Jared Golden

Jared Golden
Born	Jared Forrest Golden 25 07, 1982
Birthplace	Lewiston, Maine, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, U.S. Representative
Known for	First U.S. representative elected by ranked-choice voting after placing second in the first round of tabulation
Education	Bates College (BA)
Children	2
Awards	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal
Website	[golden.house.gov Official site]

Jared Forrest Golden (born July 25, 1982) is an American politician and United States Marine Corps veteran who has served as the U.S. representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Golden represents a sprawling district that encompasses the northern four-fifths of the state of Maine, including the cities of Lewiston, Bangor, and Auburn, as well as the state capital of Augusta. The district is the largest congressional district east of the Mississippi River by land area. Golden is notable as the only member of the U.S. House of Representatives to have won election through ranked-choice voting after initially placing second in the first round of vote tabulation, a distinction he achieved in his first congressional race in 2018. A combat veteran who served deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, Golden has described himself as a "progressive conservative" and previously served as co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally moderate Democratic members of Congress. On November 5, 2025, Golden announced that he would not seek re-election in 2026.

Early Life

Jared Forrest Golden was born on July 25, 1982, in Lewiston, Maine, a working-class mill city in Androscoggin County. He grew up in the Lewiston-Auburn area. Golden has spoken publicly about his roots in the region, which informed his later political focus on issues affecting rural and working-class communities in Maine.

After high school, Golden enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2002, beginning a period of military service that would shape his public identity and political career. He served as a Corporal in the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, an infantry battalion based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. During his four years of service from 2002 to 2006, Golden was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan as part of U.S. combat operations in those countries. For his service, he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Golden's military experience became a central element of his biography in his subsequent political career. He has frequently cited his service as formative in developing his views on public policy, national security, and civic responsibility. His background as a combat veteran distinguished him in Maine politics and later in Congress, where he became one of a number of post-9/11 veterans elected to federal office.

Education

After completing his service in the Marine Corps in 2006, Golden pursued higher education. He initially attended the University of Maine at Farmington before transferring to Bates College, a private liberal arts college located in his hometown of Lewiston, Maine. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College. Golden's decision to attend college in his home community reflected his deep ties to the Lewiston-Auburn area, where he would subsequently launch his political career.

Career

Maine State Legislature

Golden began his political career at the state level. In 2014, he was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, representing the 60th district. He succeeded Nate Libby in the seat. During his tenure in the state legislature, Golden rose to a leadership position within the Democratic caucus. He served in the Maine House from December 3, 2014, until December 5, 2018, when he left to take his seat in the U.S. Congress. He was succeeded in the state legislature by Kristen Cloutier.

Golden's time in the Maine House provided him with legislative experience and a platform from which to build name recognition in the region. His status as a young combat veteran and his positioning as a moderate-to-conservative Democrat helped him establish a political identity suited to his district's demographics.

2018 Congressional Campaign

On August 24, 2017, Golden announced his candidacy for Maine's 2nd congressional district, challenging the Republican incumbent Bruce Poliquin. He positioned himself as a veteran who wanted to continue serving his community and country through public office.

Golden won the Democratic primary, securing his party's nomination to face Poliquin in the general election. The general election in November 2018 was historic, as it was the first congressional race in the United States to be decided by ranked-choice voting, which Maine voters had approved by referendum in 2016.

In the first round of ranked-choice tabulation, Golden placed second behind Poliquin. Poliquin received a plurality of first-choice votes but fell short of the majority threshold required to win outright. After the elimination of third-party candidates and the redistribution of their voters' second-choice preferences, Golden overtook Poliquin and was declared the winner. This made Golden, along with Maine's other members of Congress Angus King and Chellie Pingree, among the first members of Congress elected through ranked-choice voting. Golden remains the only U.S. representative to have won a congressional seat after initially placing second in the first round of tabulation.

Poliquin challenged the result in federal court, arguing that ranked-choice voting was unconstitutional. In December 2018, a federal court ruled against Poliquin's challenge. Poliquin subsequently dropped his legal challenge later that month, clearing the way for Golden to take office.

U.S. House of Representatives

Golden was sworn into office on January 3, 2019, succeeding Bruce Poliquin as the representative for Maine's 2nd congressional district. On his first day in Congress, Golden voted against Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, an early signal of his independent streak within the Democratic caucus.

