In the rural corner of New England, Chesterville resident Rob Rogers, a registered Democrat, is hopeful that Vice President Kamala Harris could potentially help Democrats reclaim a crucial electoral vote in Maine. Maine is one of two states that apportions electoral votes by congressional district, and Trump has won Maine’s 2nd Congressional District vote twice in a row. A poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center suggests Harris could be competitive in the district, which could play an unexpected role in deciding the presidential election and control of Congress.
Maine Assistant House Majority Leader Kristen Cloutier believes Harris has a chance to win back the potentially key electoral vote in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The presidential race is taking place against the backdrop of a competitive congressional contest between Democratic incumbent Jared Golden and Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault. While Golden has won comfortably in the past, political scientist Mark Brewer believes he is vulnerable, making it possible for Harris to claim the district’s electoral vote while Golden could lose his seat.
Both Democrats and Republicans are spending money in Maine, with Democrats outspending Republicans on presidential advertising. The Trump campaign has outspent Harris in the race, but her campaign has been boosted by an outside group. Both sides believe the congressional race and electoral vote in Maine are winnable, with the 2nd District being much larger geographically compared to the more liberal 1st District. Issues such as gun rights are a significant concern for Maine voters, with both Golden and Theriault emphasizing their support for gun rights to appeal to voters in the gun-owning state.
While Maine has traditionally been reliably Democratic, Trump’s victory in the 2nd District in 2016 was a significant shift. With polls in key states running close, a single electoral vote in Maine or Nebraska could be decisive in the 2024 election. Harris and Trump both have campaign presences in Maine, but the state has not seen the same level of saturation ads or high-profile candidate visits as swing states. Both presidential candidates are raising money in Maine, with Harris having raised more than Trump in the state. Overall, the political landscape in Maine is setting the stage for a competitive election where every vote could make a difference in the outcome.
