Politics
Our political journalists are based in the Maine State House and have deep source networks across the partisan spectrum in communities all over the state. Their coverage aims to cut through major debates and probe how officials make decisions. Read more Politics coverage here.
DENMARK, Maine — The peculiarities of Maine’s 2nd District are often found in small, rural towns like this one in southern Oxford County.
With only about 1,200 residents, Denmark has narrowly backed U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a third-term Democrat, over past Republican challengers while Oxford County and the congressional district as a whole have backed former President Donald Trump.
The town showing stunning fall colors in late October will again offer an interesting look at Golden’s levels of crossover appeal as he faces state Rep. Austin Theriault in a race that could help determine whether Republicans keep a slim House majority or lose it to Democrats.
Golden, 42, a Lewiston Democrat and Marine veteran in office since 2018, is seeking to once again win a sliver of Republicans who feel he is independent enough. Theriault, 30, a Fort Kent Republican and former NASCAR driver who served one term in the Maine House of Representatives, needs to wrest away that small group to knock off the incumbent.
Trump endorsed Theriault during his primary. Golden has said he will not vote for Trump but has refused to say if he will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris or another candidate. Even amid plenty of national issues and spending coloring the race in its final stretch, more independent-minded 2nd District voters are simply thinking about the authenticity of each man.
Interviews on Thursday with customers of various political stripes at Jimbob’s General Store on Denmark’s Main Street gave glimpses of each man’s appeal and weaknesses. It only came down to one or two issues for several of the voters.
“Trump is not good for the country,” said Mike Fiola, 43, a firefighter who lives in nearby Fryeburg and has previously voted for candidates from both parties, alluding to the former president’s vow to go after self-described enemies if elected. “Pretty much anybody who comes close to supporting him, I’m not much a fan of.”
Kevin Flaherty, 70, a veteran and retired firefighter who lives in Denmark, supports Theriault and cited Golden’s decision to reverse himself by supporting an assault-style weapons ban after last year’s mass shooting in Golden’s hometown of Lewiston.
“Any kind of gun control, I don’t want to hear it,” Flaherty said before also railing against Maine’s ranked-choice voting system, under which Golden ousted Republican Bruce Poliquin in 2018.
Much like the presidential race between former Trump and Harris, the 2nd District contest appears close based on polling. Republicans publicized internal polling this week that showed Theriault ahead by 2 percentage points but Golden winning 12 percent of Republicans. That is above the share that Democrats think Golden needs to keep his seat.
Each man has drawn both praise and skepticism for their self-described independence. Golden, with tattoos on his arms, is apt to ditch formal attire for a more casual look during interviews and debates. Republicans have accused him of changing his mind on issues, such as his decision to support an assault-style weapons ban.
But Golden has opposed other gun-control measures and voted against President Joe Biden’s policies more than any other House Democrat in 2023, also highlighting in ads his work with the Trump administration to expand substance abuse treatment options for Maine veterans.
Patty Drain, 51, the secretary of the Denmark Planning Board whose husband is also a veteran, said she supports Golden because of his veteran advocacy despite how she and her husband generally lean Republican.
Theriault, with a St. John Valley accent that highlights his roots, ran for the State House on a moderate platform while mentioning he has Democratic family members, and he has insisted he will buck national Republicans if they seek Social Security cuts. At the same time, Theriault recently released an ad targeting Republicans by touting his endorsement from Trump.
Theriault will stick to his promises if elected to Congress, said Allison Coombs of Minot, who has worked with Theriault in racing for 14 years and was on his pit crew in 2010 for the American-Canadian Tour, a late model stock car series.
“Austin has always been a very intelligent, thoughtful, humble and funny person, and that has not changed,” Coombs said.
Tobias Parkhurst, the co-founder of Cushnoc Brewing Co. in Augusta, who heads up Golden’s coalition of independent supporters, said he appreciates how the congressman is “a regular person who really cares about Maine and isn’t afraid to stand up to whomever.”
Both Golden and Theriault have pulled in donations from an array of out-of-state groups and committees affiliated with sitting members of Congress that have also poured millions into 2nd District ads.
While Golden has outraised Theriault over the course of the campaign, the Republican has gotten heavy outside help. One campaign finance expert released updated figures Wednesday that found national groups have put about $16 million into supporting either Theriault or Golden, with Theriault having a roughly $3 million edge over Golden.
The remaining undecided 2nd District voters are not always vocal or easy to find. But their influence looms large in this race.
“I’d like to know who they are though,” Flaherty, the Theriault supporter in Denmark, said. “If you can’t be decided by now, I’m like, whatever.”
