Goblin House
Goblin House
Area: Full Workup (one official, all sections) (eo_full_workup)
Filed: 2026-05-02T06:14:04.176Z
Source: External LLM via /handoff/congress (attempt #74513)
Resolved official: Jared F. Golden (entity #11040)
Ingest result: 32 facts · 33 sources · 2 silences · 3 contradictions · 3 skipped
Single super-prompt covering every per-official research area in one LLM call: donor mapping, silences, contradictions, telling votes, and constituency baseline. The LLM returns ONE JSON object; the ingest pipeline dispatches each section to its typed table independently, so a malformed or no-data section never blocks the rest.
{
"target_official": {
"name": "Jared F. Golden",
"bioguide_id": "G000592"
},
"donor_mapping": {
"facts": [
{
"fact_text": "Golden raised $4.6M in the 2023-2024 cycle, with 67.87% from large individual contributions ($3.14M), 14.60% from small donors ($675K), and 11.72% from PACs ($542K).",
"date_occurred": "2024-09-18",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00041668"
},
{
"fact_text": "Golden's top contributing industry in 2023-2024 was Securities & Investment at $407,283, followed by Retired at $402,176 and Pro-Israel at $355,997.",
"date_occurred": "2024-09-18",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00041668"
},
{
"fact_text": "84% of Golden's itemized individual contributions in 2024 ($4.2M out of $5M itemized) came from out-of-state donors, compared to $825,000 from approximately 1,000 Maine donors.",
"date_occurred": "2024-11-04",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://themainemonitor.org/golden-theriault-donors/"
},
{
"fact_text": "Golden received $116,000 from trade association PACs in 2022 and 2024 cycles combined, up from $28,000 in his first two campaigns, while maintaining a 'no corporate PAC' pledge.",
"date_occurred": "2024-07-22",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/07/22/politics/state-politics/jared-golden-getss-pecial-interest-money-joam40zk0w/"
},
{
"fact_text": "In mid-2024, Golden accepted $3,500 from the American Petroleum Institute PAC, $10,000 from American Crystal Sugar Company PAC, $2,500 from National Cotton Council PAC, and $1,500 from Amalgamated Sugar Company PAC.",
"date_occurred": "2024-07-17",
"confidence": "primary",
"source_url": "https://www.themainewire.com/2024/07/vulnerable-jared-golden-accepts-thousands-from-corporate-pacs-despite-claiming-otherwise/?amp=1"
},
{
"fact_text": "The Blue Dog PAC — for which Golden serves as co-chair — received a $5,000 maximum contribution from Sallie Mae's corporate PAC on June 14, 2023, two weeks after Golden voted with Republicans against Biden's student debt cancellation plan.",
"date_occurred": "2023-06-14",
"confidence": "primary",
"source_url": "https://mainebeacon.com/goldens-blue-dogs-get-money-from-sallie-mae-after-opposing-student-debt-relief/"
},
{
"fact_text": "Golden received donors from the Soros family: $3,300 from George Soros' son Alexander Soros, and contributions from Jennifer Soros (daughter-in-law), as disclosed in FEC documents.",
"date_occurred": "2024-02-01",
"confidence": "primary",
"source_url": "https://www.themainewire.com/2024/02/soros-family-favorite-jared-golden-collects-campaign-contributions-from-george-soros-sons-daughter-in-law/"
},
{
"fact_text": "Golden's disclosed net worth ranges from -$96,993 to $37,999 per OpenSecrets analysis of his 2023-2024 financial disclosure.",
"date_occurred": "2024",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/jared-golden/state-data?cid=N00041668&cycle=2020"
}
],
"connections": [
{
"donor_entity_name": "American Israel Public Affairs Cmte",
"relationship_type": "major_donor",
"description": "2023-2024: $286,050 total ($281,050 individuals, $5,000 PAC). Career total exceeds $500K per TrackAIPAC. Top contributor across Golden's congressional career.",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00041668"
},
{
"donor_entity_name": "Apollo Global Management",
"relationship_type": "donor",
"description": "2023-2024: $21,000 in individual contributions from employees/principals, ranking fourth among top contributors.",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/summary?cid=N00041668"
},
{
"donor_entity_name": "National Assn of Realtors",
"relationship_type": "pac_donor",
"description": "Golden's top contributing industry includes Real Estate. Trade association PAC donations increased substantially in 2022-2024 cycles.",
"confidence": "secondary",
"source_url": "https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/07/22/politics/state-politics/jared-golden-getss-pecial-interest-money-joam40zk0w/"
}
]
},
"silences": [
{
"topic": "Trade association PAC money contradicting 'no corporate PAC' pledge",
"expected_position": "Golden made a signature 2018 campaign promise to refuse all corporate PAC money, a pledge still advertised on his campaign website in 2025. He is expected to explain why trade association PACs — funded by the same corporations — are different.",
"window_start": "2024-07-17",
