Speaker Johnson rallies Maine GOP hopeful Paul LePage amid midterm House majority push
Speaker Mike Johnson toured Maine’s 2nd district, urging backing for former governor Paul LePage and insisting Republicans can still keep the House.
Speaker Mike Johnson spent Wednesday in Maine’s second congressional district, speaking to a modest audience at the Sea Dog Brewing Co. in Bangor. He rejected recent polling that suggests a Republican defeat and claimed candidates like former governor Paul LePage can help the GOP preserve its slim House majority. Johnson highlighted the importance of voter turnout and noted his nationwide campaign tour covering over 20 states.
The Maine race features LePage against Democratic state auditor Matt Dunlap for the seat open after Jared Golden’s retirement, a district Trump previously carried. At the same time, the Congressional Leadership Fund has cut funding in four House contests while increasing investment in races from Texas to Pennsylvania. Democrats remain confident of reclaiming control and are outlining an agenda focused on affordability and anti-corruption investigations.
How this story developed
- Sep 28 Trump heads to Ohio to rally support for Sen. Jon Husted against Sherrod Brown
- Sep 30 Ken Paxton told a small fundraiser that the GOP midterm convention in Dallas failed to boost his poll numbers and may have actually lowered them.
- Oct 2 Trump visited Denton to publicly back Paxton.
- Oct 4 Speaking on Truth Social, Trump praised the enthusiasm at his Ohio rally, describing the crowd as unprecedented and suggesting it foretells a "midterm surprise" for Republicans. He argued that media outlets are downplaying the turnout and that the party is flipping races nationwide. The remarks come as polling data still projects Democratic advances in both chambers of Congress for November. Trump also pushed back against a report that described the event as sparsely attended, insisting the venue was fully packed.
- Oct 5 A newly released audio clip revealed Paxton’s comments about limited control over his campaign messaging.
- Oct 8 Audio from Paxton’s Washington fundraiser was leaked, revealing his complaints about fuel prices and the Iran war.
- Oct 13 Trump’s Tennessee remarks emphasized confidence in his base while new polling data highlighted lower Republican voter enthusiasm.
- Oct 14 Trump held a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, where he endorsed Jon Husted and called on voters to go to the polls.
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