Rep Jared Golden (D-ME)

House Democrat Jared Golden of Maine announced on Wednesday that he will not seek reelection, citing “recent events,” including political violence, polarization, and the “grim milestone” of his own party shutting the government down for the longest period in history. 

Golden is one of two Congress members from Maine, and Trump won his district by 10 points last election. Per Politico, he faces a “strong challenge” from former Maine GOP Gov. Paul LePage as Democrats seek to take the House majority next election.

Axios reports that the district is “the most Republican leaning district of any House Democrat.”

Golden announced his departure from Congress on X:

“I’m confident that were I to run again, I would win. But recent events have made me reconsider whether the good I can do in Congress still outweighs the cost to my family,” he said.

“I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in decades of public service. Now, I look forward to my next chapter: raising my young daughters with Izzy and spending more time with our family and friends.”

After much deliberation, I’ve decided not to seek reelection in 2026.

I’m confident that were I to run again, I would win. But recent events have made me reconsider whether the good I can do in Congress still outweighs the cost to my family.

I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished…

— Jared Golden for Congress (@golden4congress) November 5, 2025

In a column for Bangor Daily News, Golden writes that he fears for the safety of his family, given the attempts on President Trump’s life last year and the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as well as the assassination of two Minnesota lawmakers and the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home, both of which were committed by leftists.

Golden tries to make it appear that both sides are responsible for the extremism and polarization, citing the violence against Democrats without mentioning the culprits’ political ideology– a No Kings leftist and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz affiliate and a pro-Hamas thug– and bashing the MAGA movement and President Trump. Still, he does admit that Democrats are “allowing the most extreme, pugilistic elements of our party to call the shots,” pointing to the party’s hypocrisy in shutting down the government.

He writes,

Consider recent history. We have seen mainstream Republicans stand by as their party was hijacked first by Tea Party obstructionists and then by the MAGA movement and its willingness to hand much of Congress’ authority to the president. The GOP that used to have room for people like Olympia Snowe and Bill Cohen was taken over by these waves of extremists. The party, and our country, are worse off for it.

I fear Democrats are going down the same path. We’re allowing the most extreme, pugilistic elements of our party to call the shots. Just look again at the shutdown. For as long as I can remember, we have opposed shutting down the government over policy disputes. We criticized Republicans for taking hostages this way. But this year, reeling from the losses of the last election, too many Democrats have given into demands that we use the same no-holds barred, obstructionary tactics as the GOP.

Jordan Conradson Jordan Conradson, formerly TGP’s Arizona correspondent, is currently on assignment in Washington DC. Jordan has played a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption in Arizona's elections and elected officials. His reporting on election crimes in Maricopa County led to the resignation of one election official, and he was later banned from the Maricopa County press room for his courage in pursuit of the truth. TGP and Jordan finally gained access after suing Maricopa County, America's fourth largest county, and winning at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Conradson looks forward to bringing his aggressive style of journalism to the Swamp.

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