Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage of Maine, interviewed by Fox News Digital on May 7, 2025, in Lewiston, Maine, is running for the U.S. House in 2026 in the state's 2nd Congressional District (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News )
Littlefield is the top campaign advisor to former two-term GOP Gov. Paul LePage, who earlier this year decided to come out of political retirement and launch a congressional bid in the district.
Golden, a U.S. Marine veteran who deployed to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and who often bucks his own party in Congress, has held the seat since first winning it in 2018. He won re-election last year by a razor-thin margin.
"After 11 years as a legislator, I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community — behavior that, too often, our political leaders exhibit themselves," Golden said in an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News, where he revealed his unexpected decision.
LONGTIME TRUMP ALLY AIMS FOR POLITICAL COMEBACK
The moderate Democrat took shots at both parties in his 2026 announcement.
"We have seen mainstream Republicans stand by as their party was hijacked first by Tea Party obstructionists and then by the MAGA movement and its willingness to hand much of Congress’ authority to the president," Golden wrote.
And he added, "I fear Democrats are going down the same path. We’re allowing the most extreme, pugilistic elements of our party to call the shots."
Maine state auditor Matt Dunlap is primary challenging Democratic Rep. Jared Golden in the state's 2nd Congressional District. (Matt Dunlap for Congress )
But sources told Fox News Digital that the DCCC is now recruiting for another candidate in the race.
Golden wrote in his op-ed, "I don’t fear losing. What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning. Simply put, what I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son."
LePage, in a social media post Wednesday afternoon, didn't directly mention Golden but wrote, "This race has always been about fighting for rural Maine. As Governor, I spent eight years helping create jobs and making Maine more prosperous. I am running for Congress to make sure that working Maine families have a voice in Washington D.C. This fight is just beginning."
But on Thursday, the 77-year-old LePage posted to social media a recent poll that indicated he held a 5-point lead over Golden in next year's showdown, adding that "LePage wins in every poll."
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
LePage then juxtaposed the news that Golden wouldn't seek re-election.
But Littlefield isn't taking anything for granted, especially after this week's convincing election victories by Democrats in high-profile contests in blue-leaning New Jersey and Virginia.
"It's still going to be a tough race," Littlefield told Fox News Digital. "It's not a cakewalk."
Fox News' Liz Elkind contributed to this report
Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/battle-house-gop-gets-boost-bid-flip-swing-district-after-democrat-bows-out