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5d ago

Maine Ranked‑Choice Count Confirms Pingree, Charles and Dunlap as November Nominees

An extended public retabulation reshaped initial leads and produced competitive fall matchups that will draw national attention.

FILE - Maine House majority leader Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, speaks at a rally for health care reform July 18, 2009, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Matt Dunlap, a Democratic candidate for Congress, speaks at a campaign event Friday, June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Maine Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles, center, fields a question from moderator Steve Robinson, editor in chief of The Maine Wire, during a debate of Republican candidates for governor at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, on March 24, 2026.
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Overview

  • The Maine Secretary of State’s office completed the multi‑day ranked‑choice tabulation Friday, declaring Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles the gubernatorial nominees and Democrat Matt Dunlap the winner in the 2nd Congressional District.
  • Ranked‑choice transfers overturned early first‑round standings: Pingree rose from second to win the Democratic governor’s contest and Dunlap overtook Joe Baldacci to secure the CD‑2 nomination after later rounds of reallocations.
  • Officials livestreamed the public tabulation from Augusta but the count encountered logistical problems, including delays in transferring memory drives and slower-than-expected rounds of transfers that extended final results more than a week after the June 9 primary.
  • Charles publicly attacked the process, calling it too slow and saying misplaced thumb drives and multi‑round tabulation undermine confidence, and he has vowed to seek reform or elimination of ranked‑choice voting if elected.
  • The outcomes set high‑profile November matchups — Pingree vs. Charles for governor and Dunlap vs. former Gov. Paul LePage in the competitive 2nd District — and could shape national spending and messaging as parties weigh electability and election‑integrity debates.