House Speaker Mike Johnson will be in Auburn next Wednesday to stump for Republican Austin Theriault, who is trying to oust U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in Maine’s swing 2nd District.
Theriault, a first-term state representative from Fort Kent, has tied himself to national Republicans, winning a June primary with the backing of former President Donald Trump as well as Johnson and his political apparatus. Golden, a third-term centrist Democrat, has not yet said whether he will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the November election.
Johnson will visit the Auburn Mall for a campaign office opening next week. It marks the first visit to the 2nd District by a major national figure. The event will be free to those who RSVP, according to an email to Theriault supporters.
Trump won the 2nd District both times. It has shifted heavily toward Republicans in the last decade or so, but Golden showed his durability by narrowly outpolling Trump four years ago and beating former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in a 2022 rematch of their first battle in 2018.
Theriault is trying to peel away a small but crucial share of conservative-leaning voters who have backed Golden during the last two election cycles. His campaign has hammered Golden on immigration, recently highlighting his vote last year against a border security bill although the congressman has voted with Theriault’s party on many other border issues.
The challenger’s campaign has repeatedly called Golden a “flip-flopper” in recent weeks, focusing on a string of recent public statements in which the congressman has said he would not vote Trump but wants to see how Harris campaigns before backing her. Golden’s campaign has retorted by calling Theriault a “follower” beholden to national figures.
The Golden-Theriault race is among roughly 30 of the most competitive House campaigns across the country. Decision Desk HQ, the Bangor Daily News’ national election results partner, gives Golden a 67 percent chance to win, putting the seat in the “lean Democratic” column.
