Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin announced that he’s ending his legal challenge against Maine’s ranked-choice voting law and effectively conceded to election winner Jared Golden.
Poliquin posted his decision on Twitter on Christmas Eve, ending what legal experts had described as a futile effort to retain his seat.
STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN BRUCE POLIQUIN. #ME02 #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/gZ8yHvNIBu
— Bruce Poliquin (@BrucePoliquin) December 24, 2018
Poliquin lost the election after Golden pulled ahead during the nation’s first ranked-choice runoff to decide a congressional race. He claimed in a lawsuit that the voting method violates the U.S. Constitution, but arguments by his attorneys were rejected by a federal judge.
Poliquin challenged the judge’s ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but his announcement Monday signaled that he’s ending the effort.
Poliquin has also abandoned a recount of the race after incurring nearly $15,000 for its cost. Golden will be sworn in Jan. 3.
Originally published Dec. 24 at 7:19 p.m. ET.
