As he campaigns around the 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Jordan Wood isn’t shying away from the fact that he’s the youngest person in the race.
He’s emphasizing it.
It was just over a month ago that Wood, 36, decided to scrap his run for the U.S. Senate and make a bid for the U.S. House instead.
Wood had spent months touring the state for a series of town halls around the theme of “courage, not concern” in a bid to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
But after he announced his intention to take on Maine’s senior senator in April, Sullivan oyster farmer Graham Platner entered the Democratic primary in August, drawing large crowds to his town halls. Then Gov. Janet Mills threw her hat in in October.
And then, in the biggest surprise of the political season, U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a four-term Democrat, announced in November he would not seek reelection to the 2nd Congressional District.
And that’s when Wood decided to make his move.
“I think this is a moment of crisis for our country and we need a new generation of leaders to step forward,” he said recently before a town hall meeting in Gardiner. “Jared’s decision pretty late in the election cycle not to seek reelection, there was a need for a candidate to step forward into that role.”
Earlier that day, Wood’s campaign announced he’d received endorsements from local officials in his hometown of Lewiston and nearby Auburn. Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline described Wood as the right candidate at the right time.
“Jordan understands the problems that Lewistonians are facing,” he said. “The people of the 2nd District are struggling with the high cost of groceries, healthcare and housing.”
Those issues, along with the cost of childcare, are what’s driving Wood to run for Congress.
At this point, the June Democratic primary is lining up to include State Auditor Matt Dunlap and Gardiner resident Louis Sigel. Other Democrats are rumored to be considering a run as well.
The winner of the primary will likely face former two-term Republican Gov. Paul LePage. Military veteran James Clark of East Machias is making a longshot bid to challenge LePage in the GOP primary.
The 2nd District will be one of the most closely watched races in the country next year as both parties battle for control of Congress.
Republicans are confident that it’s a solidly red seat and point to voters who’ve supported President Donald Trump in the last three presidential cycles.
Golden, a moderate Democrat, won the seat by narrow margins and barely defeated Fort Kent racecar driver Austin Theriault last year.
But to Wood, a former Congressional staffer, there’s no reason to think the district will be an easy win for Republicans. From 1995 to 2015, the district elected moderate Democrats John Baldacci and Mike Michaud.
Then in 2014, voters chose Republican Bruce Poliquin for two terms. In 2018, Golden knocked Poliquin out of the seat and held on through three more elections.
During the town hall, Wood said he believes voters are “frustrated with both parties” and that the highest percentage of voters in the 2nd District are unenrolled.
“When I graduated high school, this was a Democratic district,” he said, noting that former President Barack Obama won it twice.
Before he answered questions from about 30 people in Gardiner, Wood talked about what he believes is a real hunger from voters for a new generation of leaders.
Wood said Dunlap was Maine Secretary of State when he got his first driver’s license.
“Paul LePage was elected governor when I was in college,” he said. “Gov. Mills was my district attorney when I was born in Androscoggin County. Susan Collins has been my senator since second grade.”
Wood said his 10 years working for former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, a California Democrat, gives him an edge over opponents with experience at the state level.
“It is time to move on and have other people step up and lead,” he said. “That’s what democracy looks like.”