LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — One of the races that could determine the balance of power in the U.S. House is being fought in Maine's vast 2nd Congressional District.
Jared Golden is a former Marine and current Democratic state representative. He is hoping to unseat two-term Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin in a district Donald Trump won in 2016. An incumbent has never lost in the district in more than 100 years, but polls suggest a tight race.
The 36-year-old Golden is following a playbook Democrats have adopted nationwide. They are balancing gun rights with a populist economic message railing against Trump's signature tax cut as giveaways to the wealthy.
The 64-year-old Poliquin is accusing his challenger of deploying camouflage to "hide the fact that he's a young radical with a socialist agenda." Golden says that rhetoric is a "bankrupt message from a bankrupt politician."
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This story has been updated to correct that Golden is a state representative, not senator.
