Lone US House Democrat to vote with Republicans on the funding bill draws a primary challenge

[orangecrush]

...



Maine Rep. Jared Golden, the only Democrat in the House to vote for the Republican-led government funding bill, drew a primary challenger Monday who accused him of consistently siding with the GOP over his own party.

State Auditor Matthew Dunlap’s bid sets the stage for a high-profile showdown in a district Democrats will likely need to hold to regain control of the US House. Golden represents one of the country’s most competitive districts, winning his 2024 race by less than a percentage point while President Donald Trump carried it by roughly 10 points.

Dunlap told CNN ahead of his announcement that Democrats are “very, very disenchanted with Jared,” and that Golden overplays the difficulty of winning the district.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/politics/jared-golden-matthew-dunlap-midterms

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. Good

We need a progressive in that seat, not a performative centrist.

[Jose Garcia]

3. Will a district that voted for Trump three times elect a progressive?

[orangecrush]

4. No but

Repubs in purple districts always vote in lockstep with their party on important issues and don't lose their seats

Time for us to show some unity.

[Keepthesoulalive]

5. He's voting against healthcare for millions of people

Unacceptable.

[Fiendish Thingy]

11. If their healthcare has doubled and we have double digit inflation and a recession, they just might. Nt

[rubbersole]

12. By next November the country will be in complete chaos caused by tsf.

If elections actually take place, and the legislative branch has any relevance, repubs will be pariahs.

[mountain grammy]

13. They'll be losing Medicaid and eggs will be $8/doz

So you're damn fucking right they will be...

[ThreeNoSeep]

7. I'd be happy with a conservative Democrat

Golden isn't even that.
He's so ineffective, even Collins' has no concern.

[Jose Garcia]

2. We will never win the House without winning some Trump districts

Trump won that district three times. You are not likely to last there if you vote straight party-line Democratic 100% of the time.

[mountain grammy]

15. Have you been to the grocery store lately?

We're being screwed.. all of us, trump voters too.. give it a minute.

[riversedge]

6. national Dems seem to want to stick with Golden.......

https://rollcall.com/2025/10/06/maine-election-jared-golden-primary-dunlap/


...........Golden, a moderate Democrat who sometimes bucks his party on major votes, already faces a competitive reelection, with Republican former Gov. Paul LePage entering the race earlier this year.

Dunlap’s launch video took aim at both men, with the narrator referring to Golden as “bad” and LePage as “worse.”

A former Maine secretary of state and state representative, Dunlap said in the video that he would fight back against the Trump administration if elected to Congress, declaring his support for “‘Medicare for All,’ living wages, affordable housing [and] universal child care.”

His announcement comes after national Democrats had sought to discourage him from running. A source familiar with those talks confirmed that the House Democratic campaign arm had “expressed to both Dunlap and state party leadership that, unless Golden is the nominee, it could jeopardize the seat, national investment in Maine, and therefore the path to the majority.”.......................

[ThreeNoSeep]

9. Maine Democrats need to show support for northern Maine

Maine District 2 used to be a reliable place for Democrats to win.
Things have changed. Now we barely have a DINO in office because of the state and national party strategy in the past 20 years. Democrats up here feel abandoned and often perceive the response of state and national party leadership as contemptuous towards them.
Our party loves asking for money, but they should do 1000-percent more for candidates in local elections. They should do 1000-percent more to help the rural folks in northern Maine deal with the hard realities of living in this remote region. They should spend some of that money - the money that we keep sending to them over and over again - on local election efforts, and maybe, just maybe, try keeping the healthcare facilities open and putting more money into the universities. Most people up here must travel over 100 miles just to go to Taco Bell or to see a physician.
If you want to see why the Democrats are struggling, just look at the willful ignore-ance they have for the people (regardless of party) in Northern Maine.

[gab13by13]

8. I get tired of seeing the law

that it takes a moderate to win in a purple or red district.

It takes an authentic candidate to win, moderate or progressive.

This guy also was the only House Dem to vote for the March CR.

Time to start picking the best candidate.

[mountain grammy]

16. Exactly!

[Emile]

10. Democrats who vote against the party, do so at their risk.

I don't think it's wrong to hold centrists accountable for their votes.

[Joinfortmill]

14. Good. Golden will soon be shit

[W_HAMILTON]

17. Can anyone point to the last bill where his not voting with Democrats swung the ultimate outcome?