The Republicans running in a party primary for the right to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Jared Golden agreed to three debates ahead of the June vote.
Rep. Mike Soboleski (R-Phillips) and Rep. Austin Theriault (R-Fort Kent) will face each other on the June 11 ballot. Both are vying for the chance to face Golden in November in the race to represent the 2nd Congressional District.
“I’m happy our team was able to facilitate an agreement between these candidates that puts the power in the hands of the candidates and party to inform Republican voters of their options,” Maine GOP Chairman Joel Stetkis said in a recent statement.
The candidates have agreed to one televised debate, one radio debate and a live debate at the Maine Republican Party convention set for April 26 and 27 at the Augusta Civic Center.
Additional details are still being worked out, according to the party.
The contest to decide who will challenge Golden will be a closely watched election. Republicans are looking to flip the seat to expand their majority in the U.S. House.
Golden is a three-term Democrat from Lewiston who twice defeated former Republican U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin and in 2020, defeated former Rep. Dale Crafts (R-Lisbon).
In 2022, Golden defeated Poliquin 53-47% after a ranked choice voting tally. The ranked choice outcome became necessary when neither Poliquin nor Golden won more than 50% on election night.
The 2nd Congressional District seat is listed as a “Democrat toss up” by the Cook Political Report in ratings released last week.
Before they get to Golden, Theriault and Soboleski will need to pitch their credentials to Republican voters to earn a spot on the November ballot.
Soboleski, 67, joined the Marines after graduating from Gardiner Area High School then attended the University of Maine at Machias on the GI Bill, according to his campaign website.
He sold fitness equipment and cars before working as a background actor, stuntman and stunt driver. Now a resident of Phillips, he’s in his first term as a state legislator.
Theriault is a former NASCAR driver who took over the management duties of his racing career at age 16, according to his campaign website. In 2017, he won the ARCA Racing Series national championship and later shifted his focus to mentoring, managing and training other drivers.
Theriault, 30, is also in his first term as a state legislator.
In an interview with Spectrum News, Soboleski said he’s running for Congress because he’s angry.
“I want the government out of my life and I think most Mainers and most people in the nation want that as well,” he said.
He said although they are both Republicans, he and Theriault are very different candidates. He thinks the debates will help voters make an informed decision.
“I’m experienced, forward-thinking, I’m solutions oriented and I think that once we get in front of the people and can answer questions they’ll learn very quickly where each one of us stands,” he said.
Theriault was not available for an interview Monday, but his campaign staff sent a statement from him that said he wants to protect Social Security and Medicare and “protect our voting rights from people like Shenna Bellows.”
Bellows, Maine’s Democratic secretary of state, ruled in December that President Donald Trump’s name should not appear on Republican primary ballots, a decision that was reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We’ve campaigned across every corner of this district and it’s clear people are really hurting,” Theriault said in the statement. “I’m looking forward to talking to more Mainers across the district in person and at the debates about these critical issues and more.”
