LePage breaks with Trump on Iran, Canada tariffs, immigration in Maine House debate

Former Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) split with the Trump administration on key issues — including the Iran war, tariffs and immigration — during a Thursday debate in the open U.S. House race in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

LePage, the GOP nominee, who is running against Matt Dunlap (D), the state auditor, previously criticized the administration’s widespread immigration crackdown efforts after he said his son’s father-in-law was being wrongfully deported .

During the Thursday debate hosted by local outlet WMTW, LePage called for increased accountability and transparency from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement around its deportation operations.

Additionally, the Republican nominee expressed disagreement with the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canada and leaned on his experience facilitating negotiations over the North American Free Trade Agreement under the first Trump administration.

“We need to de-escalate the rhetoric, and we need to get the president and the prime minister of Canada back to the negotiating table,” LePage said.

Despite disagreeing with the Trump administration in segments of the debate, LePage also touted his past experience working with the president during his time as governor.

“I know him personally, and I will say right now, I will be able to get into the Oval Office,” LePage said, adding, “My opponent will not.”

The GOP candidate urged President Trump to bring the ongoing Iran war to a close “as quick as possible,” but he said he would oppose a war powers resolution if elected. The House has passed three Iran war powers resolutions with the support of several Republican lawmakers.

Dunlap criticized LePage’s response to a war powers resolution question, pointing to rising energy prices tied to the ongoing conflict.

“Your heating oil is $7 a gallon because of the Iran war. Paul LePage can’t decide if he’s for it or against it,” Dunlap wrote in a social media post after the debate.

LePage and Dunlap will face off again in a second debate on Oct. 15.

Republicans are hoping to flip this key swing district in November, which is currently represented by retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. Trump won the district by 9 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election forecaster, rates the race as “Likely Republican.” However, recent polling has shown Dunlap leading the former governor among likely voters.

In a University of New Hampshire survey released at the end of September, the Democrat had a 6-point advantage over his GOP opponent.