Hold onto your hats, folks -- Maine Democrat Rep. Jared Golden just dropped a political bombshell by announcing he’s stepping away from Congress after four hard-fought terms, as Just the News reports.

Representing a district that President Donald Trump carried by a solid 10 points last year, Golden revealed his decision to forego reelection in a candid op-ed published on Wednesday, citing a toxic political climate and personal reasons for his exit.

Golden, who has served as a legislator for 11 years, didn’t mince words about why he’s calling it quits.

Political Climate Turns Sour for Golden

He pointed to the growing nastiness in American politics as a major factor, a sentiment many on the right can understand when watching the progressive agenda dominate discourse with little room for dissent.

Golden also highlighted a disturbing rise in political violence nationwide, referencing tragic events like the assassination of Charlie Kirk, attempted attacks on Donald Trump, the assault on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and the killing of Minnesota state legislator Melissa Hortman.

It’s hard to argue with his concern -- when politics turns deadly, it’s no longer just a game of policy disagreements but a battlefield that threatens everyone’s safety.

Golden Reflects on Service and Struggle

In his op-ed, Golden wrote, “that now is the right time to step away from elected office.”

That’s a polite way of saying he’s had enough, and who can blame him when the left’s relentless culture wars and the right’s own fiery rhetoric often drown out any chance of real governance?

Golden also told the Bangor Daily News, “I have never loved politics. But I find purpose and meaning in service, and the Marine in me has been able to slog along through the many aspects of politics I dislike by focusing on the good work that Congress is capable of producing with patience and determination.”

Incivility Pushes Veteran Lawmaker Out

Continuing in the same interview, Golden added, “But after 11 years as a legislator, I have grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community -- behavior that, too often, our political leaders exhibit themselves.”

Here’s a man who’s fought for his country as a Marine and in Congress for his constituents, yet even he can’t stomach the current state of affairs -- perhaps a wake-up call for those pushing divisive, woke narratives over common-sense solutions.

Golden’s district, a conservative-leaning area, was already shaping up to be a contentious battleground, with strong opposition from former GOP Gov. Paul LePage, as reported by Politico, and a Democrat primary challenger in state auditor Matt Dunlap, who kicked off his campaign just last month.

Opponents and Allies Respond to Exit

Dunlap, for his part, took to X to offer a gracious nod to Golden’s tenure, posting, “I want to thank Jared Golden for his military service and years in public office.”

That’s a classy move, though one wonders if Dunlap’s campaign will now push harder on progressive policies that Golden often resisted, potentially alienating the Trump-friendly voters in the district.

Golden’s departure marks the end of a significant chapter for Maine politics, leaving conservatives to hope for a candidate who can reclaim the district while lamenting the loss of a Democrat who, at times, showed a willingness to buck his party’s more extreme tendencies.