“Congressman Jared Golden of Lewiston today announced his campaign for re-election to Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. ‘While I have considered many options for how best to continue serving the people of Maine, I have decided to run for re-election because the surest way to restore balance in Washington is for Democrats to win back the House of Representatives,’ Golden said. ‘While the election is still 18 months away and I remain focused on my responsibilities to my constituents and my family, I also know the path to the majority runs through Maine. And I am going to do what it takes to make sure no one like Paul LePage blusters his way into Congress.'”

“‘The stakes are clear: While the GOP in Congress is working overtime to take away Mainers health care and further rig the tax code for the rich, Jared is standing up for our health care, workers’ rights, reproductive freedom and Maine’s heritage industries,’ Golden’s campaign manager. ‘He’s a proven winner and the right choice to beat a candidate like Paul LePage and restore checks and balances in Congress,'” says a statement from Golden’s campaign via WABI.

House Dem leadership had been worried Golden would launch a bid against Concern Lady Susan Collins. It’s not clear how well he would’ve done, maybe it’d be a rough primary but if he survived he might’ve been a solid favorite in a general against Collins. Less uncertain is how the 2nd District would’ve gone with fat racist slob former Governor Paul LePage against a new Dem nominee – who in 2018, as he left office basically told Maine voters to go fuck themselves and moved to Florida – as LePage probably would’ve won pretty easily, despite the stink of reverse carpet-bagging.

Golden’s kind of like the Joe Manchin of the House, minus the corruption and cuntish sense of entitlement. Being one of the very few Dems to rep a red district – Maine’s 2nd, no less – he needs latitude to vote strategically on the shit that doesn’t matter to spend capital on what does. It’s gotten him through four elections, two of which had Trump on the same ballot that he won by 7 and 10 percent, respectively. Plus LePage took it 50 to 48 percent in his failed 2022 comeback bid.