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Golden Endorses GOP Rep. Mike Lawler for Reelection

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 12:09 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Golden Announces Retirement

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, Democrat from Maine, endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York for reelection on September 21, 2026.
Lawler’s bipartisan achievements, according to Golden, include the lobstermen protection bill, restoring collective-bargaining for federal workers, and extending ACA premium tax credits.
Golden announced he will retire at the end of his term.
The Cook Political Report rates the Lawler-Conley contest as a toss-up.

Right

Fishing Family Ploy

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat from Maine, endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York for reelection on September 21, 2026.
The endorsement called Lawler a ‘true partner’ and ‘friend to fishing families,’ even though Lawler’s district has no lobster boats.
Lawler co-sponsored the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, delaying new rules until 2035.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the endorsement a ‘smoke and mirrors ploy.’

History

Historical Context

In the 1994 midterm, Republicans captured the House for the first time since 1952, winning a net 54 seats under Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America. That wave broke the long-standing Democratic hold and sparked occasional cross-party deals. In September 2026, Democrat Rep. Jared Golden’s endorsement of Republican Mike Lawler echoes that spirit of pragmatic alliance, recalling the 1994 realignment.

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Golden Announces Retirement

U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, Democrat from Maine, endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York for reelection on September 21, 2026.
Lawler’s bipartisan achievements, according to Golden, include the lobstermen protection bill, restoring collective-bargaining for federal workers, and extending ACA premium tax credits.
Golden announced he will retire at the end of his term.
The Cook Political Report rates the Lawler-Conley contest as a toss-up.

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