Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate Democrat who represents a Maine district that President Donald Trump won by 9 points in 2024, announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election next year.
Golden’s exit creates an even better opportunity for House Republicans to pick up a red district currently held by a Democrat, in what could be a closely contested battle for control of the House of Representatives.
In an op-ed in his hometown's Bangor Daily News, Golden said he has grown tired of Congress and its ineffectiveness, and he added that he was worried about the risks to his family as the result of the rise in political violence.
Golden also dismissed any notion that he would have lost re-election, as he faced a primary challenger and a tough general election contest ahead in 2026. Democrats need a net gain of three seats nationally to retake the House.
“I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning,” Golden wrote. “Simply put, what I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son.”
Golden also criticized the uptick in political violence in the U.S., writing that he and his family spent Thanksgiving in a hotel last year following another threat against his home.
"As a father, I have to consider whether the good I can achieve outweighs everything my family endures as a result," Golden wrote.
Golden often broke party ranks and voted with Republicans on key issues. Most recently, he was the lone Democrat to vote for the short-term spending bill that would’ve prevent the federal government shutdown.
He was facing a challenge from state Auditor Matt Dunlap in the 2026 Democratic primary. He also had the prospect of a vigorous general election battle. Former GOP Gov. Paul LePage is running for the seat, and national Republicans have targeted the district as a major pickup opportunity.
The National Republican Congressional Committee seized on the news of Golden’s exit.
“Serial flip-flopper Jared Golden’s exit from Congress says it all: He’s turned his back on Mainers for years and now his chickens are coming home to roost. He, nor any other Democrat, has a path to victory in ME-02 and Republicans will flip this seat red in 2026,” NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement.
Golden, a Marine veteran and former state legislator, was first elected in 2018, defeating then-GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin. He has held onto the district in rural Maine since then, with Democrats often touting his ability to win tough races.
Asked about Golden's announcement, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that Democrats will keep the seat in their column.
“Congressman Golden is a good man. He’s a patriot. He’s served this country overseas, fought hard, risked his life and has spent the last several terms working hard on behalf of the people of Maine," Jeffries, D-N.Y., said. "He’s going to finish out his term. He will be missed, and we’re going to hold that seat.”
