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New reporting from Bangor Daily News reveals failed former governor Paul LePage is refusing to accept the outcome of the 2022 election—claiming without a shred of evidence that the race he lost to Governor Janet Mills by double digits was “bought” and riddled with illegal voting.
You read that right…more than two years later, Paul LePage is still refusing to accept reality.
This isn’t anything new from LePage, who has a long history of mounting reckless claims and even lying to reporters when things don’t go his way. But this latest outburst is just another excuse from a career politician unwilling to face the reality that voters soundly rejected him.
This race is a top target for national Republicans in 2026, but if Paul LePage is their standard bearer, they’re clearly starting from a place of desperation and denial.
DCCC Spokesperson Riya Vashi:
“Paul LePage is proving, once again, that he’s a sore loser who can’t handle rejection from Maine voters. Instead of admitting the truth, he’s clinging to conspiracy theories and spreading false rumors that undermine trust in our elections—because that’s easier than facing the fact he lost by double digits.”
In case you missed it…
Bangor Daily News: Paul LePage baselessly claims there was illegal voting in race he lost to Janet Mills
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Former Gov. Paul LePage used his first radio appearance since announcing a bid for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District to claim the 2022 election he lost to Gov. Janet Mills was “bought” and featured illegal voting.
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The Republican became well known for his controversial statements while in the Blaine House from 2011 to 2019, but Thursday’s interview on WVOM was the first time that LePage has made baseless allegations about the 2022 election in which Mills beat him by 13 percentage points.
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During the Thursday morning radio interview, WVOM host George Hale alluded to the 2022 gubernatorial race by noting LePage’s tenure before telling him “you didn’t have good luck the last time around.”
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“Well, no. It was bought,” LePage replied. “We had noncitizens and undocumented voting.”
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At one point, LePage brought up voting again by claiming the Democratic Party “is using taxpayer money to register Democrat voters that are noncitizens.”
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“And that has been proven time and again,” LePage added, without providing evidence.
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LePage and his campaign strategist did not respond to a request for comment Thursday on whether he has proof of noncitizens voting in his 2022 election. That is illegal in federal and state elections.
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National studies have found noncitizen voting to be extremely rare, with the libertarian Cato Institute pegging the percentage of noncitizens voting at close to zero.
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In response to LePage’s comments Thursday, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said Maine voters ”can be confident that our elections are free, fair and secure, with layers of protection built into election systems.”
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“Misinformation about the integrity of our elections is dangerous and needs to stop.”
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