"window_end": "2025-08-14",
"evidence_summary": "In this period, Golden was active on campaign finance reform — he introduced the Government Integrity and Anti-Corruption Plan and was an original cosponsor of the Let America Vote Act. His August 2025 fundraising email reiterated the pledge: 'I made a pledge: I would never accept donations from corporate PACs.' Yet he never addressed the distinction between corporate PACs and trade association PACs in any public forum.",
"primary_url": "https://politicalemails.org/emails/jared-golden/subject-i-made-a-promise-and-ive-kept-it"
},
{
"topic": "Why he voted to allow trans-identifying athletes in women's sports",
"expected_position": "As a centrist Democrat representing a Trump-won district, Golden would be expected to explain a culturally salient vote to constituents.",
"window_start": "2025-05-19",
"window_end": "2025-05-19",
"evidence_summary": "Daily Caller reporter confronted Golden on May 19, 2025 asking why he voted in favor of allowing trans-identifying men to compete in women's sports. Golden refused to answer and walked away without comment. He has been active on other cultural issues including the SAVE Act and gun policy.",
"primary_url": "https://www.themainewire.com/2025/05/daily-caller-exclusive-vulnerable-dem-rep-silent-when-asked-why-he-voted-to-allow-men-in-womens-sports/"
}
],
"contradictions": {
"claims": [
{
"claim_text": "Golden's 2018 campaign pledge and ongoing website claim: 'refusing to accept donations from corporate PACs' and 'Walked the talk by refusing to accept donations from corporate PACs.'",
"claim_date": "2018-10-01",
"claim_type": "platform",
"source_url": "https://www.themainewire.com/2024/07/vulnerable-jared-golden-accepts-thousands-from-corporate-pacs-despite-claiming-otherwise/?amp=1"
},
{
"claim_text": "In 2024, Golden accepted $116,000 in trade association PAC contributions including $3,500 from the American Petroleum Institute PAC, $10,000 from American Crystal Sugar PAC, and $2,500 from National Cotton Council PAC. These PACs are funded by corporate employees and governed by the same FEC rules as corporate PACs.",
"claim_date": "2024-07-22",
"claim_type": "disclosure",
"source_url": "https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/07/22/politics/state-politics/jared-golden-getss-pecial-interest-money-joam40zk0w/"
},
{
"claim_text": "Golden voted against the House assault weapons ban in July 2022, saying 'I don't support any version of that.' He was one of only five Democrats to oppose the measure.",
"claim_date": "2022-07-29",
"claim_type": "vote",
"source_url": "https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/26/politics/jared-golden-assault-weapons-ban-lewiston/"
},
{
"claim_text": "After the Lewiston mass shooting killed 18 people in his hometown on October 25, 2023, Golden reversed his position, calling on Congress to ban assault rifles and asking for 'forgiveness' for his prior opposition.",
"claim_date": "2023-10-26",
"claim_type": "statement",
"source_url": "https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67240152"
},
{
"claim_text": "In a 2024 op-ed, Golden said a second Trump term would not be a 'unique threat' to American democracy and that the 'alarmist rhetoric' about Trump was overblown.",
"claim_date": "2024-07-02",
"claim_type": "statement",
"source_url": "https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/moderate-dem-leader-takes-a-this-is-fine-stance-on-a-second-trump-presidency-194742925.html"
},
{
"claim_text": "In 2025, Golden has voted repeatedly with House Republicans on government funding and the SAVE Act, including being the only Democrat to support GOP continuing resolutions. He voted against certifying some 2020 electoral results. He has defended Trump's Iran strikes and opposed a war powers resolution, while other Democrats sought to constrain the president.",
"claim_date": "2025-09-19",
"claim_type": "vote",
"source_url": "https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/09/19/politics/washington/funding-bill-faces-clears-house-headed-to-senate/"
}
],
"contradictions": [
{
"claim_a_idx": 0,
"claim_b_idx": 1,
"type": "platform_vs_vote",
"severity": "high",
"narrative": "Golden's signature anti-corruption pledge to refuse corporate PAC money is contradicted by his acceptance of $116,000 in trade association PAC donations from groups funded by the same corporations — a distinction without a legal difference under FEC rules. His campaign defended this by noting trade association PACs are not technically 'corporate PACs.'"
},
{
"claim_a_idx": 2,
"claim_b_idx": 3,
"type": "reversal",
"severity": "high",
"narrative": "Golden opposed an assault weapons ban in 2022 as one of only five House Democrats to vote nay. After a mass shooting killed 18 people in his hometown of Lewiston, he publicly reversed, apologized for his 'failure,' and called on Congress to ban assault rifles. This is a direct reversal on the same policy question — banning assault-style weapons — triggered by a constituent tragedy."
