The Case Against Austin Theriault

“Jared Golden is an independent fighter who has always put Maine families first. A combat Marine from a small business family, Golden has protected benefits seniors earned, made health care more affordable, supported Maine’s lobstermen, and protected women’s reproductive freedoms in Congress. Golden works with anyone to reduce costs for Mainers and fights for workers’ rights no matter what. Meanwhile, Austin Theriault’s inexperience and fidelity to extreme party bosses are out of step with this fiercely independent district. Mainers will resoundingly re-elect Jared Golden in November, just like they’ve done the past six years,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.

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To: Interested Parties
From: Ellie Dougherty, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: June 11, 2024
Subject: The Case Against Austin Theriault

Heading into November’s general election, Mainers have a clear choice between the independent, Maine-first leadership of Jared Golden and an inexperienced, Washington hand-picked extremist in Austin Theriault.

Born and raised in Maine’s Second Congressional District, Jared Golden learned the value of hard work at an early age through his family’s multi-generational small business in Androscoggin County. After graduating from Leavitt Area High School, Jared enrolled at the University of Maine at Farmington until he enlisted in the Marines following 9/11, where he served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In Congress, Golden has secured millions for logging apprenticeships, first responders, shipbuilder training, and economic development. He’s also protected the benefits seniors’ earned, made healthcare more affordable, and supported Maine’s lobstermen.

Jared Golden has been elected to Congress three times because of his willingness to work across the aisle to lower costs, advocate for border security and law enforcement, and protect Mainers’ freedoms – including common sense laws that protect women’s right to abortion care and the right to lawfully own a gun.

The same cannot be said for Austin Theriault. Theriault is an inexperienced candidate who left Maine as soon as he could. When he returned to Maine, less than three years ago, Theriault’s personal ambition led him to immediately run for office. In the State House, Theriault supported restricting Mainers’ abortion access and voted against ensuring women had access to reproductive care. He repeatedly voted against the interests of working families, including against establishing Maine’s paid family and medical leave program, against raising the minimum wage, and for so-called “right to work” measures. Theriault even failed to vote on bipartisan legislation to lower tax burdens as Maine retirees struggle to keep up with high costs.

Now, in his campaign for Congress, Theriault is proving each day he’d only do the bidding of the GOP establishment in Washington. Mainers can’t afford Austin Theriault’s extremism.

THERIAULT ABANDONED MAINE AND CAN’T GRASP MAINERS’ PRIORITIES 

Austin Theriault doesn’t have a full grasp on what issues are most important to Mainers because he’s spent nearly half of his life living outside of Maine. Immediately after graduating from high school, Theriault left Maine for his “home base” in North Carolina. Now, despite claiming to return full-time to Maine in 2022, Theriault still owns a home in Charlotte, North Carolina yet does not own a home in Aroostook County – even though he represents the area in the Maine House of Representatives.

But it’s not just about abandoning Maine – a quick overview of Austin Theriault’s resume makes it abundantly clear that he lacks the experience to represent Maine’s Second Congressional District in Congress.

Austin Theriault chased the high-life and fame in North Carolina but has held few positions that qualify him to deliver the type of leadership that Maine families deserve. And when it comes to governing, he has little to show from his brief tenure in the Maine House of Representatives. Theriault has only introduced three pieces of legislation – two of which failed to become law – and has gotten nothing done on issues that matter to Mainers, like working to lower the cost of living, securing the border, or creating good-paying union jobs.

In his run for Congress, Theriault has yet to offer any plans to address the challenges Mainers are facing – further underscoring that he’d be unqualified and out of touch in Washington.

THERIAULT IS ALREADY RACING TOWARDS THE SWAMP

Austin Theriault’s campaign for Congress has been built on the backs of Republican Party bosses in Washington who have given him their full-throated endorsements and are pushing an extreme anti-worker agenda – including Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Richard Hudson (R – Theriault’s Home Base), House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York.

Theriault has profusely boasted about this support, and, consequently, put his money where his mouth is. In his first television ad in his campaign for Maine’s Second Congressional District, Theriault actively chose not to highlight what he’d do in Congress to serve as an independent voice for Mainers’ interests but instead touted his endorsement from the national Republican Party’s leader – Donald Trump.

