'Pathetic': Maine Democrat Blames 'Dark Money' Indivisible for His Refusal to Hold Town Halls

Congressman Jared Golden has been accused of dodging his constituents by refusing to hold town hall meetings with them, and now the Maine Democrat is blaming a grassroots progressive movement for what critics have called his cowardly stance.

Golden isn't alone in refusing to hold town halls. Numerous congressional Republicans have come under fire for avoiding their constituents' wrath by eschewing public meetings with them. However, Golden's right-wing positions on issues ranging from border security to voter ID and his support for some of President Donald Trump's policies and dismissal of his administration's threat to democracy have stoked progressives' ire at the fourth-term congressman.

Indivisible, a grassroots movement comprised of thousands of local groups "with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda," has been a constant thorn in Golden's evasive side. Maine chapters of the group have called attention to his shrinking from constituents by holding "empty chair" town hall meetings, at which attendees hold up signs asking, "Where's Jared?"

Now Golden is hitting back, accusing Indivisible, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, of being a "dark money group" that divides Democrats and alienates conservatives.

"So he's mad at his own base, the ones who knocked doors to get him into Congress?"

"They make clear that they want to purge the Democratic Party of anyone who doesn't meet their definition of what it means to be a Democrat," Golden said last week. "My perspective is, they call themselves Indivisible, but they are literally dedicated to division within the Democratic Party itself."

Sarah Dohl, Indivisible's chief campaigns officer, scoffed at Golden's "dark money" allegation.

"Jared Golden's claims that Indivisible is funded by dark money is pathetic," she told the Portland Press Herald on Friday. "Small-dollar donors are the backbone of Indivisible's budget, and we're proud to be accountable to a nationwide grassroots base, not a single donor or interest."

Former Maine state Rep. Dianne Russell (D-39) took to social media to slam Golden's accusation, writing: "So he's mad at his own base, the ones who knocked doors to get him into Congress? And he's so mad that he is afraid to answer to the same Maine people who knocked those doors? Wow!"

Golden—a member of the shrunken Blue Dog Caucus of 10 right-wing Democrats—contended that Indivisible "has formed connections very successfully with local groups" and "uses those local groups to whitewash what is an extremely partisan agenda."

"Their goal is to beat up on any Democrats who seek in any way to work with and show an openness to compromise with the Republican Party," he added.

Critics counter that Democrats should be combating Republicans' increasingly authoritarian agenda, not seeking to compromise with it. They've expressed alarm over Golden's accommodationist stance and his statement that he is "OK" with Trump winning the 2024 election.

"I reject the premise" that Trump is "a unique threat to our democracy," Golden said last July, predicting Trump's victory.

Statements like these have stirred progressive Mainers to action. Last month, Indivisible Mid-Maine members led a protest of Golden's private speech at Colby College in Waterville.

"Along with his refusal to address constituents at town halls," protester Lisa Joy said outside the event, "he is on the wrong side of democracy at this particular crisis moment in our history."