The Republican candidates for the 2nd Congressional District mixed it up in Augusta Saturday as both men work to gain momentum ahead of the June 11 primary.
Rep. Mike Soboleski of Phillips and Rep. Austin Theriault of Fort Kent are competing for the right to face Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in November.
The Saturday debate — the first between the two men — kicked off the second day of the Maine Republican Party Convention, where more than 1,000 delegates and others gathered to gear up for a big political year.
And while Theriault and Soboleski largely agreed on border security and support for veterans, they offered different visions for their first action if elected to Washington.
Soboleski, a retired Marine and small businessman, said he would work with Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, to find a way to punish Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the country’s COVID-19 response.
“It would be to put in any kind of legislation I can to help Rand Paul bring Anthony Fauci to justice,” he said. “To hold that man accountable.”
Theriault, a former NASCAR driver, said his first act would be to “fund the completion of Trump’s border wall.”
“That’s by far the No. 1 issue if you’re talking to Republicans, Democrats or independents right now,” Theriault said.
Trump endorsed Theriault in the race and recent fundraising reports show Theriault with a large financial lead. Theriault has raised more than $1 million, while Soboleski has brought in just over $100,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Soboleski worked to draw contrasts, criticizing Theriault for a vote in the Legislature to create safe injection sites for those with substance use disorder.
“I was against that. Rep. Theriault, you voted in favor of those safe injection sites,” Soboleski said.
Theriault shot back: “How dare you stand on the grave of dead kids, Mike.”
Theriault said he has family members who suffer from addiction and that stigmatizing their illness will not help them recover.
“As a Christian we need to reach these people and we need to bring them into recovery,” he said.
When asked if they support embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson, Theriault said he “wouldn’t comment on whether I would support him or not.”
He said he opposes the aid to Ukraine recently approved, which drew applause from the audience.
Soboleski said he doesn’t approve of Johnson and that he also opposes the foreign aid package because it provides aid to Gaza and Israel. He said he’s firmly in support of Israel.
“How many people are going to die just because we funded both sides of the fight?” he said.
The candidates emphasized different reasons they believe they can defeat Golden in November.
Theriault said he’s got the financial backing and the ground game to get the votes needed to win.
“Our campaign, I’m proud to say, has not only blew past the million-dollar threshold of money raised primarily from Maine but we’re going to continue to work hard to get people on board who are not consistently involved in the political process,” he said.
Soboleski highlighted his military experience, saying he’s ready to take on Golden, a fellow veteran.
“Sending another veteran up against a veteran, that’s what’s going to win that CD2,” Soboleski said.
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