Biddeford man desires to oust Jared Golden in 2024 midterms
A Biddeford man has develop into the most recent challenger lining as much as tackle U.S. Rep. Jared Golden subsequent 12 months.
Elias Bassile lives within the 1st Congressional District, however is operating for the 2nd Congressional District seat as a result of Golden “does so little” for Maine, the impartial candidate instructed the Solar Journal.
Article 2 of the U.S. Structure doesn’t require Home candidates to dwell within the district they wish to symbolize. It solely requires that they dwell within the state the place the district is situated, are no less than 25 years outdated and have been a U.S. citizen for no less than seven years.
In 2022, Portland lawyer Tiffany Bond, an impartial, additionally vied for the 2nd District seat in a three-way race with Golden and former U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, a Republican, regardless of dwelling within the 1st District.
Bassile works for Maine Ammo in Saco, in accordance with the Solar Journal.
Bassile instructed the Solar Journal that he isn’t interested by stirring the pot in Washington, however desires to convey extra federal funds to Maine, pointing to the continued issues with homelessness, meals insecurity and excessive power payments within the state.
Bassile, a Michigan native who has lived in Maine for 3 a long time, received’t caucus with Democrats or Republicans, in accordance with the Solar Journal.
He plans to self-fund his marketing campaign, telling potential donors to not “trouble me,” the Solar Journal reported.
Bassile is the second impartial candidate to enter the 2nd District race, becoming a member of Kevin Ball of Bangor.
Three Republicans are vying for his or her occasion’s nomination to problem Golden subsequent 12 months. Former NASCAR driver and Fort Kent native Austin Theriault introduced his bid this week, becoming a member of mortgage dealer Robert Cross of Dedham and fellow first-term lawmaker Michael Soboleski of Phillips, who represents District 73 within the Maine Home.
Golden, 41, has a substantial head begin on his challengers, reporting greater than $826,000 in donations from January by means of June, ending the interval with about $611,000 in money available.
Golden, a Marine veteran of the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has repeatedly taken warmth from progressives in his occasion for voting with Republicans and towards fellow Democrats on a number of points, together with on pupil debt reduction, a protection finances with abortion limits, gun laws and President Joe Biden’s “Construct Again Higher” plan.
He’s probably the most conservative Home Democrat on financial points in each this Congress and the final one whereas leaning barely extra liberal on social points, in accordance with VoteView. Golden has taken extra progressive stances on points like tribal rights and marketing campaign finance reform, and Republicans level out that he most frequently votes together with his occasion.
