Maine
Paul LePage files to run for Maine’s swing 2nd District
AUGUSTA, Maine — Former Gov. Paul LePage filed for the 2026 race for the 2nd Congressional District late Sunday, setting up a potential contest between the Republican and Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in the conservative-leaning area.
The former governor has been mostly a Florida resident since leaving the Blaine House due to term limits in 2019. He was at a Machias restaurant for dinner on Sunday. David Whitney, a member of the Republican National Committee, posted that LePage will make a Monday announcement. He officially filed paperwork to run after 9 p.m. Sunday.
“More to say tomorrow,” LePage strategist Brent Littlefield said in a text message just before the filing.
A political comeback for the 76-year-old LePage seemed unthinkable after he dejectedly walked out of his campaign watch party without taking questions from reporters after losing to Democratic Gov. Janet Mills in 2022. But his plans to run for the 2nd District leaked from behind the scenes of Maine Republican politics this winter.
He will step into one of the country’s most competitive races. Golden is considering a run to replace the term-limited Mills after holding his seat by less than 3,000 votes over Republican Austin Theriault in 2024. Republicans would be heavily favored to flip the seat if Golden vacated it, with no obvious Democratic candidate waiting in the wings.
LePage will have major questions to answer in kicking off his comeback. He was still a registered Florida voter as of Sunday evening. He would be one of the oldest freshman congressmen in history. He was also a career CEO before winning a fractured 2010 race to become governor, smashing a veto record while often warring with legislators in both parties.
It’s also unclear how he fits into Trump’s remade party. He was one of Trump’s earliest establishment supporters in 2016. Four years later, he aped the president’s false claims of a stolen election. But he said Trump’s denialism hurt Republicans during the 2022 election, telling a party activist in an interview two years ago that he was a “major factor” in losses that year.
LePage is still revered in Maine’s Trump-friendly grassroots. Neither Theriault nor state Rep. Mike Soboleski, R-Phillips, have ruled out 2026 runs. But the former governor’s entry likely makes it difficult for other candidates to gain traction barring an unlikely intervention by Trump or national Republicans.
Maine
Amtrak train strikes, kills man in Old Orchard Beach, Maine
A 51-year-old man was fatally struck by an Amtrak train in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, on Thursday afternoon, and police believe alcohol was a factor.
Old Orchard Beach Police say they responded around 2:18 p.m. to the area of the railroad tracks located off from the roadway near 133 Temple Avenue. The victim, who had been struck by a train traveling northbound, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Information obtained from witnesses suggests the man was traveling alone and walking nearby the railroad tracks moments before being struck by the train, according to police, who didn’t say why they believe alcohol was a factor in the incident.
The victim’s name is being withheld pending further investigation and notification, with police saying only that he was from Old Orchard Beach.
Amtrak said in a statement obtained by NBC10 Boston affiliate News Center Maine that the individual was trespassing when he came into contact with the train.
Amtrak urged the public in its statement to stay off railroad property and use caution around railroad tracks and grade crossings, writing, “These incidents can affect everyone involved—those who are injured or die and their families, our train crews, and our passengers.”
There were no reported injuries among the 135 passengers and crew members abord the No. 683 train that was traveling from Boston to Brunswick until the incident happened on Thursday.
The added that preventing railroad incidents and fatalities is a priority for them. Amtrak is working with local authorities investigating this latest incident.
An investigation remains ongoing by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department, Amtrak Police and Saco Police Department, which responded to assist.
Maine
High bacteria advisories reported at multiple Maine swimming spots
PORTLAND (WGME) — Wednesday afternoon, Tassel Top Park officials posted on social media, reporting the beach was temporarily closed to swimming after routine testing found elevated levels of E. coli in the water.
Anna Goodnik, a visitor at the park, says she was disappointed to learn she could not swim.
“It’s a beautiful lake. I feel so sorry, it’s too bad this happened,” Goodnik said.
She says she drove from Portland to visit the park.
“Very sad because I came from Portland, I drove 40 minutes,” Goodnik said.
Goodnik says she has been coming to Tassel Top Park for 15 years and that while the park remained open, she was hoping to get in the water.
“The water is so smooth right now, I would just like to swim in it,” Goodnik said.
Raymond Town Manager Glenn Michalowski said in a statement that the Portland Water District provides weekly test results for 18 locations around Sebago Lake. Tassel Top Beach was closed for swimming because E. coli levels exceeded state water quality standards.
Michalowski said testing indicated the presence of waterfowl in the area, which can contribute to elevated bacterial levels. The statement also noted that high E. coli counts after rain events and in areas with waterfowl activity are a normal occurrence across Maine beaches and recreational water areas.
Ben Peierls, research director at the Lakes Environmental Association, says warmer water can lead to more bacterial growth.
“When water gets warmer, there’s more growth of bacteria,” Peierls said.
Peierls says E. coli can come from animals such as birds, dogs and other wildlife, or from human waste. He says this time of year can bring rain and runoff that carries contaminants into lakes.
“This time of year, there’s lot of rain and runoff materials coming into lakes, and it’s coming from sources where there may have been that fecal material, and it gets washed into lakes and it shows up in places people could be recreating,” Peierls said.
Tassel Top is not the only location reporting elevated bacteria levels. Ferry Beach in Scarborough and East End Beach in Portland also reported results above Maine’s safety threshold for enterococci in marine waters.
Town officials say Tassel Top Beach will reopen once retesting confirms the water has returned to safe levels, and residents will be notified when the closure is lifted. Swimming can resume once weekly testing confirms water quality is back within safe limits.
To check the status of all beaches in the state, click here.
Maine
Person hospitalized after shed fire in Harpswell
HARPSWELL (WGME) — The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office says a person was hospitalized after a shed fire Wednesday night.
Firefighters were called to 23 Smokehouse Road in Harpswell for a shed fire around 7 p.m.
Crews quickly put out the fire and kept it from spreading into the woods.
An unhoused person who had been living in the shed suffered burns and smoke inhalation.
They were taken to Maine Medical Center for treatment.
Investigators believe the fire may have been electrical in nature.
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The fire remains under investigation.
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