Austin Theriault, a former NASCAR driver and a Republican state lawmaker, has announced his bid to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The district, which covers the rural northern part of the state, is expected to be one of the most competitive House races in the 2024 election.
Background of Austin Theriault
Theriault, 29, is a native of Fort Kent, a town near the Canadian border. He started his racing career at the local speedway and worked his way up to NASCAR’s top level, competing in several races in 2019. However, he suffered a serious injury in a crash at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama that year, and has since stepped back from driving. He currently consults and mentors other drivers.
Theriault was elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2020, representing District 145. He serves on the Transportation Committee and the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee. He is also a member of the Sportsmen’s Caucus and the Franco-American Caucus.
Platform
Theriault said he decided to run for Congress because he wants to fight for the interests of rural Mainers who are struggling with issues like inflation, illegal immigration, and declining economic opportunities. He said he will “come in with fire” to challenge the policies of the Biden administration and the Democratic majority in Washington.
“Regular hard working folks are getting held down by out-of-touch, out-of-state elites who are clueless about how hard it is to make a living in Maine,” he said in a statement.
He also criticised Golden, who has represented the district since 2019, for voting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on key issues like impeaching former President Donald Trump and passing the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
“Jared Golden has betrayed us time and time again,” he said. “He talks like a moderate but votes like a radical.”
Competition
Theriault is not the only Republican who wants to challenge Golden in 2024. He joins mortgage broker Robert Cross of Dedham and another first-term state lawmaker, Michael Soboleski of Phillips, in the primary contest. More candidates may enter the race as well.
The winner of the Republican nomination will face a tough battle against Golden, who has proven to be a resilient and popular incumbent. Golden, a former Marine and state legislator, has won three times in the district, twice defeating former GOP Rep. Bruce Poliquin thanks to ranked-choice voting. The voting system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference and eliminates the lowest-ranked candidates until one gets a majority of votes.
Golden has also cultivated a moderate image by breaking with his party on some issues, such as opposing Pelosi’s bid for speaker in 2019 and voting against some progressive bills like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All. He has also focused on local issues like health care, veterans affairs, and infrastructure.
The 2nd Congressional District has become a hotly contested seat as the region has become more conservative in recent years. Trump won the district in 2016 and 2020, giving him one electoral vote each time under Maine’s split system. However, Golden was able to overcome Trump’s coattails and win reelection by a narrow margin of about 6 percentage points in 2020.
The race between Theriault and Golden will likely be one of the most watched and expensive House races in the country, as both parties will try to gain or retain control of the chamber. It will also test the appeal of both candidates’ backgrounds and platforms among rural voters who are often overlooked by national politics.
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