Golden's Endorsement of Lawler Sparks Outrage Among Democrats

Rep. Jared Golden, a retiring Democrat from Maine, has endorsed Republican Rep. Mike Lawler's re-election campaign, a move that has ignited strong reactions from within his own party. In a published op-ed, Golden argued that the House of Representatives needs "fewer members who treat the job as a stage and more who treat it as work," calling Lawler a "true partner" and urging voters to support lawmakers who collaborate across the aisle.

The endorsement prompted sharp criticism from prominent Democrats. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled Lawler a "partisan hack and Trump sycophant" and questioned the validity of an endorsement from a congressman representing a distant district. He stated, "In desperation, he is peddling an 11th hour endorsement from a retiring Congressmember who represents an out of town district more than 400 miles away. . . Mike Lawler can try to run from his extremist record. We will never let him hide."

Commentator Tim Miller echoed this sentiment, calling Lawler a "complete Trump shill" and expressing confusion over Golden's endorsement, especially with Lawler's opponent, Cait Conley, described as a "mainstream Democrat."

Rep. Gregory Meeks also aligned with Jeffries' remarks, stating that Lawler could "tout an endorsement from a Democratic member from hundreds of miles away." Separately, Hasan Piker attempted to redirect the criticism toward New Jersey Democrat Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

However, the article contends that these criticisms overlook Lawler's bipartisan record. According to rankings from the Lugar Center and Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy in 2024, Lawler was the fourth most bipartisan member of Congress, while Golden ranked 30th and Meeks 275th.

Further supporting Lawler's bipartisan credentials, The Mediators Foundation named him the sixth most bipartisan member earlier this year, with a score of 99.2 out of 100, compared to Meeks' score of 56.4.

An anonymous Democrat cited by Axios last month reportedly said of Lawler, "If you're going to have a Republican, Lawler is the kind of Republican we want in the Congress."

The author suggests that the strong Democratic reaction highlights a broader tendency within the left to oppose Republicans who are perceived as effective or "reasonable," arguing that the party's opposition often depends on whether a Republican can win elections and threaten their hold on power. Historical examples cited include reactions to John McCain, Mitt Romney, George W. Bush, and Dick Cheney, whose public perception by the left shifted significantly over time and in relation to political expediency.