Trump endorses former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault in Maine congressional race

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday he’s giving Republican state Rep. Austin Theriault his “complete and total endorsement” in his run for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. 

The Fort Kent lawmaker is looking to unseat incumbent Jared Golden, a Democrat, who Trump said, “poses as a ‘bipartisan politician,’ but is instead completely beholden to the Radical Left.” Trump’s endorsement came in the form of a Truth Social post.

Golden frequently takes votes that buck that majority of the party, including in 2019 opposing one of two articles of impeachment levied at Trump. According to the data site FiveThirtyEight, he has voted in line with President Joe Biden 88.2% of time, which is the lowest of any Democratic member of the U.S. House. 

Maine’s 2nd Congressional District is one of 30 Democratically-held districts across the country that also voted for Trump for president in 2020. Golden won with 53% of the vote to Trump’s 52%.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Theriault wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I’m looking forward to working with you to take Maine’s 2nd Congressional District back for the people. Secure the border, stop crime, protect our 2nd Amendment, and get rid of Joe Biden.”

In the June 11 primary, Theriault is facing his legislative colleague, Republican state Rep. Michael Soboleski.