State auditor and former secretary of state Matthew Dunlap appears to be inching closer to launching a primary challenge against Maine’s 2nd District U.S. Rep. Jared Golden.

Dunlap, 60, filed paperwork last week with the Internal Revenue Service establishing a political organization called “Dunlap for Congress.” The filing was first reported by Bloomberg News.

The Democrat from Old Town has been mulling a possible primary challenge for months, originally giving himself an early October deadline.

Reached by phone Monday, Dunlap declined to comment on the filing but said he would decide soon and that he has been encouraged by his conversations throughout the district.

If Dunlap does run and qualify for the ballot, Golden, 43, will be forced to spend time and resources defending his record, which is not popular with his base, before setting his sights on former Gov. Paul LePage, whose support is strongest in the rural, more conservative part of the state.

Golden, of Lewiston, has been through a series of narrow general election victories, including last year against Austin Theriault, a former state representative and former NASCAR driver endorsed by President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Republicans see the 2nd District as a prime pick-up opportunity again with LePage as the candidate.

Golden has not faced a primary opponent since he first ran in 2018.

Dunlap has been the state auditor since 2022. He previously served in the Maine House of Representatives from 1996 to 2004 and as secretary of state from 2005 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2021.

He ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in 2012.

Golden dismissed Dunlap’s possible primary challenge back in May, saying “Matt Dunlap has a small chance of beating me, but zero chance of beating Paul LePage.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also issued a statement in support of the four-term incumbent, saying Golden “has proven he is uniquely-suited to win tough races.”