Former President Donald Trump endorsed Maine state Rep. Austin Theriault, former NASCAR driver, in the 2024 elections on Wednesday, slamming incumbent Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) for being “completely beholden to the Radical Left.”
Theriault is running to outseat Golden in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which Trump carried in the 2016 and 2020 elections and earned him an electoral vote, despite former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and now-President Joe Biden winning the Pine Tree State in their respective years.
“Former NASCAR Driver Austin Theriault is running for Congress in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District against Democrat Jared Golden, who poses as a ‘bipartisan politician,’ but is instead completely beholden to the Radical Left,” Trump said in his endorsement post on Truth Social, stating that Golden’s support of Biden’s policies “hurt Maine’s Great Lobstermen.”
“In Congress, Austin Theriault will work hard to Secure the Border, Protect our always under siege Second Amendment, Stop Crime, Cut Taxes, and Support Law Enforcement, Military, and Veterans,” the former president continued. “Austin Theriault has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Theriault thanked the former president for his endorsement in a statement on Wednesday.
“Joe Biden is failing and we need Trump back,” the state representative said. “I’m looking forward to working with President Trump to take Maine’s 2nd Congressional District back for the people. Rural Maine and the working class are hurting badly under Biden and Golden, and they need a real fighter.
“We need to secure the border, protect our 2nd Amendment, stop the inflation, and get rid of Joe Biden,” Theriault added. “This is about fighting for Mainers who don’t have a voice, and I’m excited to be working with another proven champion to Save America!”
Maine was one of several states that made efforts to remove Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. Golden had called for the former president to remain on the ticket despite Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’s decision to block him. However, the Supreme Court ruling against Colorado’s decision to remove Trump made Maine’s effectively void, so he will be an option for Maine voters in November.
“I voted to impeach Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th insurrection. I do not believe he should be re-elected as President of the United States,” Golden said in December. “However, we are a nation of laws, therefore until he is actually found guilty of the crime of insurrection, he should be allowed on the ballot.”
Theriault is one of 31 Republicans who will benefit from the joint fundraising committee Emmer Majority Builders in 2024, a new venture created by Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) in December 2023 focused on raising money for Republican incumbents and candidates. The campaign will transfer $5 million to 26 incumbents, five challengers, the National Republican Congressional Committee, Emmer’s reelection campaign, Emmer’s leadership PAC, and the Congressional Leadership Fund.
The Maine state representative has earned endorsements from several local lawmakers and state politicians, with support from Trump becoming his largest national Republican endorsement so far.
Golden’s seat is currently rated a toss-up with Republicans having a 6-point lead, according to the Cook Political Report. Theriault has been campaigning heavily on the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East since he entered the race last September, frequently blasting the Maine congressman to condemn his more progressive Democratic colleagues in the House who have called for ceasefires and aid to Palestinians.
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In October, Golden was the original co-sponsor and voted in favor of a bipartisan resolution that solidified the House’s support for Israel and condemned Hamas’s Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. The Maine Democrat also voted to support the censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), a progressive “Squad” member and the only Palestinian American in Congress, in November for her anti-Israel comments.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Golden for comment.