State Rep. Austin Theriault, the Fort Kent Republican running against Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, drew a massive crowd on Wednesday, appearing alongside U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) at the Auburn Mall for the opening of a new campaign office.
[RELATED: Theriault Vows No Medicare, Social Security Cuts…]
“This election and this race with Austin is one of the most important in America, and it will decide the fate of our freedom,” said Rep. Johnson.
“I am not overstating this and you know it, so your presence here, your time, your assistance, your prayers, I believe are going to pay off, and I believe God’s going to answer those prayers and we’re going to save the greatest nation in the history of the world,” said Johnson.
Johnson has previously endorsed and helped fund Theriault’s effort to win back Maine’s Second Congressional District (CD2) race for Republicans.
Currently, Republicans maintain an extremely slim majority in the U.S. House, meaning that hotly contested elections like the one in Maine’s CD2 could easily alter the course of the nation.
The district is also a key part of the U.S. presidential election, because Maine apportions two Electoral College votes according to congressional district vote totals.
Although former President Donald Trump once visited Bangor during his 2016 campaign, and endorsed Theriault prior to the GOP primary, he has not yet announced any plans to visit northern Maine.
However, Johnson’s trip to Auburn is a strong signal that Republican powerbrokers have made the district a priority.
The new campaign office is part of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) “Battlestations” program, which has spent millions to open 21 offices in swing states.
The event proved highly successful for Theriault, drawing in what one source estimated to be about 400 people, with not every attendee able to get into the event space.
Theriault’s Auburn appearance drew criticism from his opponent, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), who criticized his challenger for working with Johnson.
“Austin Theriault was hand-picked by GOP insiders like Mike Johnson because they know he’ll rubber stamp their harmful, extreme agenda,” said Golden in a statement.
In the written statement, Golden said Theriault’s alignment with GOP leaders in DC showed that he wants older Mainers to pay higher prices for prescription drugs and supports a nationwide ban on abortions.
National Republicans have repeatedly signaled that a national abortion ban is not on their agenda, and even angered pro-life activists in July by removing abortion-related language from the National Republican Committee’s platform.
Golden’s claim that Theriault would support high drug costs for seniors, a frequent refrain from the Democrat, stems from Theriault’s criticism of Golden’s vote for the so-called Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
While the IRA did include several provisions aimed at capping or reducing costs for Medicare beneficiaries, those reforms amounted to roughly 13 percent of the spending included in the $740 billion spending bill.
The IRA also included $80 billion for an expansion of the IRS and an increase in IRS audits, as well as new taxes on the energy sector and subsidies for electric vehicles.
Despite the title of the bill, inflation in the U.S. economy has continued to remain a problem for consumers.
According to the federal inflation calculator, an American worker would need to earn $106,078 annually in June 2024 to have the same buying that a $100,000 would have commanded when the IRA was signed in Aug. 2022.
The executive director of the Maine GOP, Jason Savage, responded to the criticisms with a statement pointing out that while Golden attacked Theriault for working with Johnson, Golden himself voted in favor of Johnson’s bid to become House Speaker.
“DC politician Jared Golden has flip-flopped again. First, Golden voted to support Mike Johnson and his Speakership, but now, Golden’s suddenly against him. Whether it’s on the border, on spending, or on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Golden’s flip-flops just won’t stop,” said Savage.
Throughout his campaign, Theriault has focused his efforts on highlighting Golden’s flip-flopping positions.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="29933 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=29933">12 Comments
“Jared Golden(boy) was hand-picked by liberal insiders like Nancy Piglosi because they know he’ll rubber stamp their harmful, extreme agenda,” said any sensible person.
Right back at ya Golden Boy
Theriault didn’t even have a popular band to draw a big crowd like Harris-Walz needed to get anyone to attend.
What part of NEOCON don’t you get about “Triple Gender Theriault ” ? Seriously you think this guy is different than Golden he is just the RINO version ….He has already admitted to corrupt dealings with Troy Jackson . Christ you people act like he is your Savior …. He openly worked to bring in the Illegal Africans for Mills . Maine is lost with you dumbasses worshiping a Phony like this Clown ….
The presence of Little mike johnson says it all. Globalist RINO confirmed.
more like the trump crowd showed up for him! johnson just happened to be there! i dont see any johsnson signs in the crowd
Listen @Sam Brady and @ 2 A everyday, I voted for Soboleski when it was our Primary time. I still like him and would vote for him again if he decides to run again. Unfortunately, he did not win the primary. So now, I will throw my support to Austin Theriault, because I don’t want Goldenboy. Here’s another thought, how many here like Collins? I think she should have retired AWHILE ago. But you remember when she ran against GIDEON…. hate to say it, lesser of two evils. It shouldn’t be this way, but it is until enough of us vote for a viable candidate that steps up to the plate. Johnson is just an afterthought.
It’s ALL about simple math . If there are more democrats than there are republicans , this crazy bizarro shit that we are subject to will continue / never end . We need MORE republicans . We need less democrats . Jared Golden is ONLY in his office because of “ ranked choice voting “ which is a very clever democrat scheme to juke the numbers and get more of “ them “ elected .
Vote golden OUT in November . Vote ALL democrats out in November . They are ruining our state and our country . it’s simple math .
I for one am tired of the ” Lesser of 2 Evils ” … That is your Maine Republican Party feeding you SOS and telling you it is Prime Rib stop playing their Game… Theriault missed 47 votes in the Maine Legislature in his 1 and only term there. Where was he ? He never answers that question when asked …My guess is cutting self serving financial deals … Oh and you think he will not be bought and paid for By K-Street ! Theriault is whatever his PAYMASTERS tell him to be .. One last thing the ONLY difference between Collins and Gideon is that Gideon has a nicer ASS.
I support those who supported the USA on 9/11
I DO NOT support those who attacked the USA on 9/!!.
” I for one am tired of the ” Lesser of 2 Evils ”
I am tired of those who support the 9/11 attackers.
Republicans turned the district into the meth -cooking, fentanyl-loving mess that it is today. Drug scanners and K-9 roadway checkpoints will catch republican after republican after republican. Just about every fat white man who is riding around in a pickup that is hauling nothing is a republican, and often an armed carfentanyl trafficker. Got it all wrong about identifying voters, a drug test is the only necessary voting requirement. 3 day wait for guns?! What’s that going to do? Nah, follicular test prerequisite for gun ownership – narcotics found in your follicular test, no gun for you, Bub.
If only electric vehicles were only allowed in the cities, and non-electric vehicles prohibited from cities, the narcotics epidemic would pretty much come to a halt.