Jared Golden

Jared Golden is the U.S. Representative for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, first elected to the seat in 2018 as a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Lewiston and raised in the rural town of Leeds, Golden enlisted in the United States Marine Corps following the September 11 attacks. He served as an infantryman with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. After his military service, he attended Bates College, where he graduated with a degree in history and politics, and later worked as a staffer for Republican Senator Susan Collins on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Golden's political career began in the Maine House of Representatives, where he served two terms from 2014 to 2018 and was chosen by his colleagues to serve as the Assistant Majority Leader. His 2018 congressional victory was historic as he became the first member of Congress to be elected via ranked-choice voting. In Washington, he is known as a moderate Democrat and a leader of the Blue Dog Coalition, often focusing on issues impacting Maine’s heritage industries, such as fishing, logging, and shipbuilding, alongside veterans' affairs and small business support.

Golden maintains a centrist policy platform often characterized by pragmatic and bipartisan approaches. In healthcare, he supports lowering prescription drug costs through Medicare negotiation and has advocated for a Medicare buy-in option for Americans aged 50–64. On economic issues, he emphasizes the importance of local communities over large corporations, supporting infrastructure investment, union rights, and the preservation of Maine’s heritage industries. Regarding the environment, Golden acknowledges climate change as a significant threat to Maine’s economy and has voted for major climate legislation while opposing offshore oil and gas drilling to protect the state's coastline. His positions on national security and immigration frequently diverge from the progressive wing of his party; he has consistently voted to strengthen border security and provide more resources for law enforcement, and he has expressed support for ICE's authority to deport non-citizens who have committed crimes. In foreign policy, Golden has supported continued aid to Israel and cautious military engagement, often calling for congressional approval before the use of military force. He also supports protecting reproductive rights, including the codification of abortion access following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.