Austin Theriault’s Thunderous Dash for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District

Former NASCAR driver Austin Theriault is running for the U.S. Congress in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The 29-year-old Republican, originally from Fort Kent, announced his bid on Monday to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden in what is expected to be a highly contested House race in 2024. The race is not only of local interest but also has national implications, attracting attention from political pundits across the country.

Today I announced that I’m running for Congress in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

The response has been outstanding and I really appreciate the support.

To join the team, head to https://t.co/sWccdpPwhW! #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/TBNib16FyM

— Austin Theriault (@AustinTheriault) September 25, 2023

Austin Theriault is not relying solely on his fame as a NASCAR driver to win votes. He is determined to address important issues such as inflation, illegal border crossings, and the decline of small towns. He plans to confront these challenges with determination and resolve. Theriault believes that hardworking individuals are being ignored by out-of-touch elites who do not understand the struggles of everyday life in Maine.

Theriault’s transition from sports to politics is not unprecedented. He follows in the footsteps of Republican Governor Phil Scott of Vermont, who also made a successful switch from being a race car driver to a politician. However, Theriault’s racing career was even more impressive as he reached the top level of NASCAR before a career-ending injury in 2019.

I’m an Aroostook County native, a small businessman, a state rep, & a championship-winning driver.

I’m running for Congress to fight & WIN for struggling Mainers under attack from out-of-touch elites.

We need your help. Join us at https://t.co/sWccdpPwhW. #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/icJxlf8u29

— Austin Theriault (@AustinTheriault) September 25, 2023

Theriault’s political journey began when he became a freshman state lawmaker from Fort Kent. He is now competing in the primary against mortgage broker Robert Cross and first-term lawmaker Michael Soboleski. Savannah Viar of the National Republican Congressional Committee views Theriault as a strong candidate to challenge Golden and potentially change the dynamics of the race. Golden has previously won three elections, defeating former Republican Rep Bruce Poliquin twice.

As Theriault’s campaign gains momentum, all eyes will be on the former NASCAR driver as he navigates the twists and turns of political campaigning. Will he be the first to cross the finish line? Only time will tell.

This article appeared in FreshOffThePress and has been published here with permission.