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As a lifelong Democrat and proud Mainer, I’m disappointed to see Matt Dunlap enter the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary. I think Rep. Jared Golden has earned the trust of his district because he listens to people from every walk of life, regardless of party.
I believe Golden understands that representing a district as large and politically diverse as Maine’s 2nd means weighing many perspectives and voting based on what’s best for the people he serves, not what party leaders in Washington demand. Sometimes that means breaking with Democratic leadership, and that’s fine by me. In fact, it’s exactly the kind of independence we need more of in Congress.
Too often, both national party leaders seem out of touch with the realities of rural Maine. Golden isn’t. I think he reflects our state’s values of fairness, pragmatism, and common sense. He knows leadership and truth usually live somewhere in the middle, outside the partisan noise.
Matt Dunlap is a loyal Democrat, but what I believe we need now is a loyal Mainer who votes his conscience. Jared Golden has done that time and again, and he deserves to be returned to Washington. I hope Democratic voters and donors recognize that and reward Jared’s independence.
Dana O’Brien
Jefferson