},
{
"claim_a_idx": 4,
"claim_b_idx": 5,
"type": "position_evolution",
"severity": "medium",
"narrative": "Golden publicly downplayed the 'unique threat' of a second Trump term in July 2024, then proceeded to vote with Republicans more than any other House Democrat in 2025 — including on government funding bills that Democratic leadership opposed. While not a direct reversal on a specific bill, this reflects a substantial evolution from initial skepticism about Trump's threat toward de facto alignment with the GOP legislative agenda."
}
]
},
"telling_votes": [
{
"bill_id": "H.Res.755",
"title": "Impeachment of Donald Trump — Article I (Abuse of Power) and Article II (Obstruction of Congress)",
"vote": "yea (Article I) / nay (Article II)",
"vote_date": "2019-12-18",
"roll_call_url": "https://apnews.com/article/89006d9393406a824c3ba03a214c9d9b",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was the only member of Congress to split his vote — voting to impeach on abuse of power but against on obstruction. His district voted for Trump by 10+ points in 2016. The split vote attempted to balance constituent Trump support with the evidence of presidential misconduct, exemplifying acute cross-pressure.",
"category": "cross_pressure"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.Res.24",
"title": "Election of the Speaker of the House — voted for Sen. Tammy Duckworth instead of Rep. Nancy Pelosi",
"vote": "nay (on Pelosi)",
"vote_date": "2021-01-03",
"roll_call_url": "https://www.pressherald.com/2021/01/03/golden-explains-vote-against-pelosi-for-house-speaker/",
"why_it_matters": "Golden broke with 217 of 222 Democrats to vote against Pelosi for Speaker — fulfilling a campaign promise — and voted instead for fellow veteran Sen. Duckworth. He was one of only 5 Democrats to defect. The vote underscored his independence from party leadership in a district Trump carried.",
"category": "party_defection"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.1319",
"title": "American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — $1.9 trillion COVID relief",
"vote": "nay",
"vote_date": "2021-03-10",
"roll_call_url": "https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jared-golden-house-democrat-votes-against-stimulus-package-gun-bill",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was the only House Democrat to vote against Biden's signature COVID relief bill, which included $1,400 stimulus checks and expanded child tax credits. His district has a poverty rate of 13.5% — well above the national average — and was among those that would have benefited most from the bill's anti-poverty provisions.",
"category": "against_constituent"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.5376",
"title": "Build Back Better Act — $1.85 trillion social spending, climate, and healthcare bill",
"vote": "nay",
"vote_date": "2021-11-19",
"roll_call_url": "https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/golden-votes-no-house-passes-landmark-social-spending-bill",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was the sole Democrat to vote against BBB, citing concerns about tax giveaways to the wealthy. The bill contained funding for elder care, child care, and climate resilience — all directly relevant to his aging, low-income district. 13.5% poverty rate and a median age of 45.2 made BBB particularly salient for CD-2.",
"category": "against_constituent"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.1808",
"title": "Assault Weapons Ban of 2022",
"vote": "nay",
"vote_date": "2022-07-29",
"roll_call_url": "https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/26/politics/jared-golden-assault-weapons-ban-lewiston/",
"why_it_matters": "One of only 5 Democrats to vote against banning assault weapons. After the October 2023 mass shooting in his hometown of Lewiston killed 18, Golden publicly reversed and apologized for this vote. This is a constituent-tragedy-driven reversal on the same policy question.",
"category": "reversal"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.J.Res.45",
"title": "Resolution to block Biden's student debt cancellation plan (up to $20,000 per borrower)",
"vote": "yea",
"vote_date": "2023-05-24",
"roll_call_url": "https://mainebeacon.com/goldens-blue-dogs-get-money-from-sallie-mae-after-opposing-student-debt-relief/",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was one of only 2 House Democrats voting with Republicans to block student debt relief. Two weeks later, Sallie Mae's PAC gave the Blue Dog Coalition (which Golden co-chairs) the maximum $5,000 contribution. The University of Maine system serves thousands of CD-2 residents who would have benefited from cancellation.",
"category": "donor_aligned"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.7463",
"title": "Extension of Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 (March 2024 CR)",
"vote": "yea",
"vote_date": "2024-02-29",
"roll_call_url": "https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3344819/jared-golden-slams-democrats-veterans-unnecessary-fear-funding-bill/",
"why_it_matters": "Golden crossed party lines to support the GOP-led stopgap funding bill. This vote, along with subsequent CR votes in March and September 2025 where he was again the only Democrat, established a sustained pattern of siding with the GOP majority on government funding.",
"category": "party_defection"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.22",
