Former President Barack Obama on Monday endorsed Lewiston Democrat Jared Golden’s bid for a U.S. House seat in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.

“Thanks, Obama,” Golden responded in a statement on Twitter. “I’ll be working hard to earn every vote in #ME02. As someone who carried this district in 2008 and 2012, I greatly appreciate your support.”

As part of a second round of endorsements around the country, Obama also backed 11 Maine Democrats seeking state legislative seats in the Nov. 6 general election.

Obama, who carried the 2nd District in both of his presidential runs, said in a statement released with his endorsements that his party “has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when we lead with conviction, principle and bold, new ideas.”

“Today, I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates — leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent,” the former president said about the 260 candidates he threw his weight behind.

Golden, a state representative who served two combat tours as a U.S. Marine, is locked in a tight four-way race for a seat that Republican Bruce Poliquin has held since 2014. Also in the contest are independents Will Hoar of Southwest Harbor and Tiffany Bond of Portland.

How much clout Obama has in the district is uncertain. His endorsement of its former congressman, Mike Michaud, in his 2014 bid to become governor fell so short that Michaud lost the 2nd District he’d represented for years before trying to move up the political ladder.

In addition to Golden, Obama backed two Democrats running for state Senate: Karen Kusiak of Fairfield and Tom Wright of Berwick.

“I’m honored and grateful to receive Barack Obama’s endorsement,” Wright said in a prepared statement while Kusiak said she is “very excited” to get the former president’s backing.

Democrats running for the state House who secured Obama’s support Monday were Tiffany Roberts-Lovell, Diane Denk, Kelcy McNamara, Chris Caiazzo, Steve Ball, Jennifer Day, Chloe Maxmin, Holly Stover and Vicki Doudera.

In the first round of his endorsements in August, Obama supported three candidates for state Senate: Democrats Louis Luchini, Laura Fortman and Linda Sanborn.

Conspicuously absent from the former president’s list so far is Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Mills, who hopes to succeed two-term Republican Paul LePage. She is in a tight race against Republican Shawn Moody and independents Alan Caron and Terry Hayes.

Obama’s latest round of endorsements included backing Ned Lamont in his quest to be the next governor of Connecticut and gubernatorial contenders in Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Maryland and Michigan.

scollins@sunjournal.com

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