Theriault’s unabashed loyalty to his Republican Party bosses in Washington – while failing to put forth any actual solutions to problems working-class Mainers experience – proves he’s racing towards the swamp in order to do the bidding of the GOP establishment, not Mainers.

This stands in stark contrast to Jared Golden’s strong reputation for being an independent voice for Mainers in Congress, which he’s built by consistently doing what’s right for Maine’s Second Congressional District, no matter what.

THERIAULT VOTED AGAINST MAINERS’ FREEDOMS IN THE STATE HOUSE

Austin Theriault has repeatedly voted to restrict Mainers’ freedoms and has proven to be a rubber stamp for extremists during his brief tenure in the Maine House of Representatives.

Theriault talked out of both sides of his mouth on Mainers’ reproductive freedoms during his 2022 campaign, pledging both to restrict abortion access statewide and maintain current laws. He then voted against protecting reproductive freedoms for women in complex medical situations. And he didn’t stop there – Theriault subsequently voted against bills to fund family planning services and to keep access to abortion care during health care providers’ mergers or acquisitions.

Theriault also turned his back on Maine families and workers. His refusal to support bills that would establish Maine’s paid family leave program, raise Maine’s minimum wage to $15, and provide Mainers tax relief underscores Theriault’s lack of concern for the financial security and well-being of his constituents. Additionally, Theriault further exposed his disdain for working Mainers by ardently backing a proposal to create taxpayer-funded lodging for legislators – which was “roundly panned” as harmful to local small businesses and out of touch with Maine families facing a housing shortage.

Meanwhile, Jared Golden has always fought to protect Mainers’ freedoms and to champion workers’ rights. In Congress, he led a coalition of House members to push for the passage of the PRO Act, one of the most significant pro-labor bills in a generation. Jared has also fought for Maine’s heritage industries and used his position on the House Small Business Committee to advocate for and help Maine businesses to ensure that communities succeed.

Golden’s also pushing to restore reproductive freedoms nationwide so that women – not politicians – can determine their own health care choices. And while Theriault is racing towards the swamp, Golden is leading the effort to fight political corruption by closing the politician-to-lobbyist pipeline, limiting the influence of corporate dark money in politics, and banning Members of Congress from trading stocks, because he believes our representatives should represent us – not corporate interests.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

Bangor Daily News: I have a plan to protect public service and fight political corruption [Bangor Daily News, 5/17/24]

The Maine Wire: Jared Golden Urges Delay of Increase to Minimum Allowable Catch Size for Maine Lobstermen [The Maine Wire, 5/1/24]

Maine Morning Star: Rep. Golden doubles down on campaign finance reform with new legislation [Maine Morning Star, 5/2/24]

The Portland Press Herald: Rep. Golden introduces legislation to halt Postal Service consolidation [The Portland Press Herald, 4/16/24]

The Portland Press Herald: Golden joins effort to break impasse on border security, Ukraine aid [The Portland Press Herald, 2/16/24]

Lewiston Sun Journal: Jared Golden holds big lead in fundraising for congressional race [Lewiston Sun Journal, 2/5/24]

Mainebiz: Golden co-sponsors bill that would boost Maine’s Small Business Development Centers [Mainebiz, 9/11/23]

PATH TO VICTORY

Jared Golden knows how to win Maine’s Second Congressional District and has done so three times over. Golden’s repeated success in this largely rural and independent district is attributed to his background, priorities, authenticity, accessibility, and commitment to getting things done – and it’s exactly why Democrats, Republicans, and Independents resoundingly re-elect him time and again.

In 2022, Golden beat his opponent by more than six points. In the 2024 election cycle, the Congressman is continuing to build upon his strong grassroots support, independent brand, and robust campaign war chest – having consistently outraised the Republican field combined.

Meanwhile, Austin Theriault’s misalignment with Mainers’ priorities, lack of experience, and loyalty to the GOP establishment stands in stark contrast to the values and needs of Maine’s Second Congressional District. As has been true for the past six years, Jared Golden is well-positioned to continue delivering for Maine families for yet another term.