WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Jared Golden said Wednesday that he won’t seek reelection next year, opening up a Republican-leaning seat in Maine that could be tough for his party to retain without him on the ballot.

In an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News, the fourth-term congressman said he has grown discouraged by the incivility of politics.

“I am forever grateful for the honor of serving my constituents in Congress, and proud of what I’ve accomplished for Maine,” Golden wrote. “But recently, it became clear that now is the right time to step away from elected office.”

Democrats are sure to be disappointed by Golden’s decision to retire from the sprawling 2nd District, which includes much of Maine outside of the Portland and Augusta areas. Donald Trump carried the seat three times, including by 9 points in 2024, according to calculations by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. Golden squeaked into a fourth term last fall by less than a point under the state’s ranked-choice voting system.

In response to Golden’s move, Inside Elections shifted its race rating from Tilt Democratic to Likely Republican.

A moderate who sometimes bucks his party on major votes, Golden said he was confident he could win reelection if he ran again, adding that he retained the trust of district voters.

“I don’t fear losing,” he wrote. “What has become apparent to me is that I now dread the prospect of winning.”

Golden said he and his family have faced threats of political violence in recent years, including being forced to spend time in a hotel room last Thanksgiving because of a threat against their home. Those threats have become more salient as his oldest daughter reaches school age, he said.

“As a father, I have to consider whether the good I can achieve outweighs everything my family endures as a result,” he wrote.

Golden, who’s ranked among the most vulnerable House members this year, had already drawn a primary challenge from the left, with state Auditor Matthew Dunlap entering the race last month. And a tough general election loomed against Republican former Gov. Paul LePage, who has cleared his primary field.

But Golden, who earlier this year had ruled out statewide runs for governor or Senate, called for additional candidates to enter the 2nd District race.

“I have consistently called for a new generation of leaders and I repeat that call today,” he wrote. “My sincere hope is that by creating an open seat, my departure makes space for a competitive primary for both Democrats and Republicans, as Paul LePage and Matt Dunlap are a far cry from being standard bearers of the generations that will inherit the legacy of today’s Congress.”

A Marine veteran and former state legislator, Golden has been a frequent Republican target since first winning election to Congress in 2018.

“Serial flip-flopper Jared Golden’s exit from Congress says it all: He’s turned his back on Mainers for years and now his chickens are coming home to roost. He, nor any other Democrat, has a path to victory in ME-02 and Republicans will flip this seat red in 2026,” Maureen O’Toole, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, praised Golden’s work on the moderate Blue Dog Coalition, which she said has helped grow the party.

“Last night’s election results make clear that voters are ready to elect a Democratic majority that keeps its promise to lower costs and fight for everyday people. Democrats will do everything necessary to keep this seat blue so that Mainers continue to have a voice fighting for them in Congress — and we are confident we will be successful,” she said.

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