Former state Rep. Austin Theriault filed to run for his old St. John Valley seat in 2026, marking a political return for the former NASCAR driver who almost won a seat in Congress.
The 32-year-old Republican from Fort Kent is running amid an Aroostook political realignment. Second-term Sen. Sue Bernard, R-Caribou, is leaving her seat. Freshman Rep. Lucien Daigle, R-Fort Kent, who was elected in 2024 to replace Theriault, is running for the upper chamber.
It would be a political return for someone who figures to hold a prominent role on the Maine Republican bench for future higher offices. He came roughly 2,700 votes short of ousting U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from the 2nd District, after a 2024 campaign in which the challenger was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Theriault filed to run Monday. No Democrat has announced plans to run for the seat long held by the powerful former House Speaker John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, who lost to Daigle in 2024. In a statement, he placed energy costs, addiction and problems facing schools and small businesses among the reasons for his run.
“I am hoping to help change that dynamic and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to compete to represent my community,” he said.
The reshuffling in the St. John Valley comes on the heels of a full Republican takeover of an area long dominated by Franco-American Democrats. They hold every legislative seat in Aroostook County, though they have a path to putting some seats back in their column.
In Fort Fairfield, Republican Mark Babin decided to not run again for his House seat after two terms in office. Former Rep. David McCrea, D-Fort Fairfield, is running after losing to Babin in 2024. Rep. Roger Albert, D-Madawaska, is facing a rematch from former Rep. Danny Martin, D-Sinclair, a former inland fisheries and wildlife commissioner.
