PORTLAND, Maine — U.S. House incumbent Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, is denying claims from state Republicans regarding his stance on several political issues as Maine's 2nd Congressional District race heats up ahead of the November election.
In a virtual news conference Tuesday, backers of Republican candidate Austin Theriault and leaders of the Maine GOP listed several claims that Golden's "flip-flopping" votes in Congress do not align with his campaign promises.
"You can't have it both ways. You can't vote one way and say you want something else," GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis said. "Voters in CD2 need somebody that's going to be a straight shooter that's going to tell it like it is."
This argument has reflected Theriault's campaign messaging in the past couple of weeks. Theriault also called out Golden on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday night over several issues spanning from Golden's stance on border security and the Biden administration.
However, representatives for Golden's campaign said the claims Republicans are making are far from the truth.
"We can keep playing these political games. The Theriault campaign and the Maine GOP can keep calling names," senior advisor Bobby Reynold said. "[Golden's] record is clear on the border. When it comes to gun control, Jared Golden is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment."
Reynold said Golden voted down the Secure the Border Act of 2023, but they argue it was because of a disagreement with the bill and not his stance on border security.
According to the Golden campaign, he has voted for several billion dollars in funding toward the border wall and related border security.
Reynold said Golden does own up to his change in stance on an assault weapons ban; Golden announced the change in stance following the October mass shootings in Lewiston.
"[Golden] stood up there and did something many politicians, in fact hardly any politicians ever do, is say, 'Hey, I got it wrong,'" Reynold added.
Maine Republicans have also questioned Golden's hesitation about a presidential endorsement.
Golden has said he does not support former President Donald Trump, and he is still waiting to hear Vice President Kamala Harris' policies and her decision on a running mate before making any official stance.
Harris is the frontrunner Democratic presidential candidate after Biden dropped out of the race for re-election, but no candidate for the party has been nominated until the Democratic National Convention, which is in August.