Three-term Maine Democrat Rep. Golden trails GOP challenger, auto racer Theriault: poll

Maine state GOP Rep. Austin Theriault is slightly ahead of incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, in the first public poll of state's closely watched 2nd District House race.

Theriault, a former stock car racer, has 47% of the vote, compared to 44% for Golden. 

In the poll of 800 voters, 9% were undecided on a candidate. 

The poll has a margin of error of 3.5%, which means the race race is essentially tied, according to the Bangor Daily News.

Golden since taking office in 2010 has been among the most vulnerable House Democrats. He is one of the only Democrats in areas of Maine that Donald Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, won in 2016 and 2020, the newspaper also reports. 

A loss for Golden would be a setback in the Democrats' efforts to retake the House majority in November.