Golden quickly established himself as one of the more moderate Democrats in the House. He became a member and eventually co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a caucus of centrist and fiscally conservative Democrats. He served as co-chair for administration of the Blue Dog Coalition from January 3, 2023, to January 3, 2025, succeeding Stephanie Murphy in the role and being succeeded by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Political positioning and electoral competitiveness

Golden's district has been one of the most politically competitive in the country. Maine's 2nd congressional district was carried by Donald Trump in both the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, yet Golden won his own re-election races in both of those cycles. This crossover appeal made Golden one of a small number of House Democrats representing districts that voted for Trump at the presidential level.

Golden has described himself as a "progressive conservative," a label that reflects his willingness to break with his party on certain issues while maintaining broadly Democratic positions on others. His self-described political identity and voting record have drawn attention from political analysts as an example of how Democrats can remain competitive in rural, Republican-leaning areas.

Legislative activity and recent positions

In Congress, Golden has taken positions on a range of issues, often emphasizing fiscal responsibility, veterans' affairs, and the needs of rural communities. His record includes instances of crossing party lines on key votes.

In January 2026, Golden released a statement supporting ICE operations in Maine, provided they were focused on targeting criminals. "ICE activity in Maine 'serves the public interest' if criminals are targeted," Golden stated, distinguishing his position from some other members of his party who were more critical of immigration enforcement actions. This stance highlighted the divisions within the Maine congressional delegation; Golden and fellow Democratic Representative Chellie Pingree were on opposite sides of a $64 billion Department of Homeland Security funding bill.

Golden continued to engage on ICE-related policy as operations expanded, releasing further statements on the matter.

On fiscal matters, Golden voted in favor of a final funding package aimed at averting a government shutdown, emphasizing the importance of stable government operations.

In February 2026, Golden released a statement following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down tariffs imposed by President Trump, weighing in on the trade policy debate.

In late February 2026, reports indicated that Golden would not be attending President Trump's State of the Union address, joining most of the Maine congressional delegation in skipping the event. Independent Senator Angus King stated he could not "in good conscience participate in a function with this President at its center," though Golden's specific reasons were part of broader coverage of the delegation's decisions.

Announcement of Retirement

On November 5, 2025, Golden announced that he would not seek re-election to Congress in 2026. The announcement drew national attention given the competitive nature of his district. As a Democrat who had repeatedly won in a district carried by Donald Trump at the presidential level, Golden's departure raised questions about the party's ability to hold the seat. His decision not to run came at a time when Democrats faced challenges in maintaining representation in rural and politically mixed districts across the country.

Personal Life

Golden has maintained strong ties to his hometown of Lewiston, Maine, throughout his career. He has two children. Golden's identity as a Marine Corps veteran and a native of a working-class Maine city has been a consistent element of his public persona. He has spoken about how his military service and his upbringing in Lewiston shaped his approach to policy and politics.

Recognition

Golden's 2018 election was a landmark event in American electoral history. His victory marked the first time a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives won a seat through ranked-choice voting after trailing in the first round of vote tabulation. The race received extensive national media coverage and became a widely cited case study in discussions about electoral reform and alternative voting systems in the United States.

During his military service, Golden was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his performance as a Marine Corporal serving with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines.

Golden's ability to win and hold a congressional seat in a district that voted for Donald Trump in two consecutive presidential elections brought him recognition as one of the Democratic Party's most effective crossover candidates. His role as co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition further cemented his reputation as a centrist voice within the party.

Legacy

Golden's tenure in Congress coincided with a period of intense political polarization in the United States. His career illustrates the challenges and possibilities of representing a politically divided district as a member of a national party. His repeated electoral victories in a Trump-carried district made him a subject of interest for political strategists and commentators examining the viability of moderate Democratic candidates in rural America.

His 2018 election remains the most prominent example of ranked-choice voting producing an outcome different from what would have occurred under traditional plurality voting in a U.S. congressional race. The legal challenge mounted by his opponent Bruce Poliquin, and its subsequent dismissal by a federal court, established an early legal precedent regarding the constitutionality of ranked-choice voting in federal elections.

As a post-9/11 combat veteran who transitioned from military service to state and then federal office, Golden is part of a broader cohort of veteran-politicians who entered Congress in the 2010s and 2020s. His self-described "progressive conservative" identity reflected an effort to bridge ideological divides, particularly on issues affecting rural and working-class communities.

His November 2025 announcement that he would not seek re-election marked the end of a congressional career that spanned at least three terms, during which he navigated the complex political landscape of one of the most competitive districts in the country.