AUGUSTA, Maine – Former President Donald Trump features prominently in closing arguments presented ahead of Maine’s 2nd District primary between two Republican state lawmakers vying to take on U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in November.
The final blitz of campaign flyers in the mail and interviews on conservative radio comes as Republican voters on Tuesday will choose either Mike Soboleski or Austin Theriault to face Golden, who has been a durable Democrat since 2018 in a district that twice He opted for Trump.
Austin Theriault, a 30-year-old former NASCAR driver from Fort Kent, continues to frequently mention endorsements from Trump, the first former U.S. president convicted of felonies who is running against President Joe Biden in November.
An email from Theriault features Trump’s photo and cites his Truth Social post from March that said Theriault “will work hard to secure the border.”
“Donald Trump needs Austin Theriault in Congress,” reads one email.
Mike Soboleski, a 67-year-old Navy veteran from Phillips whose varied career ranges from small business owner to actor, is trying to counter his lack of Trump endorsement by pointing out that dozens of current and former state lawmakers support him. and refine the differences between his and Theriault’s voting records in Augusta.
An email sent to Maine Republicans by state Rep. Mike Soboleski’s campaign touts elements of his legislative record in the nomination race to face U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine’s 2nd District.
The top of an envelope from Soboleski reads: “There is only one true conservative running for Maine CD2 Congress.” He then lists 20 differences between Soboleski and Theriault, ranging from their votes on bills, such as Theriault’s support and Soboleski’s opposition to legislation authorizing a transmission line in northern Maine, to Soboleski as a volunteer first responder in New York City after the 9/11 attacks. 2001. (Theriault was 7 years old then).
Soboleski does not mention Trump’s endorsement of Theriault, although Soboleski had touted his support for Trump decades earlier in the campaign and formally intervened to oppose Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ decision that was ultimately overturned to expel Trump from the ticket. Maine Primary.
Each candidate also called into Matt Gagnon’s WGAN morning news show on Wednesday, with Theriault criticizing a “sham trial” that ended last week when a New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 felonies in a money-related case. secret. Theriault said he would support the “America First” agenda along with small businesses in the 2nd District.
Soboleski said he is the only veteran who could take on a fellow Navy veteran in Golden. He alluded to Theriault’s huge fundraising advantage and mentioned rumors that national Republicans won’t spend any cash to support him if he wins the primary, saying he won’t accept any “swamp money” or “PAC money.” .
Theriault talked about improving border security and helping Trump reinstate his “Remain in Mexico” policy, something Golden also supports. Soboleski said he wants term limits and lobbying (additional policies Golden supports) and mentioned four bills he would introduce related to support for veterans, restoring Trump’s “Operation Legend” violent crime initiative and the Maintaining or increasing funding for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
National Republicans see Golden’s seat as key to winning back in November and maintaining a narrow lead over Democrats in the House. Election forecasters have called the 2nd District general election race a “disagreement.”
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