"title": "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act — requires proof of citizenship to register to vote",
"vote": "yea",
"vote_date": "2025-04-10",
"roll_call_url": "https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-pass-bipartisan-save-act",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was one of only 4 House Democrats to support the SAVE Act. In the Maine legislature, Golden had voted repeatedly against voter ID measures. His reversal — now supporting proof-of-citizenship requirements — drew a primary challenge from the former Maine Secretary of State who called the vote a 'weathervane.'",
"category": "reversal"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.1968",
"title": "Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (March 2025 CR)",
"vote": "yea",
"vote_date": "2025-03-11",
"roll_call_url": "https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/3344819/jared-golden-slams-democrats-veterans-unnecessary-fear-funding-bill/",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was the lone House Democrat to vote for the GOP spending bill, blasting his own party for creating 'unnecessary fear' among veterans about cuts. This vote spurred a primary challenge from State Auditor Matthew Dunlap and deepened the rift with Democratic activists in his district.",
"category": "party_defection"
},
{
"bill_id": "H.R.8022",
"title": "Iran War Powers Resolution — resolution to end U.S. military involvement in the 2026 Iran war",
"vote": "nay",
"vote_date": "2026-04-16",
"roll_call_url": "https://thedemlabs.org/2026/04/16/jared-golden-iran-war-vote-follow-the-money-2026/",
"why_it_matters": "Golden was the lone Democrat to vote against constraining Trump's military operations in Iran. AIPAC has contributed over $500,000 to Golden's campaigns across his career, making this his single largest donor interest. The vote aligned precisely with AIPAC's policy priority of maintaining maximum presidential flexibility on Iran while isolating him from party consensus.",
"category": "donor_aligned"
}
],
"constituency_baseline": {
"baseline": {
"district_summary": "Maine's 2nd Congressional District is the largest district east of the Mississippi River, spanning approximately 27,000 square miles of rural northern and Downeast Maine. The district serves 692,100 residents with a median household income of $64,428. It encompasses cities including Lewiston-Auburn, Bangor, and Waterville, as well as vast forested and coastal regions. The population is 91.7% White, 1.9% Hispanic, and 98.4% U.S. citizens. The district has a median age of 45.2 — significantly older than the national median — and a homeownership rate of 74.4%. It has a 28.4% bachelor's degree attainment rate. Trump carried the district in both 2016 and 2020 by roughly 7-10 points, and Golden has consistently outperformed the top of the Democratic ticket, winning reelection in 2024 by less than one percentage point. The district's economy is anchored by healthcare, manufacturing (Bath Iron Works), forestry, fishing, tourism, and agriculture.",
"top_employers": [
{
"name": "Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics)",
"employees": 7000,
"source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/dashboards/top-private-employers-in-maine"
},
{
"name": "MaineHealth",
"employees": 23000,
"source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/dashboards/top-private-employers-in-maine"
},
{
"name": "Hannaford Supermarkets",
"employees": 7000,
"source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/dashboards/top-private-employers-in-maine"
},
{
"name": "Northern Light Health",
"employees": 12000,
"source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/dashboards/top-private-employers-in-maine"
},
{
"name": "The Jackson Laboratory",
"employees": 2300,
"source_url": "https://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/dashboards/top-private-employers-in-maine"
}
],
"dominant_industries": [
{
"naics": "62 (Health Care and Social Assistance)",
"share": 0.19,
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"naics": "44-45 (Retail Trade)",
"share": 0.14,
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"naics": "31-33 (Manufacturing)",
"share": 0.10,
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"naics": "72 (Accommodation and Food Services)",
"share": 0.09,
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
}
],
"recent_ballot_measures": [
{
"name": "Maine Question 4 — Automotive Right to Repair (2023)",
"year": 2023,
"result": "passed",
"margin": "84%-16%",
"source_url": "https://www.pressherald.com/2023/11/08/automotive-right-to-repair-referendum-passes-with-overwhelming-support/"
}
],
"demographic_anchors": [
{
"label": "Median Household Income",
"value": "$64,428",
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"label": "Poverty Rate",
"value": "13.5%",
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"label": "Homeownership Rate",
"value": "74.4%",
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"label": "Bachelor's Degree or Higher",
"value": "28.4%",
"source_url": "https://legisletter.org/legislator/jared-golden-G000592/district"
},
{
"label": "Median Age",
"value": "45.2",
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"label": "White (Non-Hispanic)",
"value": "91.7%",
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
},
{
"label": "Hispanic Population",
"value": "1.92%",
"source_url": "https://datausa.io/profile/geo/congressional-district-2-me"
}
]
}
}
}