Outgoing Rep. Jared Golden of Maine endorsed Rep. Mike Lawler (R-New York) for reelection in an op-ed published on September 21, 2026. Golden described Lawler as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, a move that has drawn criticism from some Democrats, particularly as Lawler's seat is considered a key target for the party in the upcoming elections. Democratic candidate Cait Conley is heavily supported by the House Democrats’ campaign arm.
One anonymous House Democrat criticized Golden's endorsement, stating, "Doesn’t sound like a Democrat to me. And his voting record doesn’t show he’s a Democrat either." Another Democrat expressed concern that Golden's endorsement could undermine Conley's chances, saying, "It’s a winnable seat that he’s helping to make more difficult."
Golden's endorsement comes as he has faced scrutiny for his voting record, which has often aligned with Republicans. In September, he participated in procedural votes alongside Republicans, further straining his relationship with the Democratic Party. Some House Democrats have called for leadership to reprimand centrist members like Golden and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington), who is running for reelection.
In his op-ed, Golden highlighted his bipartisan work with Lawler, including their collaboration on the Northeast Lobstermen Protection Act, which passed with support from both parties. He stated, "That is how Congress is supposed to work: members of different parties set aside their disagreements, find a problem that matters to the country and fix it."
Despite the backlash, some Democrats expressed a more pragmatic view of Golden's endorsement, with one stating they did not disapprove because they believe Lawler is not beatable. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee did not respond to requests for comment, and Conley did not reply to a text seeking her input.