Categories: Politics

Trump-endorsed NASCAR driver wins key GOP primary in Maine

Maine State Rep. Austin Theriault, a Republican better known as a former NASCAR driver and 2019 ARCA Menards Series champion, was projected Tuesday to win the Republican nomination for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

He defeated Marine veteran Mike Soboleski in the district, which covers a plurality of the state, including much of its rural expanse. 

Theriault, who was endorsed by former President Trump, said during his campaign that people are looking for candidates with experience in business, like the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and himself.

Theriault’s hometown of Fort Kent is known both as the “other” ‘Mile 0’ of US Route 1 — versus Key West, Fla. — and a key international border crossing.

To that end, Theriault made border security a hallmark of his campaign.

TOP HOUSE REPUBLICAN ENDORSES FORMER NASCAR DRIVER IN CONTENTIOUS MAINE RACE

Austin Theriault, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Ford, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway on July 29, 2016 in Newton, Iowa.  (Jonathan Moore/NASCAR via Getty Images)

“I know that we live thousands of miles away from the southern border, but it’s a huge issue because of the drugs coming across and the human trafficking,” he told WMTW.

Theriault, who also raced a handful of times in NASCAR’s marquee cup series, will face “blue dog” Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine in November.

Golden, who notably split his 2019 votes on Trump’s two impeachment counts at the time, represents a district that also leans to the right for New England.

MAINE MOM FURIOUS AFTER SCHOOL STAFF REPORTEDLY TRIED TO TRANSITION 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER

Video

Since the early 1900s, the district has flipped from blue to red and back every few terms. Golden has been in the seat since he defeated Rep. Bruce Poliquin, R-Maine, in 2018. 

Golden’s win over Poliquin at the time was an early test of the controversial ranked-choice voting practice adopted by a growing list of states since then.

In his Monday endorsement of Theriault, Trump said Golden wrongly “poses as a bipartisan politician,” while the Republican nominee, “will work hard to secure the border, protect our always under siege Second Amendment, stop crime, cut taxes and defend our brave law enforcement.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Video

Theriault’s last big win came in 2017 when he won what is now called the Hard Rock Bet 200, a premier ARCA race during Daytona’s Speedweeks at the proverbial “World Center of Racing.”

The 2nd Congressional District has a Cook PVI of R+6, which casts Golden as a vulnerable Democrat come November.

Share

Recent Posts

DOGE chain of command revealed in court filing, showing Musk is not the boss

The acting administrator of DOGE detailed that Elon Musk is not an employee of the…

1 hour ago

Washington man accused of having enough fentanyl to kill 278,000 people after getting clemency from Dem gov

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for March 16 Fox News Flash top headlines…

3 hours ago

Trump, Putin call expected this week, as admin edges closer to Russia-Ukraine ceasefire deal: Witkoff

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Sunday that President Donald Trump…

4 hours ago

Trump orders the dismantling of government-funded, ‘propaganda’-peddling media outlet

President Donald Trump ordered the dismantling of news agency Voice of America, the U.S.'s state-funded…

4 hours ago

Democrats lash out at Schumer for ‘betrayal’ of siding with Trump

Several prominent Democrats have taken aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., over his…

4 hours ago

Dominican attorney general grills witness in missing American case at his resort in person

close Video Ted Williams says investigators ‘cannot rule anything out’ in search for missing college…

6 hours ago