General Discussion

Don Davis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Davis_(North_Carolina_politician)

Davis was among the House Democrats who voted to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib for her comments about the Gaza war.

In March 2024, Davis, Representative August Pfluger, and a news reporter wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner, which criticized the push by many members of Congress to condition U.S. aid to Israel.

In 2024, Davis was the sole Democratic co-sponsor of a Republican-led bill by representatives Greg Murphy and Brett Guthrie that would limit Medicare's ability to negotiate drug prices.

In 2025, Davis joined Republicans in voting to ban gender affirming care for transgender minors, and criminalize anyone who helps them obtain it.

On January 22, 2026, he voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security, including funding for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Jared Golden

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Golden

Golden is a Blue Dog Democrat. He has advocated what he calls "progressive conservatism" and was described as an "obstinate independent" by Axios. Golden states that he hasn't attended a Democratic caucus meeting since October 2021 which his spokesperson explained by saying that it's because he is "the most independent member of his party in the House" so he "has little need" to attend those meetings.

Tariffs

In 2025, Golden was one of the only Democrats in Congress to openly support President Donald Trump's tariff policy. He criticized his party's perceived shift toward defending free trade deals and the stock market and "coming out strongly" against Trump's tariffs, advocating instead for a populist approach of "progressive conservatism." Golden expressed concern over Trump backing down from his tariff policy, telling Axios, "My biggest worry is that they're going to do this and lose faith and political will and back away."

He opposed Democratic Representative Greg Meeks' measure in the house to "kill Trump's tariffs". In January 2025, Golden introduced legislation that would put a universal 10% tariff on all imports into the U.S. His stance put him at odds with House Democrats. Golden also dismissed the 2025 stock market crash that followed President Trump's tariffs saying, "The vast majority of Americans have no stocks."

Presidency of Donald Trump

In an op-ed written in June 2024, Golden argued that "While I don't plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I’m OK with that". He rejected the premise that a second Trump term would present "a unique threat to our democracy." and added that "Pearl-clutching about a Trump victory ignores the strength of our democracy". He argued that the members of Congress, citizens and other institutions can hold the president accountable and defend democracy. Several community and Democratic leaders of Maine criticized him for writing the op-ed and accused him of minimizing threats posed by a second Trump presidency.

Government funding

Golden was the only Democrat to have voted for the Republican stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown, voting against the instructions of House Democratic leadership.

COVID-19 pandemic

Golden in January 2023 was one of seven Democrats to vote with Republicans in favor of H.R.497, the Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, which sought to lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. A day later, he was among 12 Democrats who supported with Republicans a resolution to end the COVID-19 national emergency.

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

Golden was one of two Democrats to vote with Republicans against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. He expressed concern over its proposed restrictions on qualified immunity.

June 2025 incidents

In response to the June 2025 incident involving Representative LaMonica McIver and another involving Senator Alex Padilla, Golden sharply defied his party line. He panned what he calls their "politics as theatre". Golden criticized the conduct of fellow Democrat Padilla, saying that "storming into the FBI headquarters, trying to break up a press conference, and rushing a Cabinet secretary" is not appropriate behavior for someone in public office. He said that "where I come from, if you shove a police officer, you're probably getting arrested," while also adding that this doesn't justify excessive force by law enforcement. Other Democrats disagreed with his interpretation of what happened.

Education

Golden was one of two House Democrats (the other being Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington) to side with Republicans in voting to overturn President Joe Biden's student loan debt cancellation plan of 2023.

Foreign policy

During the Gaza war, Golden opposed calls for a ceasefire. He voted in favor of providing $14.3 billion in additional funding to support Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip at the start of the war.[56] In June 2025, Golden expressed support for President Trump's strikes on Iran.

AIPAC et al have dumped millions into his coffers:



Guns

Golden was the only Democrat to vote against the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, a bill that aimed to expand background checks for gun purchases. He was also one of two Democrats, along with Ron Kind of Wisconsin, to vote against the Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021, a bill that sought to close the Charleston loophole. Both bills passed the House in March 2021. In 2022, Golden and Kurt Schrader of Oregon were the only Democrats to vote against raising the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.

Later that year, Golden joined Republicans and four other Democrats in voting against a bill that proposed banning assault weapons. However, after the 2023 Lewiston shootings in his hometown, where 18 people were killed, Golden changed his stance. He apologized and called for a federal ban on assault weapons. He stated in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, "I really believe that any law-abiding and competent citizen should have fairly easy access to firearms." However, the shooting raised questions for him, and he stated "Am I going to start carrying an AR-15 slung over my shoulder when I go to the grocery store, when I go to a restaurant?" He noted that the odds of being in the right place to stop an active shooter were slim. "And what responsibilities do I have as a leader of the community?"

Immigration

In 2021, Golden was the sole House Democrat to oppose the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, supported by 30 Republicans, which would have allowed one million undocumented farm workers to apply for legal residency status.

In 2025, Golden was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act.

On January 22, 2026, he voted to pass HR 7147 funding bill for the Dept. of Homeland Security, including funding for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Infrastructure

Golden was the only House Democrat to vote with Republicans against the Build Back Better Act, citing concerns about the elimination of the $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction, "tax breaks for millionaires" in the bill and the lack of prescription drug pricing reform.

LGBT rights

Golden was one of four Democrats to join with the majority of House Republicans to pass the annual defense policy bill, which included provisions barring Pentagon funding for abortion and transgender surgeries.

Voting rights

On April 10, 2025, Golden was one of only four Democrats who joined all of the Republicans in the House in voting in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, commonly known as the SAVE Act. The bill places strict requirements to prove American citizenship in order to vote in federal elections.