U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Paul LePage in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District Race

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage picked up a major business endorsement Thursday as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce threw its support behind the Republican in his campaign for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

The Chamber announced its endorsement during an Aug. 13 press conference at Sheridan Construction in Fairfield, where representatives highlighted LePage’s record as governor and his decades of experience in the private sector.

The organization praised LePage for efforts during his two terms as governor to reduce regulations, balance state budgets and promote a business-friendly environment in Maine.

For LePage, who spent decades working in the private sector before entering statewide politics, the endorsement carried particular significance.

LePage pointed to roughly 50 years of business experience, including his years as general manager of Marden’s Surplus & Salvage, and said that background would shape his approach if voters send him to Washington.

The former governor has increasingly sought to make affordability, energy costs and economic development central issues in his race against Democrat Matt Dunlap.

LePage said one of his priorities in Congress would be lowering Maine’s high energy costs, arguing that federal policies favoring wind and solar power have failed to provide the reliable and affordable energy needed by families and manufacturers.

Instead, LePage has called for greater reliance on nuclear and hydroelectric power while reducing government subsidies for renewable-energy projects.

He has also pushed for policies aimed at bringing more manufacturing jobs back to the United States and has called on Gov. Janet Mills and state lawmakers to provide tax relief on tips and overtime income.

The endorsement comes as tariffs and trade with Canada remain particularly important issues in Maine’s sprawling 2nd Congressional District, which stretches across much of rural and northern Maine and has deep economic ties to Canada.

Asked about tariffs, LePage defended President Donald Trump’s use of them as a negotiating tool but indicated that he does not view broad tariffs as a permanent economic policy.

LePage said he wants tariffs removed once the United States and Canada reach what he considers a fair trading relationship.

He also pointed to his experience dealing with Canadian officials while governor, including serving as an intermediary between Trump and then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as evidence that he understands the importance of cross-border trade to Maine.

Democrats, meanwhile, wasted little time pushing back against the Chamber’s endorsement and LePage’s economic message.

Dunlap’s campaign attacked LePage’s record as governor, pointing to his opposition to Medicaid expansion and criticizing previous state budget decisions that Democrats say harmed municipalities and local services.

Dunlap has also attempted to make Social Security an issue in the race, accusing LePage of previously describing the federal retirement program as a form of “welfare.”

LePage strongly disputed that characterization during Thursday’s event and denied that he views Social Security benefits earned by working Americans as welfare.

The disagreement previews what is likely to become one of the central battles of the campaign: which candidate can make the stronger case to working-class and older voters in a district where Social Security, energy prices, jobs and the cost of living carry significant political weight.

The U.S. Chamber endorsement also represents a notable divide among groups that have previously supported outgoing Democratic Congressman Jared Golden.

Golden, who represented the 2nd District before the current open-seat contest, attracted support over the years from both organized labor and business organizations because of his reputation as a centrist Democrat.

With LePage and Dunlap now competing for the seat, those coalitions are beginning to split.

The Chamber’s decision puts one of the country’s most prominent business advocacy organizations firmly behind LePage and gives the former governor another credential to emphasize as he attempts to return to elected office.

For LePage, the message Thursday was straightforward: his campaign intends to make the economy, energy and Maine’s business climate defining issues between now and Election Day.

And with one of the nation’s largest business organizations now in his corner, the former governor will have additional institutional support as he makes that case to voters across Maine’s 2nd District.