PORTLAND — House Speaker John Boehner is heading to Maine to give a boost to Republican Bruce Poliquin’s bid for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

The fundraiser at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland kicks off with a VIP reception at 6 p.m. Thursday. Poliquin supporters will shell out at least $1,000 to get a photo with Boehner. Attendees can pay $250 for the general reception which begins at 6:30 p.m.

Portland isn’t part of the vast, rural 2nd District, but Poliquin’s campaign said it was the only place the speaker’s schedule allowed him to visit.

Poliquin is hoping to become the first Republican to sit in the 2nd District seat in nearly two decades by defeating Democratic state Sen. Emily Cain this November.