LEWISTON, Maine — Democratic Representative Jared Golden, known for his moderate stance and occasional divergence from party expectations, found himself in a closely contested race against Austin Theriault, a Republican state legislator and stock car racer. As of Thursday, the election results were still uncertain, making it difficult to determine a clear winner.
This matchup is part of a few crucial races that could significantly affect the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives amid a highly competitive election cycle. This battle unfolded in Maine’s expansive 2nd Congressional District, which is the largest by area on the East Coast. This largely rural district has shown considerable support for former President Donald Trump, making the dynamics of the race particularly intriguing.
As the day progressed, Golden and Theriault remained locked in a close contest, with some ballots yet to be tallied. Golden, a former Marine, is seeking a third term representing this swing district, which is characterized by its small cities and a strong reliance on traditional northern New England industries, like lobster fishing and logging.
Throughout the campaign, Golden emphasized his willingness to collaborate with both Democrats and Republicans, alongside his strong advocacy for the lobster sector, crucial to the region’s economic vitality. Despite declaring victory earlier, the Associated Press has not yet officially confirmed the outcome. “Anyone who has observed this race knows that this was my toughest election yet. Across the country, no Democrat has withstood stronger headwinds from the top of the ticket, the pundits and the organized opposition,” Golden remarked during a press conference, dressed casually in a flannel shirt and jeans.
On the other hand, Theriault, who first secured a seat in the Maine House in 2022, campaigned vigorously, framing Golden as being too liberal for the district. Although backed by Trump, Theriault also aimed to depict himself as a bridge-builder in a time of intense division in Washington. On Wednesday, he commented that he was “well within the margin” where a recount could be warranted, advocating for every vote to be considered.
In Maine, recounts are not an automatic process in close races, but candidates can request them without needing to deposit money if the loss margin is 1% or less in statewide or multicounty contests. It’s worth noting that should neither candidate receive over 50% of the votes, a ranked-choice voting scenario would unfold. While there were no third-party candidates listed, some voters opted for write-in choices.
Golden first made his way to Congress in 2018 after a ranked-choice voting tally helped him unseat Republican incumbent Bruce Poliquin. Despite Trump’s significant support in the district during past presidential elections, Golden has maintained his congressional seat. Maine practices a unique method of allocating electoral votes by congressional districts, and Trump secured his only New England electoral vote from Maine’s 2nd District three times.
In the 1st Congressional District, fellow Democrat Chellie Pingree successfully won her ninth term against Republican Ron Russell and independent candidate Ethan Alcorn.