Representative Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat who represents a district that backed President Donald Trump by 10 percentage points in last year’s presidential election, is facing a primary challenge from state Auditor Matthew Dunlap.
Why It Matters
Golden, first elected in the 2018 blue wave, has been a top target of Republicans in each of his reelection bids but has narrowly won each time despite the district’s increasingly Republican lean. In 2026, he is again likely to be locked into a competitive race. But his moderate record—as well as the fact that Maine remains one state where voters are willing to split their ticket—has been an asset in the district, but he has at times sparked the ire of some more liberal voters.
What to Know
Dunlap, a longtime official in Maine, announced on Monday he is primarying Golden from the left in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. He touted support for policies like Medicare for All, universal childcare and affordable housing, criticizing Golden’s votes on the American Rescue Plan of 2021.
“I’m not okay with Donald Trump as president,” Dunlap said in a campaign launch video. “That’s why I’m running for Congress. I’ve stopped Trump before. As your secretary of state, I took Trump and his MAGA allies to court, and I won. I’ll do the same in Congress.”
How vulnerable Golden may be remains unclear. Although some Democrats have expressed frustration with his more moderate policy positions, others view him as a good fit for the district.
Maine’s 2nd Congressional District spans the vast, rural northern area of the state, but it does include cities like Augusta, Bangor and Lewiston, as well as some coastal areas like Bar Harbor, that are more Democratic.
Golden responded to Dunlap’s candidacy in a statement provided to Newsweek by his campaign.
“I’m focused on doing the job voters sent me to Congress to do. But I’ll say this: Maine’s 2nd District is fiercely independent. It’s one of the most ideologically diverse districts in the country, and deserves someone who represents it as it is. If Matt Dunlap thinks this district will choose him over Paul LePage, he’s got another thing coming,” Golden said.
Golden was the only House Democrat to vote for a continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund the government and avoid a shutdown last month. In an October 1 statement, he blamed the shutdown on “demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump.”
“The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy, and the irony is it has only handed more power to the president. This fight is ostensibly about health care, so let me be clear: I opposed the GOP’s Medicaid cuts and I want to extend the ACA tax credits. But some of my colleagues in the majority party have reasonable concerns about tax credits going to high-income households. There’s room and time to negotiate. But normal policy disagreements are no reason to subject our constituents to the continued harm of this shutdown,” he wrote.
What People Are Saying
Representative Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, also wrote in the statement: “It is also true that in the last decade much has changed about American politics and society in general, which is why we need a new generation of leaders. A 30-year party crony like Matt Dunlap won’t cut it — the last time Matt held elected office he was a pro-life Democrat at a time when that unfortunately wasn’t unusual. Watching Dunlap try to recreate himself as a progressive would be amusing if it were not so cynical.”
Republican Paul LePage, the state’s former governor who is vying for the GOP nominee in the race, wrote to X: “Matt Dunlap sees what we see, Jared Golden is hiding. From Aroostook to Oxford and every county in between, Maine people say they never see Jared Golden in their towns or communities. Jared Golden spends more time trying to please his New York, Los Angeles and Cambridge donors than he does talking to the people of Maine.”
Pollster Adam Carlson wrote to X: “I can’t stand Jared Golden but I hope he absolutely obliterates Matt Dunlap. Eyes on the prize.”
What Happens Next?
Maine’s primary is set for June 9, 2026. The race is viewed as a toss-up by forecasters like the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
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