A Marine Corps combat veteran and former state legislator, Jared Golden has represented ME-02 since 2019.

Born and raised in Leeds, Maine, Golden enlisted in the Marines after the September 11 attacks. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan, earning a Purple Heart and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with valor.

Returning home, Golden earned a degree his history and politics from Bates College. He served as a professional staff member on the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee before being elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 2014. There he advocated for issues like veterans' healthcare, education funding, and job raining.programs.

In 2018, Golden challenged incumbent Republican representative in Maine's 2nd district and won the election, which was decided by ranked-choice voting. This was the first general election in Maine for which ranked-choice voting was law, and this race was the first in U.S. history where the process decided a congressional election.