Part 2/9:
One of the most startling announcements came from Democratic Representative Jared Golden of Maine, who declared he would not seek re-election in 2026. Golden’s district is a prime example of a Republican-leaning seat now slipping from Democratic grasp. Historically trending towards the GOP—Trump won Maine’s second district by nine points last election—Golden’s narrow victory last cycle (less than 1%) was a clear indicator of vulnerability. His vote in favor of bipartisan measures like the continued government funding bill, which aligned him with Republican positions, drew ire from the far-left flank of his party and triggered a primary challenge from a Democrat who criticized him for not being liberal enough.