Mainstream Democrats are openly talking about dumping Jared Golden

By Billy Kobin, Bangor Daily News Staff

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden is perennially considered a vulnerable Democrat by way of representing a rural Maine district that has backed President Donald Trump, but next year’s potential matchup against former Gov. Paul LePage may not be his first challenge.

That’s because Golden, a 42-year-old Marine veteran in office since 2018 who has routinely frustrated progressives by siding with Republicans on issues from voting to gun control, could face a serious primary challenge, with State Auditor Matt Dunlap emerging Monday as a Democrat who is exploring taking on Golden in 2026.

The big asterisk in this race remains next to Golden’s name, given the congressman is also considered a potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate as Gov. Janet Mills wraps up her final term. Golden has not confirmed his next steps, while LePage launched his 2nd District bid this month.

Serious primary threats for sitting members of Maine’s congressional delegation are rare. After the last insurgent challenge gained traction in 2012, U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, a moderate Republican, abruptly retired. That briefly drew a crowded field of big-name politicians into the race before former Gov. Angus King’s entry cleared many of them out of the way. 

Dunlap, 60, a former state representative from Old Town who served seven non-consecutive terms as secretary of state between 2005 and 2021, remained in that race and lost the Democratic primary to Cynthia Dill. Numerous former lawmakers are among those egging him on despite Golden’s solid electoral record in a conservative district.

“I’m 110 percent behind Matt,” former state Rep. Kevin O’Connell of Brewer, who is also a utility lineman, said Tuesday.

O’Connell noted he supported Golden in past elections and “liked the guy and everything” but then gave a line of criticism that both those on the left and right have echoed on Golden.

“Where is he on the fence? Hard telling, not knowing, and we don’t know,” O’Connell said, adding he has heard from other Democrats who would support Dunlap over Golden.

Dunlap replied with “a little bit of both” when asked whether Golden’s voting record or the unsettled nature of the 2nd District field made him consider him a run. He also cited a text exchange with Golden after someone he knew did not understand one of the congressman’s communications about the SAVE Act, a Republican bill the House passed in April to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections.

Golden, one of four House Democrats to back the legislation that may struggle to receive 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster, used a blog post on the bill to accuse progressive groups warning of disenfranchisement of “misleading fear tactics” and noted exceptions for people to affirm citizenship if they lack proof.

Dunlap said he emailed Golden and that Golden then texted him, leading to an exchange in which the former secretary of state said Golden “kept doubling down” on his stance.

“I sort of thought this is why people are mad at him,” Dunlap said. “He doesn’t explain. He lectures. That’s not a great place to be as a public servant.”

Golden still has supporters who view his more progressive stances on labor issues and abortion rights, for example, as preferable to a Republican. A spokesperson responded to Dunlap’s interest in the race by saying Golden has been clear that his support for the SAVE Act is part of “upholding the basic principle that American elections are for American citizens.”

In a statement, Golden added that Dunlap “has a small chance of beating me, but zero chance of beating Paul LePage. “

“But no matter what anyone says, it’s a free country, and Matt can do what he wants,” Golden said.

The national campaign arm for House Democrats said Golden “has always been a stalwart defender of Mainers’ values, from lowering costs, advocating for organized labor and fighting for working families and their access to health care.”

“Rep. Golden has proven he is uniquely-suited to win tough races, and the DCCC is proud to work to reelect him once again next November,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Nebeyatt Betre said.

The 2nd District, the largest by area east of the Mississippi River, remains one of the reddest districts nationally to reelect a Democrat. Dunlap emphasized he has made no primary decision yet but said he counts 2nd District residents as his friends, neighbors and “hard-working people” who want “commonsense solutions for them securing a better future.”

He also called LePage, whom he served under as Maine’s chief elections official, as a “very, very smart guy” who is also “incredibly partisan.”

“He’s kind of a known quantity that way,” Dunlap said. “And I think actually we’re kind of both known quantities, which makes it a little bit easier when you’re talking to voters.”

BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.