Democratic Maine Rep. Jared Golden won’t seek reelection in competitive US House district

Democratic Rep. Jared Golden Announces Departure from Congress, Citing Political Climate

Maine Democratic Representative Jared Golden announced Wednesday he will not seek reelection to Congress, ending his tenure as a moderate lawmaker in one of the nation’s most competitive House districts.

Golden, who has represented Maine’s rural 2nd Congressional District since 2018, revealed his decision in an opinion piece published in the Bangor Daily News, citing growing concerns about political hostility and threats of violence that have affected both his public service and family life.

“I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community,” Golden wrote. The Marine veteran specifically referenced incidents of political violence targeting figures across the political spectrum, including former President Donald Trump and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

The decision comes after Golden himself faced numerous threats, including one that forced his family to spend last Thanksgiving in a hotel room rather than their home. “There have been enough of those over the years to demand my attention,” he noted in his announcement.

Golden’s departure creates a significant opening in Maine’s politically divided 2nd District, which encompasses the state’s vast rural regions and has supported Trump in the last three presidential elections despite electing Golden as its Democratic representative.

The race to fill Golden’s seat is already taking shape as a potential showdown between former Republican Governor Paul LePage and former Democratic Secretary of State Matt Dunlap, who launched a primary challenge against Golden last month before the incumbent’s withdrawal announcement.

LePage, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and was known for his combative style, quickly released a statement framing the race as “about fighting for rural Maine.” His spokesperson, Brent Littlefield, suggested Golden’s decision stemmed from unfavorable polling numbers, though Golden made no mention of electoral concerns in his announcement.

Dunlap, who occasionally clashed with LePage during their overlapping tenures in state government, thanked Golden for his service and vowed to “vigorously campaign” for the now-open seat.

During his three terms in Congress, Golden established himself as one of the more conservative Democrats in the House, willing to break with his party on significant votes. Most notably, he voted against one article of impeachment against Trump in 2019, a move that highlighted his independent streak.

Golden’s political career has been marked by close electoral contests. He first won his seat using Maine’s ranked-choice voting system and faced a particularly challenging reelection bid earlier this year, narrowly defeating Republican Austin Theriault after a ranked recount.

Throughout his congressional tenure, Golden focused on bipartisan cooperation and advocating for Maine’s traditional industries, including lobster fishing. His pragmatic approach earned him support in a district that often leans Republican in presidential elections but has backed his more moderate Democratic stance in House races.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised Golden as “a good man, a patriot” who would be missed in Congress, while expressing confidence that Democrats would retain the seat and regain the House majority.

The contest for Maine’s 2nd District is expected to be among the most closely watched House races in the 2026 election cycle, potentially playing a crucial role in determining control of the chamber in a politically divided nation.