Maine Rep. Jared Golden, the one Democrat within the House to vote for the Republican-led authorities funding invoice, drew a primary challenger Monday who accused him of constantly siding with the GOP over his personal social gathering.
State Auditor Matthew Dunlap’s bid units the stage for a high-profile showdown in a district Democrats will probably want to carry to regain management of the US House. Golden represents one of many nation’s best districts, profitable his 2024 race by lower than a proportion level whereas President Donald Trump carried it by roughly 10 factors.
Dunlap advised NCS forward of his announcement that Democrats are “very, very disenchanted with Jared,” and that Golden overplays the problem of profitable the district.
“It’s not a hostile wilderness. These are my neighbors and friends. I know them well, and I feel welcome in every community in the state,” Dunlap stated.
In a assertion, Golden stated he represents a district that’s “fiercely independent.”
“It’s one of the most ideologically diverse districts in the country, and deserves someone who represents it as it is,” he stated.
Golden broke ranks to vote with Republicans final month on a funding invoice to avert a authorities shutdown, which was blocked by Senate Democrats.
Defending the vote in a assertion, Golden stated that the shutdown “is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump.”
It’s one among a number of situations of Golden crossing social gathering traces all through his profession, irritating some Democrats whilst he has burnished an unbiased fame.
Dunlap pointed to Golden’s support earlier this yr for the SAVE Act – GOP laws that might have required proof of citizenship to vote – saying that it was “just inexplicable to me.”
“I feel like we have one of the best election systems in the country,” stated Dunlap who served as Maine’s secretary of state from 2005 to 2011 and once more from 2013 to 2021. “People ask me about the SAVE Act vote, and I said, well, it really wasn’t a tipping point, but it was a weathervane. It told me where people are.”
Golden, in the meantime, referred to Dunlap as a “30-year party crony” who was attempting “to recreate himself as a progressive.”
Dunlap lined up with the nationwide Democratic argument that Republicans ought to attain a deal to revive well being care funding that might in any other case expire quickly.
But he was important of social gathering leaders and declined to say whether or not he would again House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries if elected.
“I don’t think anybody in Democratic leadership has necessarily draped themselves in glory in this cycle, and when I am in that position to make that decision, I’m going to listen to what people have to say,” Dunlap stated.
This story has been up to date with further data.