Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage secured his victory in Maine's 2nd Congressional District race Thursday after a ranked-choice runoff held in Augusta.
LePage defeated Democrat Matt Dunlap by roughly 5,400 votes. He led Dunlap narrowly after the initial tally on Election Day, but did not secure the outright majority to avoid the runoff.
His victory marks the lone bright spot for Maine Republicans after devastating midterm losses that ended Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' 30-year career and strengthened Democrats' hold on state government.
LePage will become the only Republican member of Congress in New England when he's sworn in in January.
