UNITY — The Waldo County Democratic Committee (WCDC) will host a candidate forum featuring the four Democratic candidates running for U.S. Congressional District 2 on Sunday, May 3, 2026 at the Clifford Arts and Student Center, 42 Depot St, in Unity.

Confirmed candidates include Joe Baldacci, Matt Dunlap, Paige Loud, and Jordan Wood. The forum will be moderated by Tom Groening, retired editor of Working Waterfront and a veteran editor and reporter at the Bangor Daily News and Republican Journal.

Doors open at 1 p.m. The program runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a reception giving attendees the opportunity to meet the candidates in person.

The venue seats 200 in a renovated timber frame barn and is fully ADA accessible. Parking is available onsite and in nearby local lots; early arrival is encouraged.

A Wide-Open Race for a Critical Seat

Maine’s Secon Congressional District is the largest Congressional district east of the Mississippi River.

On November 5, 2025, incumbent Democratic Representative Jared Golden announced in a Bangor Daily News op-ed that he would not seek reelection to a fifth term in 2026, citing intense political polarization. (Read his full statement here.)

Golden’s departure leaves this perennial swing district — long a top target for national Republicans — wide open heading into one of the most consequential election cycles in recent memory.

“Waldo County voters deserve the chance to look these candidates in the eye, ask hard questions, and make an informed choice about who will fight for Maine’s working families in Washington," said Stanley Paige Zeigler, who is chair of Waldo County Democratic Committee, in a news release. "With Jared Golden stepping aside, this seat is there to be won — and forums like this one are how democracy is supposed to work. We are proud to bring all four candidates to our community.”

Students Help Bring Democracy to Life

The forum will be held at the Clifford Arts and Student Center, home to the Ecology Learning Center (ELC), a public charter school serving students in grades 9 through 12.

ELC is an environmentally focused, place-based school that uses the 8,000-square-foot facility for arts, community programming, and specialized, hands-on education. Students from the ELC will be assisting with the event — putting civic engagement into practice in their own community.

Maine’s Second Congressional District spans a vast swath of rural Maine, and this forum offers Waldo County voters a rare opportunity to hear directly from all four candidates, ask their questions, and assess who is best positioned to represent them in Washington.

Admission is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance here. For more information, contact the Waldo County Democratic Committee at info@waldocountydemocrats.com.

About the Waldo County Democratic Committee

The Waldo County Democratic Committee and its members, friends, volunteers, and coalition partners work to elect leaders who will fight for quality education, accessible healthcare, affordable housing, living wages, vibrant communities, tax fairness, human rights, rule of law, our democracy, and the responsible stewardship of land and waters.