Democrats from across the state's 2nd Congressional District gathered in Bangor this Thursday to show united support for state Rep. Jared Golden.
The Lewiston Democrat was declared the district's primary winner under Maine's ranked-choice voting system with 54 percent of the vote, and he will face the two-term Republican incumbent Congressman Bruce Poliquin.
Golden said Poliquin's opposition to Medicaid expansion and his reluctance to engage in public discussions on issues of concern to voters should be a sign that it's time for a change.
"We're tired of having a congressman that doesn't really want to represent us, or that hides in the bathroom to avoid having to answer questions about a vote on health care access that's going to impact our lives," Golden said.
Conservationist candidate Lucas St. Clair, who ultimately finished second in the race with 46 percent of the vote, said the announced retirement of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy makes a Golden win even more important to 2nd district voters.
"Our democracy in this moment is being rattled to the very core," St. Clair said. "Knowing that Jarrod is willing to go through what he is going to go through in the next four months and put everything that he has into it is incredibly exciting for me."
Golden raised the most money in the primary. According to the political website The Hill he was among several young veterans running for office who were mentored by Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton.