Matt Dunlap is the former Secretary of State of Maine and currently the Maine State Auditor. At the moment, he’s one of the Democratic candidates for the CD-2 congressional seat.
He’s one of four Democrats – Dunlap, State Sen. Joe Baldacci, social worker Paige Loud, and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood – in the primary race vying for the opportunity to face off against the former Republican governor Paul LePage in the November general election.
They were all at a debate last night, which featured some pretty hard-hitting questions for a potential congressman, like, ‘What’s the most neglected state park in Maine?’
Seriously?
Weirdly enough, though, one that was mentioned I’d been to.
The last probing, tough, thought-provoking question served as a litmus test for those concerned with Democratic party purity.
Apr 28, 2026, 9:56 PM ET
The candidates are asked if they have ever voted for a Republican in any race. Dunlap and Loud said they have never voted for a Republican. Wood said he voted for Rick Snyder in the 2010 race for Michigan governor. Baldacci said he voted for Bill Cohen of Bangor several times in the past.
In the middle of the televised grilling, the candidates were asked a question about ‘lowering the temperature’ and what responsibility a member of Congress would have to do so. Mr. Dunlap answered that relationships with colleagues would be important to ‘moving policy forward’ while his fellow candidates blamed Trump or ‘basic needs not being met.’
Apr 28, 2026, 9:13 PM ET
Loud said there is rising violence in the country because people’s basic needs are not met and lawmakers need to make sure their constituents have a good quality of life.
Apr 28, 2026, 9:12 PM ET
Dunlap said developing relationships with Republican colleagues is important to moving policy forward in a positive way.
Apr 28, 2026, 9:11 PM ET
Wood said Donald Trump has done a lot of damage to democracy, but says it’s imporant that all members of Congress unite to rebuke political violence.
Apr 28, 2026, 9:10 PM ET
Baldacci said public policy leaders need to take a very positive tone in their discussions because they are setting the tone for society.
The candidates are asked about the responsibilities members of Congress have to lower the temperature in American politics.
Personally, I thought all those answers were pretty awful. I’d have to guess the social worker’s was the most honest because she’s not a politician, and I’ll bet she’s a tad more progressive in her stump speeches than the guys are.
The one whose answer made no sense was the career politician, who is Mr. Dunlap, and who should have had something a little stronger to offer.
Or so I would have thought until I saw another video of Mr. Dunlap at a campaign event where he took questions from the audience, and may I add what a delightful audience he had.
What appears to be a prototypical Karen is called on, and with a desert-dry sense of sardonic AWFL humor, quizzes Mr. Dunlap over the lack of ‘Luigi Mangiones’ to help her with her healthcare issues, so what is she to do?
Naturally, the Democratic candidate and current elected state official is taken aback for a second by the absolutely vile phrasing and association in this question before he answers. Only he does not issue a full-throated condemnation of her disgusting insinuation, coupled with a suggestion that the hag march her sick ass out of his meeting immediately.
Instead, Dunlap mouths a carefully worded version of ‘I completely get why you want to see people killed.‘
A wild exchange that is a concerning reflection of the state of Maine politics:
Liberal white lady: “With a lack of Luigi Mangione’s, what are we going to do about the insurance companies?”
CD-2 candidate Matt Dunlap: “You understand why people get to that point.” pic.twitter.com/3WqBV4oTwH
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) April 29, 2026
And, yeah, this is the basic version of what this creature asked him.
“With a lack of people willing to commit murder on my behalf, what are we going to do?”
Yikes.
— LED light disrespecter (@parrot_pr) April 29, 2026
And instead of a blistering denunciation of violence for any reason, Dunlap adjusts his glasses and begins with a ‘Well, you know, OBVIOUSLY’ followed by a…
I DON’T THINK SHOOTING PEOPLE DOWN IN THE STREET IS NECESSARILY THE ANSWER
…but he gets where she’s coming from.
Dem candidates have to hedge their language when condemning cold-blooded assassination now, I guess
We’re in for some interesting times
— CiroccoDruid (@stillnotking75) April 29, 2026
OBVIOUSLY
He should fit in well with Temu Obama’s Maximum Warfare doubled down the day after yet another assassination attempt on the president.
Democrat House Leader Hakeem Jeffries stands by calling for “maximum warfare” against President Trump even after the assassination attempt on him and his administration.
JEFFRIES: “I stand by it…I don’t give a damn about your criticism!” pic.twitter.com/z05ZfndH1b
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 27, 2026
Heads are exploding in the most insane rages at the very nerve of USA Today for their op-ed this morning, suggesting that perhaps Democrats learn to live with it when a Republican wins. I’ll just assume craven candidate Dunlap hasn’t seen it and wouldn’t read it if he had.
Opinion: The left must learn to live with a conservative leader without reaching for violence, or for rhetoric that makes violence feel thinkable. https://t.co/an7RryrUmL
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) April 27, 2026
They aren’t handling the gentle suggestion well. It’s really telling how utterly unhinged so many of them are.
Really? Wanna go there? pic.twitter.com/nviPuSxjGz
— tree hugging sister 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) April 29, 2026
The false equivalencies are trotted out even though those horses are so old, tired…
Opinion: The right must learn to live with a liberal leader without reaching for violence, or for rhetoric that makes violence feel thinkable. https://t.co/i8SdddEWt0 pic.twitter.com/0Ek9bJTENl
— Isaiah Martin (@isaiahrmartin) April 28, 2026
…and untrue.
“Hey, another of our friends tried to murder some patriots. Go grab that stock pic we always use of some guys who didn’t kill anyone – the one where we killed an unarmed woman. That one.” https://t.co/q6tPUTN5y2
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) April 28, 2026
We’ve just seen a Democratic congressional candidate allowing that a murderous rage is understandable, as is looking for the instrument to act on it, instead of condemnation of the entire train of thought.
The leader of the Democrats in Congress is still calling for ‘warfare’ with the president’s face on the wanted poster 48 hours after bullets flew in search of him.
United States senators who attend the same rallies that attract would-be presidential assassins.
Oh, for those in the back of the class this must be a weird coincidence………..the shooter Cole Allen from last night at the WH Dinner lived in Torrance, California and attended the No Kings Rally.
Marinate on that for a bit https://t.co/yXHYldXPZd
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) April 26, 2026
There is no ‘tone it down’ because they’ve gone so far into it, they can’t act like civilized human beings anymore.
Democrats want Trump dead.
They don’t hide it. pic.twitter.com/d7Qzy0YHtO— BillyBob1972 🇺🇸 (@BillyRickiBob) April 27, 2026
The best Democrats can do about perpetrating violence because of #feelingz is say it’s ‘not NECESSARILY‘ the answer.
Leaving the door wide open, OBVIOUSLY, it is one.
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