Jared Golden Secures Victory in Closest Election in Maine History

Jared Golden was declared the winner of Maine's 2nd Congressional District race with 50.4% of the vote after a ranked-choice runoff and recount process.
Republican challenger Austin Theriault conceded after early recount results showed no significant changes to the outcome, ending the process before completion.
The race, decided by just 2,706 votes, marked the closest congressional election in Maine’s history and one of the tightest in the nation this cycle.
The campaign attracted over $50 million in spending, highlighting the district's importance in a narrowly divided U.S. House of Representatives.
Golden, a centrist Democrat, won the district for the third consecutive time, continuing to represent a region that voted for Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024.