AUGUSTA, Maine — U.S. Rep. Jared Golden may soon have one more 2024 challenger as the race for Maine’s closely divided 2nd Congressional District heats up.
First-term state Rep. Austin Theriault, a Fort Kent Republican and former NASCAR driver, is expected to announce by the end of the month his campaign to unseat Golden, according to a national Republican strategist who spoke on the condition that they were not identified.
The only other Republican to announce a bid against Golden is former Maine Senate candidate Robert Cross of Dedham, with freshman state Rep. Mike Soboleski of Phillips reportedly mulling a run in the GOP field as well, and others viewed as potential contenders. An unenrolled candidate, Kevin Ball, has also declared a 2024 run.
Theriault, a 29-year-old who was known for his success in auto racing before winning his seat as a political newcomer in 2022, may be the flashiest contender of that crop. Republicans will have a difficult task in unseating Golden, who has gained prominence for bucking his party in high-profile votes. He and former President Donald Trump won the district in 2020.
“We think he presents a really good contrast,” the national Republican strategist said of Theriault’s status as a younger politician from a culturally important part of the district.
Theriault has not responded to several requests for comment over the past week. Rep. Laurel Libby, an Auburn Republican from the arch-conservative wing of the State House, and Caratunk selectperson Liz Caruso have also been among several names floated in GOP circles as potential contenders. Neither responded to requests for comment Tuesday.
“I’ll only run if I believe I am the best conservative to defeat Jared Golden,” Soboleski said in a statement.
Candidates are circling in part because Cross, a mortgage broker who lost a 2022 primary to Sen. Peter Lyford, R-Eddington, has done little to keep others out of the primary field, raising only $36,000 in the first two months of his campaign. Golden reported more than $826,000 in donations from January through June, ending the period with about $611,000 in cash on hand.
Golden, a 41-year-old Marine veteran, has repeatedly taken heat from progressives in his party for voting with Republicans and against fellow Democrats on several issues, including on student debt relief, a defense budget with abortion limits, gun regulations and President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan.
He is the most conservative House Democrat on economic issues in both this Congress and the last one while leaning slightly more liberal on social issues, according to VoteView. Golden has taken more progressive stances on issues like tribal rights and campaign finance reform, and Republicans point out that he most often votes with his party.
They are optimistic a higher voter turnout in next year’s presidential election, with Trump the favorite to once again face President Joe Biden, will lead to more support for a GOP challenger against Golden in a district that Trump won twice. But Golden has proven durable, winning crossover support against former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in 2022.
Last year, Theriault defeated Democrat Dana Marie Appleby to win a St. John Valley seat long occupied by former House Speaker John Martin, one of the most influential politicians in state history.
Theriault started off on local racetracks as a teenager and reached the NASCAR Cup Series, the highest level of American racing, in 2019. After pausing his race career that same year due to an injury from a crash at Talladega Speedway, he transitioned into a career working as a racing consultant and driver mentor.
Theriault described himself while campaigning for the Maine House of Representatives as a moderate conservative, noting he has Democrats in his family and received support from some on the left while on the campaign trail in northern Maine’s St. John Valley, a heavily Catholic area that Democrats historically carried that features a strong anti-abortion electorate.
