Democratic Rep. Jared Golden isn’t only being challenged by Republican former state Rep. Dale Crafts in his Maine district, he’s also up against a popular President Trump.
But despite the headwinds down-ballot, Golden, 38, is polling strongly against Crafts, 61, often posting a double-digit lead ahead of their Nov. 3 election.
Golden, a well-funded former U.S. Marine who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, represents four-fifths of Maine, the 2nd Congressional District covering much of the state’s north. He gained national attention after he voted against one of the two articles of impeachment brought against Trump last year, the only House Democrat to do so.
Crafts, a paralyzed businessman who started a venture helping people with disabilities drive, has repeatedly tried to insert himself in the race. He’s been attacking Golden with claims he supports defunding police departments. Golden did back the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in June, but that bill only conditions money on departments meeting certain criteria.
Golden, an ex-state lawmaker and logistics executive, was initially elected to Congress in 2018 after he ousted two-term Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin via Maine’s first test of its new ranked-choice voting system. Poliquin, the first House incumbent to be booted in the state since 1916, challenged the results of the contest, one of the country’s most expensive, in federal court.
Trump is polling well ahead of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Maine’s 2nd District. Though the president’s behind statewide, Maine splits its electoral votes. Vulnerable GOP Sen. Susan Collins is performing solidly in the swing district as well.
