Golden is going to lose this election, and Maine will be just fine

By Sandra Caron and Brenda Power

You can’t say Jared Golden hasn’t evolved in his campaign strategy. When you view his ads, you might miss the hardy lobstermen hanging with Golden on the dock from days of yore. And where are those robust union ironworkers shaking hands with plaid-clad Golden on the picket line?

The 2024 Golden isn’t wasting time with that guy’s guy stuff. His ads now are about how often he voted with Donald Trump and supports the Republican agenda. We wonder if he even knows what the Democratic agenda is, given he hasn’t attended a Democratic caucus meeting since 2021.

Golden recently explained in a column in the Bangor Daily News and Piscataquis Observer why he believes Trump’s reelection will be “just fine.” Women might agree that Trump’s reelection will be just fine — for Golden. Trump strutted out to “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” at his convention, so no worries for any guy who supports his agenda. 

Consider Golden’s recent vote proclaiming Kamala Harris a “failed border czar.” This is what is known in Congress as a “show vote.” It wasn’t a vote on legislation that could actually improve the border situation. That bipartisan and popular bill died months ago when Trump insisted that Republicans kill it. Golden apparently wasn’t concerned that Harris is no border “czar” — she had a limited role in addressing a complex and vexing issue. The vote had no practical purpose, other than to shout “Trump on border GOOD, Harris BAD.” Mission accomplished.

We’ve always voted for Golden, even as we’ve disagreed with many of his policies — no point in being a Democratic purist in a red-leaning district. What has become intolerable to us is Golden’s derision of those who oppose his views as overwrought “pearl-clutchers” and “hand-wringers.” 

Women often hear similar sexist dismissals when they express a strong opinion to a man who doesn’t value it. Golden seems to have a problem with strong women who are Democratic leaders. His fierce opposition to Nancy Pelosi has been supplanted by his condemnation of Harris and insistence that she hasn’t earned his vote yet. 

Harris is an accomplished former state attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president who has earned the votes of many women in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. She gives us hope that we might reclaim some of the rights we lost from Trump policies and judges. 

Maybe it’s a hysterical overreaction to decide Golden has no longer earned automatic Democratic support. Or maybe, just maybe, some of us have made the cold calculation that no amount of frantic Trump hugging and Harris bashing on Golden’s part is going to win this election, and that’s just fine.

Maine has a proud tradition of electing Democrats and Republicans who are revered for generations because of their ability to compromise, work across the aisle, and respect dissenting views. From Margaret Chase Smith to George Mitchell, Ed Muskie to Olympia Snowe, Maine has always punched above its weight nationally because we reject demagogues and welcome respectful debate. None of these titans routinely demeaned those who held opposing views, let alone their own party leaders and base. That seems to be the Golden way, but it’s not the Maine way.

It’s been said countless times that when given a choice between voting for a Republican or a Republican-lite candidate, the Republican will win every time. We believe Golden will lose not because he didn’t pander enough to Trump voters — he gets an A for effort there. He will likely lose because you can’t continuously trash your own party, especially the women leading it, and expect all Democrats will still show up and vote for you. And he needs all of us.

The choice is ours. We can vote for a Trump Lovin’, Harris Hatin’ guy with an R after his name, or a Trump Just Fine!, Harris Hatin’ guy with a D after his name. Or write in anyone we please. We don’t know who you’re voting for, but we’re fairly certain who will win.

Caron of Orono is a retired professor and recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Maine Professor Award, and the 2023 inductee into the Maine Women’s Hall of Fame. Power of Dedham is a retired professor and recipient of the 1999 Distinguished Maine Professor Award.