Political newcomer Paige Loud running for Rep. Jared Golden’s seat in US House

OLD TOWN, Maine (WMTW) - Political newcomer Paige Loud is looking to take Rep. Jared Golden’s seat in Congress.

Loud is the youngest candidate in the Democratic primary race for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. The 29-year-old is from Oklahoma and moved to Old Town in 2023.

She’s taking in all Maine has to offer, especially the outdoors.

“As an indigenous person, I’ve been on Indian Island a lot recently, and we launch our water board and our kayaks off there all the time,” Loud said.

Loud is currently getting her master’s in social work at the University of Maine. She’ll walk the stage in May, and soon after, she’ll fight for the Democratic nomination for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

“I’m here to advocate for Mainers,” Loud said. “Part of being a social worker, any care worker, is sitting down and finding a solution, because there’s no alternative to not finding a solution.”

Loud is new to Maine politics. Before throwing her hat in the ring, she was serving older Mainers as a social worker.

“I think people are looking for someone that’s honest and that cares a whole lot and is willing to stop the conversation and stop the status quo,” Loud said.

Loud got into the race after four-term Rep. Jared Golden announced he wasn’t seeking reelection.

“I didn’t see anyone that represented me. I didn’t see anyone that represented the caregivers I work for,” Loud said. “I didn’t see anyone that was talking about, you know, the most vulnerable people in Maine.”

She said she’s looking to improve affordability by changing what the government spends its money on.

“My goal as a Congressperson is to, again, not send weapons to any other country, not send billions of dollars to go to military intervention,” Loud said. “We shouldn’t be meddling in these international disputes.”

Loud said she’ll push for universal healthcare, as Affordable Care Act Subsidies expired at the start of the year.

“Nothing would be denied because the whole point is ensuring you have health care, ensuring you’re getting taken care of,” Loud said.

When it comes to immigration enforcement and ICE, Loud said she wants the agency abolished.

“I do think we need to change our immigration system, but we need to do it in a humane way, and we need to make it dignified,” Loud said.

When it comes to her primary challengers, State Auditor Matt Dunlap, State Sen. Joe Baldacci and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood, Loud said she’s more relatable.

“I am closer to needing these services that I’m providing my clients than any of the other three candidates,” Loud said.

If she could prioritize one thing on her first day on the Hill, Loud said she would focus on divesting from Israel.

“If we put that money back into Maine, put that money back into America, we would see a lot of change very quickly,” Loud said.

As you make your way to the polls, Loud said she wants you to know she’ll uplift your voice in D.C., according to our media partners WMTW.

“I will never stop fighting for you; that’s my whole job,” Loud said. “I’m not an expert in everything, but I care deeply, and I’m unwilling to go home when things get hard.”

The 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary is on June 9.