Rep. Jared Golden, the Maine Democrat who has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to break with his party, is doing it again — and this time his decision could have consequences in one of New York’s closely watched House races.
Golden, who is retiring from Congress and will not seek another term, endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler for reelection Monday. The endorsement appeared in an opinion piece published by The Journal News, where Golden made the case that Lawler’s record of working across party lines deserves consideration from voters in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Lawler is facing Democrat Cait Conley in a race that has attracted significant attention heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The Cook Political Report currently rates the contest as a toss-up. The district also carries an important recent electoral history: Kamala Harris won the district in the 2024 presidential election.
The endorsement is particularly notable because Democrats are actively targeting Lawler’s seat. Conley, a military veteran and former federal official, is challenging the Republican as Democrats seek to gain ground in the House. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg recently appeared at a campaign event supporting Conley, underscoring the national attention surrounding the race.
