his name does not appear on the list of Red to Blue candidates as of Thursday morning.
