Former GOP governor heads to Capitol Hill before election count is complete: ‘Already at work’

Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage of Maine is in Washington this week after declaring victory in his congressional race, even as the state’s ranked-choice count continues.

LePage narrowly edged out Democratic rival Matt Dunlap, and last week declared victory in the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. Dunlap conceded on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The mostly rural seat is the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River by area and was won by President Donald Trump in all three of his presidential elections.

The apparent victory by LePage would be the only flip from blue to red by House Republicans in a non-redistricted seat in the midterm elections. And it would be rare good news for the GOP after getting trampled by a blue wave that saw Democrats storm back to grab a large House majority as well as recapture the Senate.

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Even though Dunlap conceded to LePage last week, a ranked-choice count kicked off Monday morning. That’s because while LePage topped Dunlap by more than 5,000 votes, he fell short of grabbing a majority, which would have prevented ranked-choice voting. According to the Maine Secretary of State, LePage received 49.894% of the total votes cast in the 2nd District race.

LePage was in the nation’s capital as ranked choice voting got underway.

“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,” longtime LePage campaign strategist Brent Littlefield told Fox News Digital.

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The former governor is expected to take part Tuesday in a scheduled vote by returning GOP congressional lawmakers and newly elected House Republicans to choose the next minority leader in the race between current House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Judiciary Chair Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Outgoing House Speaker Mike Johnson decided against a bid to lead the House Republicans following the GOP’s crushing ballot-box setback.

Asked how he succeeded when so many Republicans went down to defeat last week, LePage pointed to “my brand.”

“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,” LePage said in a Fox News Digital interview last Wednesday in Bangor, Maine, after declaring victory.

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Looking ahead, LePage said, “Hopefully there’s still some commonsense in the Democratic Party down there and I hope that I can work with them.”

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But pointing to far-left Democrats aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), LePage argued, “I think we have to rid ourselves of DSA Democrats.”

And he said Republicans and non-DSA Democrats “have to work together because DSA is a poison for this country.”