Quick Facts About Rep. Jared Golden: Age, Wife and Kids, Net Worth, and Why He Won't Seek Reelection

He is one of America's most independent and unpredictable politicians, a Democrat who has successfully held a deep-red congressional district for years. But now, Rep. Jared Golden is walking away from Washington.

The announcement on 5 November 2025 that he would not seek reelection has left many constituents and political analysts stunned. We look at the key facts about the man behind the headlines, from his military service to the stark reasons for his departure.

Who Is Jared Golden? From Marine to Maverick Congressman

Born on 25 July 1982, Jared Golden (43) is a native of Lewiston, Maine. His path to Congress was not a traditional one. Following the September 11th attacks, Golden left university to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

After returning to Maine, he completed his degree at Bates College. He later worked for Republican Senator Susan Collins on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, showcasing an early willingness to cross party lines.

He served in the Maine House of Representatives before being elected to the U.S. Congress in 2018. In Washington, he became known as a 'Blue Dog' Democrat, a self-described 'progressive conservative' who often voted against his party's leadership.

What Is Jared Golden's Family Life Like?

Throughout his political career, Golden has remained based in his hometown of Lewiston, where he lives with his wife, Isobel 'Izzy' Golden (née Moiles), whom he married in 2015.

The couple has two young children. They welcomed their first daughter, Rosemary Calderwood Golden, in May 2021.

Their second daughter, Shirley Berry Golden, was born in March 2024. Golden has often spoken about the importance of his family as his primary motivation.

How Much Is the Maine Congressman Worth?

Unlike many of his colleagues, Rep. Golden does not appear to possess significant personal wealth. His exact net worth is not publicly detailed in financial disclosures, which often provide broad ranges.

He has cultivated an image as a middle-class Mainer, noting in one 2019 report that he and his wife had lived on just $17,000 in the year before he entered Congress.

His primary income is his congressional salary, which is set at £133,300 ($174,000) per year.

Why Is Jared Golden Really Leaving Congress?

Golden announced his decision not to seek a new term in 2026 in a candid opinion piece for the Bangor Daily News. He wrote that he has 'grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community'.

He also cited the increasing threats of political violence, which have personally affected his family.

'These have made me reconsider the experiences of my own family, including all of us sitting in a hotel room on Thanksgiving last year after yet another threat against our home', Golden wrote. He added, 'There have been enough of those over the years to demand my attention'.

His departure is seen as a significant loss for congressional moderates, according to political sources. Golden's unique brand of independent politics made him one of the only Democrats, according to one analysis, capable of winning Maine's conservative-leaning 2nd district.