Democratic Primary Heats Up in Maine
The Democratic primary in Maine is becoming quite chaotic as Republicans aim to seize seats in swing districts during the midterms.
Maine auditor, Matt Dunlap, officially declared his candidacy for the seat held by Democrat Jared Golden on Monday. This sets the stage for what could be a contentious battle as Republicans seek to unseat the four-term incumbent. Dunlap is expected to challenge Golden from the left, criticizing him for working with Republicans on various issues.
“What I’ve heard from people is they believe we can do better. There’s a general dissatisfaction with our current conditions,” Dunlap mentioned in an interview. “People feel bad for us. Jared Golden has consistently aligned his votes with the Republican Caucus on critical matters affecting Maine.”
Golden has tried to maintain a moderate stance but has alienated some party members due to his record. He was the only Democrat to break ranks with the party on two occasions in March and September, siding with House Republicans to fund the government. Additionally, he supported a Republican bill that demanded proof of citizenship for voting, a move that drew significant backlash from his Democratic peers.
On October 1, as the government shutdown began, Maine Democrats accused members of their party of orchestrating the closure as part of a strategy against the president, referring to members aligned with the “far left” as detrimental to their cause.
Golden’s district is among the most conservative currently represented by a Democrat, making it a key target for Republican gains in the midterms. In 2024, Trump gained 9 percentage points here during the presidential election.
Since 2016, Golden has successfully defended his seat in Maine’s Second Congressional District, despite Trump’s presence on the ballot.
Democratic campaign leaders seem to have struggled in rallying support for Dunlap against the primary challenges ahead.
Dunlap has also shown hesitance to back the House leadership, expressing disappointment with Democratic leaders to Notus. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has endorsed Dunlap’s decision to press forward on important issues.
“The entry of Matt Dunlap into this race clearly illustrates our point. Jared Golden has let down Maine at every turn,” they stated. “Even Democrats acknowledge it’s time for Golden to go.”
Golden responded to Dunlap’s candidacy, accusing him of pretending to be progressive for political gain. “If Matt Dunlap thinks he can win over this district against Paul Lepage, he might be in for a surprise,” he said. “Old-school politicians like Dunlap won’t cut it anymore. When he was last elected, he held pro-life views, which were more common back then.”
“It’s almost funny to see him trying to recreate himself as progressive,” Golden added.
The winner of the primary showdown between Golden and Dunlap will likely face former Republican Governor Paul Lepage in the general election. According to nonpartisan political analysts, this contest is currently considered a “toss-up.”
