Three Democratic candidates running for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District are teaming up on their opponent, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, by asking him to “publicly disavow” a super PAC that has started to spend money and run ads on his behalf.

Project 218, which is affiliated with the Democratic-aligned American Bridge 21st Century, started running a television ad Tuesday in support of Baldacci. The group has set aside about $255,000 in ads on the 2nd District race ahead of the June primary that will determine which Democrat faces former Republican Gov. Paul LePage in November.

Both parties view the 2nd District seat as a key to winning control of the House. U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate Democrat who’s been in office in 2019, opted against seeking reelection last year. The district encompasses much of Maine’s northern half, and has thrice backed President Donald Trump.

The new drama involving Baldacci, a former Bangor mayor from a well-known political family, comes after his primary opponents also took offense to the national House Democratic campaign arm announcing its support for Baldacci earlier this month.

State Auditor Matt Dunlap, ex-Capitol Hill operative Jordan Wood and University of Maine graduate student Paige Loud sent a letter Wednesday to Baldacci, writing that Project 218 began spending money in “an attempt to buy this election on your behalf.”

Super PACs are legally barred from coordinating with candidates, but Baldacci and several gubernatorial contenders have drawn complaints for using the “redboxing” tactic on their websites to invite outside groups to highlight some of their qualities in ads. (Dunlap has also benefited from outside spending: The National Nurses United PAC has sent out mailers promoting him.)

“The three of us all agreed: Mainers decide our election not Super PACs, not the wealthy, not lobbyists from away. It’s clear with your acceptance of this money that you think differently,” Baldacci’s opponents wrote. “Today we are asking you again: publicly disavow Project 218, and publicly call on its donors to stop spending in this race.”

The letter also pointed to how Baldacci benefited Tuesday evening from a fundraising event in Washington, D.C., hosted by lobbyists.

“If you want to represent the people of Maine in Congress, stand on your own two feet,” the three candidates told Baldacci in their letter.

The new ad from Project 218 is titled “Big Jobs,” and says Baldacci has “always delivered for Maine.” It says he has worked at “lowering grocery prices, protecting Medicare (and) defending a woman’s right to choose,” among other issues.

The new TV ad flight from Project 218 will run in the Bangor and Portland media markets up until the June 9 primary, according to data from the ad tracking firm AdImpact.

Baldacci’s campaign initially declined to comment Wednesday before sending the Press Herald the following statement: “Democrats who want to beat Paul LePage in order to hold Trump accountable are coalescing behind Joe Baldacci because he’s protected Mainers from ICE, worked to lower healthcare costs and is the only candidate with a 100% pro-choice voting record.”

Dunlap and Baldacci have been at the top of the independent polling done of the race. Wood — who worked for political groups on Capitol Hill and whose husband works for a Democratic fundraising firm that has drawn scrutiny for its tactics and high fees — has spent a sizable amount of the money that he had raised during his brief U.S. Senate campaign to try to keep up.

Editor’s note: This story was updated on May 20 to correctly identify the group affiliated with Project 218.