By Lauren McCauley | Editors
“If Paul LePage ever wants to join Matt for a skeetshooting contest, we’d be happy to see who’s a better shot.” - Harry Burke, campaign spokesperson for Matt Dunlap on last week’s NRA endorsement of his Republican rival.
Republican Paul LePage speaks at an Aug. 6 press conference at Maine Military Supply in Holden, where the NRA’s political arm announced its endorsement of the former governor in the race to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden. (Photo by Andrew Clark/ Maine Morning Star)
ELECTION 2026
By Kaitlyn Budion
When it comes to gun rights in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, the key difference between the nominees is that the National Rifle Association has only endorsed one: Republican Paul LePage.
And while Democrat Matt Dunlap doesn’t stand far from LePage on the importance of the Second Amendment, their approaches to campaigning on the issue are very different.
DEMOCRACY
By Alex Burness, Bolts
Maine is unusual in that it never strips people of their right to vote because of a felony conviction, including while they are incarcerated.
On paper, that should give incarcerated people the opportunity to weigh in on the state’s next leaders. But it remains difficult for many of them to actually exercise that right.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
US employers shed 23K jobs in July | Tim Henderson, Stateline
Todd Blanche confirmed by the US Senate as attorney general; Collins, Murkowski vote no | Jacob Fischler, States Newsroom
Trump administration threatens to gut Head Start rules | Carolyn Jones, Cal Matters
During Minnesota surge, ICE arrested dozens of immigrant crime victims | Madison McVan, Minnesota Reformer
US Senate leaves town for recess after passing stopgap spending bill, blocking photo ID for voting | Shauneen Miranda, States Newsroom
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