In a televised debate hosted by WGME-13 and the Bangor Daily News, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden and Maine Rep. Austin Theriault clashed on strategies to combat inflation and discussed a range of issues including the economy, gun control, and abortion. Golden emphasized his track record of bipartisanship, while Theriault highlighted his endorsement by Trump and his plans to reform energy policies to lower costs. The debate comes as the 2nd Congressional District race in Maine is closely watched nationally, with forecasters listing it as a toss-up that could affect the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
Theriault focused on energy costs as a driver of inflation and criticized Washington, D.C., for wasteful spending in this area. Golden defended his support for the Inflation Reduction Act, highlighting its benefits for lowering prices for Mainers. The candidates also sparred over fishing regulations, gun control, and abortion rights, with Theriault supporting state-level decisions on abortion and Golden advocating for women’s reproductive freedom.
Golden and Theriault discussed measures to prevent mass shootings, with Golden calling for a ban on assault weapons and Theriault emphasizing investments in mental health and his A+ rating from a gun owners’ group. The candidates also addressed the influence of the Trump factor in the district, which has supported Trump in past elections.
The debate highlighted the significant financial investments in the race, with Golden’s campaign raising nearly $4.8 million and Theriault’s campaign raising nearly $1.8 million. Outside groups have also spent millions on ads and campaign activities, reflecting the national attention on the race. The candidates are set to meet in two more debates before Election Day on Nov. 5, with ranked choice voting being used due to a declared write-in candidate.
Source
Photo credit www.centralmaine.com