By U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a centrist Democrat from Maine whose coastal district backed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, announced Wednesday that he will not seek reelection—closing a congressional career defined by moderation, grit, and rare cross-party cooperation in an era of deepening polarization.
Golden, who has represented Maine’s 2nd Congressional District since 2019, disclosed his decision in a personal essay published by the Bangor Daily News. The three-term congressman cited the rising incivility of national politics, mounting fears over political violence, and a desire to spend more time with his family.
“After much deliberation, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2026,” Golden wrote. “I am forever grateful for the honor of serving my constituents in Congress, and proud of what I’ve accomplished for Maine. But recently, it became clear that now is the right time to step away from elected office.”
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
A former Marine who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Golden built a reputation as a pragmatic dealmaker in a chamber increasingly defined by partisan gridlock. His sprawling district—from the working waterfronts of Portland’s outskirts to the forested Canadian border—remains one of the few in the nation where Democrats must win over conservative voters to survive.
In his essay, Golden offered a rare personal reflection on the burdens of political life, admitting he was never drawn to its theatrics. “I have never loved politics,” he said. “But I find purpose and meaning in service, and the Marine in me has been able to slog along through the many aspects of politics I dislike by focusing on the good work that Congress is capable of producing with patience and determination.”
Golden’s announcement lands amid a climate of heightened anxiety in Washington, where threats against elected officials have surged. He acknowledged that recent acts of violence had forced him to reevaluate the personal risks of public service. “Recent instances of political violence have made me reassess the frequent threats against me and my family,” he said.
Over six years in office, Golden championed veterans’ issues, fisheries management, and infrastructure investment geared toward Maine’s rural and blue-collar communities. His independence—occasionally breaking ranks with his party—drew criticism from progressives but won him crossover appeal that allowed him to hold a Trump-leaning seat through three election cycles.
Golden is key to Democrats taking the House in 2026. First elected in 2018 by a razor-thin margin, Golden survived successive challenges in 2022 and 2024, even as Trump carried the district decisively. His departure now sets the stage for a fierce 2026 contest in one of the country’s few remaining swing districts.
“Maine has been incredibly fortunate to have Jared Golden’s steady leadership,” said Maine Democratic Party Chair Karissa Handley. “His decision is a loss for Congress, but we respect his choice to prioritize his family after years of dedicated service.”
Golden’s final months in office were marked by increasing hostility from the left, culminating in direct confrontations from anti-war activists who accused him of betraying progressive values. In early November, seven demonstrators were arrested after staging a sit-in at his Bangor office, demanding that the congressman support a Gaza ceasefire resolution in response to Israel’s military campaign. The group—composed of local writers, artists, and members of Veterans for Peace—read aloud the names of Palestinian civilians killed in the conflict before refusing to leave the premises. Police charged them with criminal trespassing and transported them to Penobscot County Jail.
The protest reflected growing anger among left-wing organizers after Golden voted for a Republican-sponsored bill to provide $14.3 billion in additional military aid to Israel, financed through cuts to the IRS. Activists accused him of complicity in “dropping bombs on civilians,” as one protester, Kristen Salvatore, told Maine Morning Star. Their outrage intensified when Golden joined 21 other Democrats in voting to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib—the only Palestinian-American in Congress—for her remarks defending the phrase “from the river to the sea.” The move drew sharp backlash from progressive circles, many of which linked Golden’s vote to contributions he received from the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.
For Golden, who had already voiced concern about political threats and the deterioration of public discourse, these episodes underscored the volatility of modern politics—where attacks now come from both ideological extremes. His condemnation of a pro-Palestine rally in Portland and refusal to align with calls for a ceasefire placed him in the crossfire of activists who once viewed him as an ally. The Bangor sit-in, followed by the censure vote uproar, encapsulated the fraught climate that helped drive the Marine-turned-congressman to conclude that “now is the right time to step away from elected office.”
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