A U.S. Army veteran and political newcomer from East Machias has entered the race for U.S. Rep. Jared Golden’s seat in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

James Clark, 53, seeks to challenge former Gov. Paul LePage for the Republican nomination next year.

“I believe Maine’s 2nd District deserves representation that focuses on people first, not party machinery or personal ambition,” Clark said in an email to the Press Herald Friday. “My goal is to bring a steady, service-oriented approach and to make sure the voices of rural and working-class Mainers are heard clearly in Washington.”

Clark is the latest candidate to get in what is shaping up to be a competitive race with national implications in Maine’s rural 2nd District. Golden, a Democrat who is in his fourth term, announced earlier this month that he won’t seek reelection, citing a rise in political polarization and threats.

Golden was among a select group of Democrats in 2024 who won in districts that also voted for Donald Trump, and Republicans have been quick to seize on his decision to step away as an opportunity to boost their chances of maintaining the majority in the U.S. House.

Democrats in the race include state auditor and former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap; Louis Sigel, former secretary for the Kennebec County Democratic Committee; and Jordan Wood, a former congressional staffer who was running for Sen. Susan Collins’ Senate seat but switched races after Golden’s announcement.

LePage, a two -term governor who also served as mayor of Waterville, is the only other Republican in the race.

Clark spent 12 years in the U.S. Army, including active duty, National Guard and reserve roles. He is now part owner of a development business and runs a small consulting firm focused on security and business.

He had been a registered Democrat for years, but switched parties after his views “shifted toward a more centrist and pragmatic outlook” that aligns more with moderate Republicans, he said.

On his website, Clark lists “free speech without censorship creep,” education, border security, lower energy costs and less government bureaucracy as priorities. He also says he’ll work to tackle rising costs and inflation.

Though he has never held elected office before, Clark said his candidacy offers something different and highlighted the fact that he hasn’t spent his career in politics.

“I’m not entrenched in structures or political machinery,” he said. “I bring real-world experience working with people in need on the ground in humanitarian settings, as well as in security, global work, and complex problem-solving, and I have no political machine behind me. I’m not the status quo.”

Candidates will be allowed to start circulating petitions to qualify for the ballot on Jan. 1. To qualify for the primaries, candidates for the U.S. House must gather between 1,000 and 1,250 signatures from registered voters by March 16.