AUBURN, Maine — The national importance of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District was on display Wednesday when House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Maine to raise money and stump for Republican Austin Theriault in his race against U.S. Rep. Jared Golden.
Johnson, who was plucked from obscurity last October after a small group of Republicans moved to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, headlined a fundraiser for Theriault in Scarborough before traveling to Auburn to open a “battle station” office that House Republicans’ campaign arm will use to help members of the party up and down the ticket this November.
The 42-year-old Golden, a third-term Democrat and Marine veteran, has beaten back opponents despite representing a district carried by former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. With Trump on the ballot again in 2024, Republicans see an opportunity for Theriault, a 30-year-old former NASCAR driver from Fort Kent wrapping up his first legislative term.
Johnson drew cheers from the 400-plus people at Auburn Mall who fit inside a former shoe store housing the new office, saying Theriault’s contest against Golden is among the top five most important races this fall for House Republicans.
“I’m talking about Austin all over the country,” Johnson said.
The crowd included the occasional red “Make America Great Again” cap on heads of supporters and various state lawmakers. Former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican who lost his seat to Golden in 2018, and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pennsylvania, were also on hand.
“Too many people have forgotten what it’s like to struggle in rural America and make ends meet,” Theriault said. “And it’s unacceptable.”
Both parties have reserved millions of dollars for ads ahead of November. The district is seen as being firmly among the most competitive House districts in the country. Its importance is amplified by Republicans holding a slim 220-212 House majority over Democrats.
Theriault has played up his endorsement from former President Donald Trump while also promising to buck national Republicans on certain issues, such as cuts to Social Security and Medicare or a national abortion ban. It is a nod to Golden’s durability as a Democrat in a pro-Trump district.
Golden voted against President Joe Biden’s policies more than any other House Democrat in 2023 and predicted Biden would lose the election. After Biden decided to drop out of the race, Golden declined to join Democratic National Convention superdelegates in a Monday vote to officially make Vice President Kamala Harris the party’s presidential nominee.
Theriault and the House Republican campaign arm have repeatedly gone after Golden for “flip-flopping” on several issues and for not saying whether he would support the ticket of Harris and her newly-announced running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, in November.
Ahead of Johnson’s visit Wednesday, the Golden campaign said in a statement Theriault “was hand-picked by GOP insiders like Mike Johnson because they know he’ll rubber stamp their harmful, extreme agenda.”
“Mainers need independent leadership in Congress,” the Golden campaign said. “Austin Theriault is just another follower.”
