What Happened to Matthew Dunlap?
Matthew Dunlap is an American politician from Maine, currently serving as the Maine State Auditor since November 2022. A long-serving Democrat, he previously held the office of Maine Secretary of State for multiple non-consecutive terms. As of June 2026, Dunlap has won the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District and will challenge former Governor Paul LePage in the November general election.
Quick Answer
Matthew Dunlap is currently the Maine State Auditor, a position he has held since November 2022, having been re-elected in December 2024. Most recently, on June 19, 2026, he won the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, securing his party's nomination to run against former Governor Paul LePage in the upcoming November general election. Dunlap is known for his extensive career in Maine state government, including multiple terms as Secretary of State, and for his role in challenging the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Bar Harbor, Maine
Matthew Dunlap was born in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Elected to Maine House of Representatives
Dunlap began his political career, serving four consecutive terms representing Old Town in the Maine House of Representatives.
First Term as Maine Secretary of State
Dunlap was first elected by the Maine Legislature to serve as Secretary of State, a position he held until 2011.
Unsuccessful U.S. Senate Primary Bid
Dunlap ran for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate but lost in the primary to Cynthia Dill.
Second Tenure as Maine Secretary of State Begins
After Democrats regained control of the legislature, Dunlap was again selected as Secretary of State, serving until 2021.
Appointed to Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity
President Trump appointed Dunlap to the controversial commission tasked with investigating voter fraud claims.
Sues Election Integrity Commission
Dunlap filed a lawsuit against the commission for failing to provide him with documents and include him in deliberations.
Election Integrity Commission Dissolved
The Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity was dissolved, partly due to Dunlap's lawsuit and lack of cooperation from states.
Elected Maine State Auditor
Dunlap was elected Maine State Auditor by the Maine Legislature, taking office in January 2021.
Resigns as State Auditor (Temporarily)
Dunlap resigned after failing to obtain the required CPA certification within the nine-month period mandated by state law.
Re-appointed Maine State Auditor
After obtaining the necessary credentials, Dunlap was re-appointed State Auditor to complete the term.
Re-elected Maine State Auditor
Dunlap was re-elected for a second four-year term as State Auditor, which is set to conclude in January 2029.
Announcer for Bangor Band
As of November 2025, Dunlap serves as an announcer for the Bangor Band.
Wins Democratic Primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District
Dunlap won the Democratic primary through ranked-choice voting and will face former Governor Paul LePage in the November general election.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Matthew Dunlap, born on November 26, 1964, in Bar Harbor, Maine, has had a distinguished and extensive career in Maine politics. A Democrat, he began his political journey representing Old Town in the Maine House of Representatives for four terms from 1996 to 2004, focusing on environmental and wildlife issues.
Dunlap first served as Maine's Secretary of State from 2005 to 2011, a role in which he oversaw elections and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. After an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate in 2012, he was again elected Secretary of State in 2013, serving until 2021, becoming the first person since 1880 to hold non-consecutive terms in that office. During this period, he gained national attention for his appointment to President Donald Trump's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity in 2017. Dunlap, a vocal critic of the commission's secrecy and claims of widespread voter fraud, ultimately sued the commission for withholding information, a legal challenge that contributed to the panel's dissolution in January 2018.
Following his tenure as Secretary of State, Dunlap was elected Maine State Auditor in December 2020, taking office in January 2021. However, he had to vacate the position in October 2021 after failing to obtain the required certification as a public accountant within the statutory nine-month period. Demonstrating his persistence, Dunlap subsequently obtained the necessary credentials in early 2022 and was re-appointed as State Auditor in November 2022, completing the term of his predecessor. He was then re-elected for a second four-year term as State Auditor in December 2024, with his current term set to end on January 8, 2029.
As of June 19, 2026, Dunlap has embarked on a new political endeavor. He successfully won the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, overcoming several opponents, including State Senator Joe Baldacci, in a ranked-choice voting runoff. This victory sets the stage for a high-profile general election contest against former Republican Governor Paul LePage in November 2026. Dunlap's campaign for Congress is rooted in a progressive platform, advocating for policies such as Medicare for All and challenging corporate power, and he has positioned himself as a candidate who will stand up to figures like Donald Trump. His unique political profile includes his past leadership of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine and his endorsement of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primaries.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Matthew Dunlap made different choices?