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PORTLAND (AP) — Democratic Rep.-elect Jared Golden’s campaign says he’s ready to start work despite an ongoing legal fight waged by his Republican opponent over Maine’s new election system.

A federal judge last week rejected U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s request to nullify the election’s outcome and either declare him the winner or order another election. Poliquin lost his re-election bid to Golden and filed an appeal Tuesday in federal court in Boston.

Poliquin claimed Maine’s ranked voting system violated the constitutional rights of all voters. The judge said Poliquin hasn’t demonstrated how ranked-choice voting is unconstitutional.

Golden’s chief of staff said the judge’s decision was “crystal clear” and called it the “best response” to Poliquin’s appeal.

Golden is set to be sworn-in Jan. 3. Poliquin says he wants a court to address his appeal swiftly.

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