State Sen. Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor, is officially entering the race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The announcement on Monday comes after months of speculation that the Bangor Democrat was considering joining one of the country’s most closely contested congressional races. The seat is seen by both parties as crucial to achieving a majority in Congress. 

While the Maine district is currently represented by moderate Democrat Rep. Jared Golden, President Donald Trump won the district by nine points in 2024. The seat is expected to be one of the most challenging for Democrats to hold, particularly since Golden announced in November that he would not seek reelection following his fourth term. 

To secure the Democratic nomination, Baldacci’s biggest opponents will likely be state auditor and former secretary of state Matt Dunlap and former congressional aide Jordan Wood. Others who have filed Federal Election Commission paperwork to run in the district as Democrats include Louis Sigel of Gardiner and social worker Paige Loud. 

If Baldacci wins the primary, he would likely face former Republican Gov. Paul LePage in the November election. LePage carries Trump’s endorsement. 

“Too often our region of Maine is forgotten,” Baldacci said in a speech announcing his candidacy on Monday afternoon in Hannibal Hamlin Park in Bangor. He said the “cost of living is growing out of control,” and criticized Republicans for the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies alongside cuts to rural hospitals and Veterans Affairs services.

“Mainers just can’t afford to have two more years of Republicans in control of Congress,” Baldacci said.

Baldacci indicated his interest in the seat when he commissioned a poll in November, according to Punchbowl News. The results released in December showed Baldacci easily surpassing his primary opponents — though 38% of primary voters were undecided. It also showed Baldacci trailing LePage by one point, 43% to 44%. 

Further showing his hand, when responding to a pollster’s analysis that he would be a “viable” candidate for the seat, Baldacci said “Let’s do it!” on Facebook on Jan. 1. He later clarified that the comment was not a confirmation of his campaign.

Baldacci’s announcement Monday also serves as a sign that former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, is staying in the gubernatorial race. National Democrats and Jackson allies had approached him about switching to the 2nd District race after Golden’s November announcement, and Baldacci previously said he was waiting to see whether Jackson would stay in the gubernatorial race before deciding on a run for Congress.

Baldacci is currently in his third term as a state senator, after serving on Bangor’s City Council for 12 years with positions including council chair and mayor. 

Baldacci unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2016. His brother, John Baldacci, held the 2nd District seat from 1995 to 2003 and later served as governor from 2003 until 2011. 

LePage campaign adviser Brent Littlefield did not mention Baldacci by name in a Monday statement. Instead, he touted LePage’s chances of winning the race by saying he “survived homelessness” and “cut taxes, lowered costs for Mainers and protected health care.”

Baldacci projected confidence to his supporters Monday afternoon.

“As city councilor and mayor of Bangor, I’ve fought Paul LePage and won,” Baldacci said. “And in November, you can count on me to beat him again.”