Former President Barack Obama waded into the contentious battle for Maine’s 2nd District congressional race on Monday, endorsing Democrat Jared Golden in his bid to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Bruce Poliquin.

Obama endorsed dozens of candidates across the nation in his tweet, including two Maine Senate candidates, Karen Kusiak and Tom Wright in districts 16 and 34, respectively, and nine Maine House candidates.

“Today, I’m proud to endorse even more Democratic candidates who aren’t just running against something, but for something – to expand opportunity for all of us and to restore dignity, honor and compassion to public service,” Obama said in a tweet, which included four pages of endorsements, listed by state.

In August, Obama released his first wave of endorsements, which included three Maine Senate candidates – Louis Luchini, Linda Sanborn and Laura Fortman.

The endorsements for state House candidates supported Tiffany Roberts-Lovel in District 6, Diane Denk in District 9, Kelly McNamara in District 21, Chris Caiazzo in District 28, Steve Ball in District 80, Jennifer Day in District 86, Chloe Maxmin in District 88, Holly Stover in District 89 and Vicki Doudera in District 94.

“Success in these races is key to Democrats’ chances to take back Congress, the Maine Senate, and to build on our majority in the Maine House,” Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett said Monday. “These endorsements serve as a clear sign that these candidates are putting in the work it takes to flip their districts from red to blue.”

Today, I’m proud to endorse even more Democratic candidates who aren’t just running against something, but for something—to expand opportunity for all of us and to restore dignity, honor, and compassion to public service. They deserve your vote: pic.twitter.com/NO5jnhX3XD — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 1, 2018

Poliquin, seeking his third term in Congress, faces a strong challenge from Golden, a state representative and Marine veteran from the Lewiston area. The 2nd District went for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, but Democrats hope to capture the seat as they try to build a midterm elections wave.

There are two other candidates in the race, Tiffany Bond of Portland and William Hoar of Southwest Harbor, both independents.

Noel K. Gallagher can be contacted at 791-6387 or at:

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Twitter: noelinmaine

Correction: This story was updated at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2018, to correct Golden’s position in the Maine Legislature. He is a state representative.

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