LePage declares victory in uncalled Maine House race

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage declared victory Wednesday in the state’s 2nd Congressional District race, but the contest remained uncalled and Democrat Matt Dunlap had not conceded as ballots were still being counted. The preliminary count showed a close contest. At 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, municipal totals gathered by the Bangor Daily News and Decision Desk HQ put LePage at 49.9% and Dunlap at 48.8%, with 94% of results counted. At the same stated time, Associated Press figures showed LePage at 50.1% and Dunlap at 49.9%, with 89% counted. These were preliminary snapshots, not a final result. LePage made his declaration at a press conference in Bangor shortly after 2 p.m. He said his campaign had contacted towns that had not reported and that he saw no path for Dunlap to win. Dunlap said the race was too close to call and that ballots remained. He thanked election staff and volunteers, and did not concede. Maine’s 2nd District ballot also included declared write-in candidate Gregory Ward. The reported rules require a candidate to receive more than 50% of the vote to win without a ranked-choice count. The close preliminary totals therefore left open whether either major-party...