BELFAST, Maine — As former president Donald Trump widens his vast lead over Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary, Maine voters feel the impacts of his likely victory could spill into races in the state.
As Rep. Jared Golden, the incumbent Democrat, seeks to hold on to his seat in Maine's second district for another term, some see Trump’s place atop the GOP and his popularity among a loyal base as a large help to Golden’s Republican opponent, a spot state representatives Austin Theriault and Michael Soboleski are competing for right now.
"I’m afraid [a victory for Golden] won’t work this time around. I think he does need a moderate quite a bit actually," Bill Small, a voter, said Sunday.
Maine’s second congressional district covers much of the interior of the state and includes many rural, conservative areas like Piscataquis and Aroostook counties as well as Maine’s second largest city, Lewiston, which is traditionally more left-leaning.
While the district voted for Trump in 2020, Golden secured victory down the ticket. To those who disagree with Small’s assessment, this fact won’t change in 2024.
“In my mind, the Democrat is really the only choice,” Bryan Maclaren, who lives in Waldo County, said Sunday. "The performance of Republicans over the last six, eight years is absolutely appalling."
Still, other voters believe what is happening on the national stage doesn’t have bearing here in Maine.
As Mark Guido of Waldo County puts it, "I don’t think its going to affect the Maine race at all."
