Maine Democratic Rep Jared Golden says he will not seek reelection

Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who represents a district won by President Trump, said he will not seek reelection.

Golden, a four-term House member, was facing a Democratic primary challenger and strong opposition from former GOP Gov. Paul LePage, POLITICO reported. Trump also won Golden's district by 10 points last year.

He wrote in an op-ed on Wednesday “that now is the right time to step away from elected office.”

“I have never loved politics,” Golden wrote in the Bangor Daily News. “But I find purpose and meaning in service, and the Marine in me has been able to slog along through the many aspects of politics I dislike by focusing on the good work that Congress is capable of producing with patience and determination.”

“But after 11 years as a legislator, I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community — behavior that, too often, our political leaders exhibit themselves,” he continued.

Golden's Democratic challenger, state auditor Matt Dunlap who started his campaign last month, posted on X following the congressman's announcement, "I want to thank Jared Golden for his military service and years in public office. We may have disagreed on issues, but I believe he is a good person, husband, and father."

The congressman said that he was leaving public life partly because of the increase in political violence around the country, citing the assassination of Charlie Kirk, attempted assassinations of Trump, the attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and the killing of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman.