AUGUSTA — Former Gov. Paul LePage bashed Democrats and pledged to work with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins if he’s elected to Congress to “make sure that Maine is cleaned up” during a speech at the Maine Republican Party’s 2026 State Convention on Friday afternoon.

LePage, the 77-year-old former governor and ex-Waterville mayor, received plenty of applause from the crowd inside the Augusta Civic Center as he attempts his latest political comeback by running for the 2nd District seat that U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, has held since 2019. Both parties nationally view the district that has otherwise backed President Donald Trump as crucial to determining control of Congress after the November midterm elections.

LePage, with no primary challenge, has been looking ahead to November and was facing little pressure Friday. The real intrigue is expected Saturday, when the big field of GOP gubernatorial candidates who have already sniped at each other during the campaign will deliver speeches.

But LePage was his typically pugnacious self at times while speaking for a little more than 15 minutes, saying that “socialists” and “extreme Democrats” want Mainers to “believe that they’re out there to help you.”

“The fact of the matter is, they want to permanently put you in economic slavery,” LePage said.

He touted his work as governor from 2011 to 2019, mentioning his income tax cuts, paying off hospital debts and promoting school choice. “And yeah, I said some stuff that made the left and the media lose their minds,” LePage said to applause. “In fact, they haven’t recovered yet. And you know, I say it like it is.”

LePage, who lost by double digits to Gov. Janet Mills when he tried to reclaim the Blaine House in 2022 and then moved back to Florida, and GOP allies are confident about winning back the district that has backed President Donald Trump in each of his three elections. But the Democratic field is optimistic about keeping the seat blue amid lower approval ratings for Trump and economic volatility driven by the Iran war.

State Auditor Matt Dunlap, state Sen. Joe Baldacci of Bangor, ex-Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood and University of Maine graduate student Paige Loud are competing in the June primary to determine which Democrat will face LePage in the fall. LePage alluded to the race’s dynamics in light of the national challenges facing the president’s party, saying “this is the first time in my political career I’m the front-runner, and I’m nervous about it.”

He also said he “will do everything I can along with Susan Collins to make sure that Maine is cleaned up,” walking on and off the stage with his wife, Ann, while the country song, “Only in America” played in the background.

LePage spoke after Collins did Friday, with U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina scheduled to deliver a keynote speech later in the evening. Collins, 73, is going for a sixth term in November and awaiting the winner of the Democratic primary featuring Sullivan oyster farmer Graham Platner and Mills as the main contenders.

Collins lightly went after Platner at times, a nod to his big lead over Mills in polls of the race. But she otherwise spent far more time bashing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, saying he is once again “trying to handpick” Maine’s next senator.

“He just has a combination of the tired, old, failed liberal policies mixed with a radical progressive wish list,” Collins said of Schumer. “That’s it. Chuck is trying to cover up their bad ideas by attacking others, but Maine people see through that.”

Collins, with “American Girl” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playing her on and off the stage, also rattled off a list of things she supports as a Republican, including that “I believe only American citizens should vote in American elections.” That referred to her support of the controversial SAVE Act, a bill that has been awaiting action in the Senate and that would require people to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

“By next year, I’m going to have at least one new partner. Paul LePage is back,” Collins said. “Goodness knows, Washington could certainly use Paul’s business knowledge, common sense and commitment to putting people over politics.”