Former state Sen. Emily Cain is back for a second round against Maine Rep. Bruce Poliquin, the Republican who defeated her for an open seat last year.  

Democrats worked hard to recruit Cain for a rematch in the northern Maine-based 2nd District, which President Barack Obama carried by 9 points in 2012. House leadership, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, brought Cain to Capitol Hill in December , seeking to convince her to run.  

Cain highlighted the latest funding battle on Capitol Hill in a news release announcing her campaign.  

“Instead of doing its job to fund Homeland Security and the jobs it supports here in Maine, a dysfunctional Congress has chosen to put our safety at risk,” Cain said in a statement. “Maine people deserve better and they need a Representative they can count on. I’m launching this campaign to make sure that Maine has a Representative who puts the economic opportunity of middle class families ahead of divisive political games.”  

Cain lost to Poliquin by 5 points in 2014 — a bad year nationwide for Democrats, who lost control of the Senate and lost 13 House seats.  

There are several other potential rematches next year, including a few former members considering bids to win back their seats. The presidential-level turnout next year could give Democrats more incentive to run.  

Poliquin’s campaign was quick to respond to Cain’s decision.  

“With this early announcement it is clear Cain’s Washington advisors are quite desperate to tap into her donors,” Brent Littlefield, a Poliquin political adviser, said in a statement. “They should hold onto their purses and wallets.”  

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