GovernorPaul LePage (R-ME) has certified the results of a district race, but he did so with commentary calling it a “stolen election.”

Democrat Jared Golden defeated Republican incumbent Bruce Poliquin in Maine’s 2nd district congressional race. The race got some national attention due to the state’s ranked choice system and Poliquin’s lawsuit challenging it.

Poliquin challenged the constitutionality of the system, but a federal judge rejected the argument. The congressman ended up conceding earlier this week.

The outgoing governor signed the election certificate today, but he tweeted, “I’ve signed off on the CD2 election result as it’s no longer in federal court. Ranked Choice Voting didn’t result in a true majority as promised-simply a plurality measured differently. It didn’t keep big money out of politics & didn’t result in a more civil election #mepolitics”

And the certificate itself contains a note from LePage reading “stolen election”:

I’ve signed off on the CD2 election result as it’s no longer in federal court. Ranked Choice Voting didn’t result in a true majority as promised-simply a plurality measured differently. It didn’t keep big money out of politics & didn’t result in a more civil election #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/0fEhD1dvAb — Paul R. LePage (@Governor_LePage) December 28, 2018

Golden responded in a tweet criticizing the governor:

Not only are the Governor’s comments wrong, this is yet another attempt by the Maine GOP to undermine the will of Mainers, who twice voted to approve RCV. Maine people are tired of this kind of poor leadership — which is why they voted for sweeping change in November. #mepolitics https://t.co/aMDBj1Onnc — Jared Golden (@golden4congress) December 28, 2018

[image via screengrab]

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