Jared Golden

Jared Golden has represented Maine's 2nd congressional district since January 2019 and has established himself as one of the most genuinely independent members of Congress — a Democrat who votes with Republicans on defense, gun rights, and fiscal issues often enough that his overall voting record defies simple ideological categorization. Born July 17, 1982, in Leeds, Maine, Golden served as a Marine in both Iraq and Afghanistan before returning to Maine, attending Bates College, and entering state politics. He served in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate before winning the first congressional election decided by ranked-choice voting in American history in 2018, winning by fewer than 4,000 votes.

Golden's pro-Israel votes reflect the same independence that characterizes his overall record: he evaluates specific legislation on its merits rather than Democratic caucus positioning. He has voted for Israeli military aid packages, including emergency supplemental assistance, and has not joined progressive Democrats in demanding conditionality or ceasefires. His Marine combat veteran identity shapes his assessment of Hamas as an enemy organization — not a political movement with legitimate grievances — and his evaluation of Israel's military operations reflects that framework. He has spoken publicly about antisemitism and about the right of democratic allies to defend themselves.

Maine's 2nd district is a politically competitive, rural, predominantly white working-class district — not a natural base for pro-Israel advocacy as a political priority, which makes Golden's consistency on the issue more notable. He won re-election in 2024 despite a challenging political environment. His pro-Israel position is not constituency-driven; it reflects a veteran's assessment of what self-defense looks like. At Rank 58, Golden is the combat veteran Democrat whose view of Israel's wars is shaped by having fought one himself.