Rep. Jared Golden (D) had a slight lead over his challenger, former Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R), in Maine’s second Congressional District within the speedy wake of Tuesday’s midterm elections. However Golden didn’t safe greater than 50% of the vote, that means the race will probably be made up our minds through a ranked-choice runoff for the second one time in 4 years.
Golden had 48.6% of the votes, with 44.6% for Poliquin.
The ranked-choice vote casting machine allowed citizens to rank the 3 applicants from first to ultimate. The race now hinges at the citizens whose first desire used to be unbiased Tiffany Bond. This staff of citizens could have their 2d alternatives tallied, and both Golden or Poliquin will want to transparent 50% of the vote, plus one further vote, to win the seat. The race is slated to be made up our minds subsequent week.
In 2018, when the similar 3 applicants ran towards one every other, Poliquin used to be the incumbent and had a slight edge when the preliminary effects have been counted. However as soon as the race went to a runoff ― within the state’s first time the use of ranked-choice vote casting ― Bond supporters’ 2d alternatives shifted the votes and helped Golden clinch a win.
Golden, 40, is a average Democrat who has voted towards birthday celebration traces, together with when he refused to again the Biden management’s $1.9 trillion COVID aid bundle and hostile the Construct Again Higher Act as it integrated a tax ruin for millionaires. He additionally voted towards an attack weapon ban and criticized President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel pupil mortgage money owed.
Golden ran on guarantees to reform marketing campaign finance, battle corruption and increase well being care protection.
Poliquin, 68, represented Maine’s second Congressional District earlier than Golden unseated him in 2018. He calls himself “pro-life” and voted in 2015 to bar taxpayer cash from investment abortions, however he said throughout his most up-to-date marketing campaign that abortion is criminal in Maine, and stated he believes states must come to a decision the subject.
Poliquin has criticized Democrats on inflation, gasoline costs and immigration insurance policies.