Jordan Wood, a Bristol Democrat who had been seeking to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in next year’s election, announced Wednesday that he is suspending his Senate campaign to pursue Maine’s 2nd Congressional District seat instead.
Wood, 36, said the decision came after learning that Rep. Jared Golden, a three-term Democrat representing the 2nd District, will not seek reelection in 2026. In a statement, Wood said he believes his campaign’s resources and grassroots network would be “better spent working to keep the 2nd District blue.”
A former Capitol Hill staffer and head of an advocacy group, Wood was among the first Democrats to throw his hat into the Senate race, launching his campaign in April. He positioned himself as a progressive voice focused on economic fairness, environmental protection, and support for Maine’s working-class families.
However, his campaign lost momentum in recent months as Democratic attention shifted toward Gov. Janet Mills and Hancock County oysterman Graham Platner, both of whom have entered the Senate primary and drawn significant media and donor interest.
Wood’s withdrawal reshapes the Democratic field for the Senate race, potentially narrowing the path for Mills and Platner as they prepare for what is expected to be one of Maine’s most closely watched contests in 2026.
With Golden’s retirement, the 2nd District race is already drawing a growing list of contenders. On the Democratic side, Maine State Auditor and former Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has declared his candidacy, while Louis Sigel, a former Kennebec County Democratic Committee official, has filed paperwork. Tribal leader Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation and Maine Senate President Troy Jackson are both seen as potential entrants.
Now a Bristol resident, Wood does not live in the 2nd District, which spans northern and western Maine and has long been one of the nation’s most competitive swing seats. But it appears such situational facts will not deter his ambition to return to Washington DC by the best possible means.
On the Republican side, former Governor Paul LePage has formally announced his candidacy, setting the stage for a high-profile race that could attract national attention. Prior to Golden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election, LePage enjoyed a five point lead in one poll.
Businessman Gavin Solomon has also filed with the Federal Election Commission, while former state representative Austin Theriault, the GOP nominee in 2024, has said he will not run again and has endorsed LePage. Businessman and self-styled humanitarian James L. Clark filed paperwork to run as a Republican last week.
The 2nd District contest is expected to be one of Maine’s most closely watched races in 2026, with control of the seat potentially influencing the balance of power in Congress. Wood said his campaign team is already reorganizing its efforts to focus on the congressional race, as both parties work to field strong contenders in the wake of Golden’s exit.
Their first step might well involve contacting a real estate agent capable of swapping Wood’s $3 million, waterfront Lincoln County home for something in this district he now seeks to represent. Those funds could secure something quite nice in either Androscoggin or Washington counties.
