2022 ME 2nd Congressional Election

The 2022 Congressional election in Maine's 2nd Congressional District, a rematch between two-termed incumbent Jared Golden, and the GOP incumbent he unseated four years prior—Bruce Poliquin—returned a 4% and after RCV 6% win for the incumbent Blue Dog Congressman.

A close contest that—per Bangor Daily News—drew in $21 Million in outside Spending, Poliquin came into election day with momentum in his quest to regain his seat.

In addition to this, the Maine ticket was headed by controversial former Governor Paul LePage. popular in Maine's 2nd District; Golden sought to distance himself from Governor Janet Mills, and the Democratic brand in what was prophesied by some to be a red wave year.

Enphasizing his support for gun rights—and with LePage only winning the seat by 2.5%—Golden was able to win a second term comfortably, benefiting from Ranked Choice voting in his second successfull reelection bid

Comparing Golden's win to Mill's loss in the second district Golden overperformed most in the French heavy Aroostook County, as well as the sharply red trending (compared to 2012) Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.

Overperforming the least in counties that swung less Republican than the district as a whole between 2012 and 2020 such as Penobscot (Bangor), Waldo, hancock and Kennebec (Augusta).