LePage Takes Oath as Maine Ranked-Choice Vote Begins: 49.9% Share Triggers Count

Paul LePage arrived in Washington, D.C., this week while election officials in Maine began the ranked-choice count that formally determines the winner of his congressional race. LePage, the former Republican governor, declared victory in the district for Maine's 2nd Congressional District last week after narrowly beating Democratic opponent Matt Dunlap. Dunlap conceded the race on Thursday, Nov. 5.

LePage received 49.894% of the total votes cast in the district, according to the Maine Secretary of State. Although he topped Dunlap by more than 5,000 votes, he fell short of an outright majority. Maine law requires a ranked-choice process when no candidate secures over 50% of the vote. The count began Monday morning.

The district is the largest congressional area east of the Mississippi River. President Donald Trump carried the seat in all three of his presidential campaigns. LePage's apparent win is the only blue-to-red flip by House Republicans in a non-redistricted seat during this midterm cycle. The result stands as a rare gain for a Republican Party that lost a large House majority and the Senate to Democrats.

Brent Littlefield, a longtime campaign strategist for LePage, said the former governor was already working in the capital while the counting process continued. Littlefield told Fox News Digital, "Paul is already at work in Washington D.C. while the perfunctory process plays out back home. Just like our opponent, who conceded, we are confident in the outcome."

LePage is scheduled to vote Tuesday in the selection of the next House minority leader. The contest is between current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson decided not to run for the leadership position after the Republican ballot-box losses.

LePage attributed his win to his personal history with voters in the area. Speaking in Bangor, Maine, after declaring victory last Wednesday, he said, "I've been governor twice. I've won this district now for the fourth time. My brand. People know me and people trust me and know what I'll say, I'll do."

He said he hopes to work with Democrats in the new Congress but expressed skepticism toward members aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. LePage stated, "I think we have to rid ourselves of DSA Democrats," adding that Republicans and non-DSA Democrats "have to work together because DSA is a poison for this country."