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Theriault wins GOP primary to take on Rep. Jared Golden in Maine

by Jared Gans - 06/11/24 8:53 PM ET

State Rep. Austin Theriault, R-Fort Kent, speaks with a voter, Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Fairfield, Maine. Theriault is facing State Rep. Mike Soboleski, R-Phillips, in the Republican primary for the chance to try to unseat Jared Golden, one of the most conservative Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Maine state Rep. Austin Theriault has won the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) for the seat representing the state’s 2nd Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Theriault, a former NASCAR driver who had former President Trump’s endorsement, defeated fellow state Rep. Mike Soboleski for the nomination. The district will be a key battleground in the fall in what will likely be a close race for control of the House.

Golden has represented the 2nd District since 2019, and is running for his fourth term in office. But it’s a district that voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections and appears to be in a position to carry again, putting Golden in a potentially difficult spot of needing split-ticket voting.

Theriault also had the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) and far outraised Soboleski.

The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat as a toss-up.

Tags Jared Golden Maine Mike Johnson Republican primaries Steve Scalise