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Bet you wouldn’t have expected this headline! Former NASCAR racer and Maine state legislator Austin Theriault has just announced his plan to run for Congress in the Maine second district.
On Monday, September 25, the 29-year-old filed his papers to take on incumbent Democrat Jared Golden in the election.
.@AustinTheriault, a @NASCAR racer and Maine state legislator, is by far one of the best @NRCC recruits this cycle!
Theriault will win #ME02, a Trump-won district which is one of the top Republican targets this year! ???????????? https://t.co/rbL3eYdiC3
— Rey Anthony (@ReyAnthonyFL) September 26, 2023
Theriault has raced professionally since he was a teenager and rose to become one of North America’s best racers. He competed in five races according to FRCS.pro before getting into an accident at Talladega Super Speedway in Alabama which put his career on pause.
He then shifted gears and started consulting and mentoring other professional drivers while also taking part in Maine politics. He hails from Fort Kent, Maine.
Former NASCAR driver and current Maine state representative Austin Theriault has announced that he is running for US Congress. https://t.co/I5PbVyvwcc
— OutKick (@Outkick) September 26, 2023
The second district of Maine saw Donald Trump win the presidential elections twice; once in 2016 and once again in 2020, according to Bangor Daily News (BDN).
As such, Theriault sees this as an opportunity to unseat incumbent Democrat Golden who BDN describes as being “the most conservative House Democrat on economic issues” but more left-leaning when it comes to social issues.
Furthermore, both Trump and Biden have won the second district during their respective presidential races – indicating that there is an even split between Republican and Democratic support for this area which provides an opportunity for someone such as Theriault who appeals cross-party to make sweeping changes if elected come 2024.
When filing his paperwork, Theriault made sure that he noted how Biden had failed them all too often, adding that Golden fails “to stand up, speak out, and get the job done for a part of the state that desperately needs leadership” according to BDN.
In addition, many have been drawn towards supporting him due to his own successes outside of politics which include five professional races under his belt and experience mentoring other pro racers – demonstrating that he knows how hard work pays off regardless whether it be on or off the track.
