In a surprising move, State Rep. John Andrews, a Republican from Paris, has resigned from his seat, citing discontent with party leaders and voters. Andrews made the announcement on Wednesday, just a day after fellow Republican Rep. Austin Theriault's victory in the primary elections for Maine's 2nd Congressional District.

Andrews expressed his strong opposition to being associated with Theriault, whom he had worked against during the primary campaign. In a text message, he stated, "I don't want to be within 1,000 yards of anything Austin Theriault." This revelation sheds light on the raw emotions within Rep. Mike Soboleski's camp following his defeat by Theriault, who secured two-thirds of the votes on Tuesday.

Although Andrews' resignation does not have an immediate impact on State House politics, as the 2024 legislative session has concluded and he was not seeking re-election, it illuminates the deep divisions within the Republican party. Theriault's victory sets the stage for a November face-off against U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, a Democrat representing the 2nd District.

The primary election between Theriault and Soboleski turned combative, with fierce rhetoric and negative tactics employed by surrogates on conservative radio. One particularly controversial incident involved a super PAC supporting Theriault, which falsely compared Soboleski to President Joe Biden and misleadingly claimed that Soboleski supported abortion rights.

Although Soboleski managed to secure some wins in parts of Oxford County, such as Dixfield and Mexico, Andrews pointed out that his hometown of Paris choosing Theriault ultimately influenced his decision to resign. In a Facebook post, Andrews expressed his disappointment, stating, "I'm sorry, but I'm done standing up for anything in this community. I'm officially retired from politics. This absolutely disgusts me."

Andrews, who was elected to the House as a Republican in 2018, briefly switched to the Libertarian party in 2020 before reverting back to the Republican party the following year. With his resignation, two candidates, Republican Michael Lance and unenrolled candidate Charlotte Nutt, are set to run for Andrews' seat in the November elections.

During his time in Augusta, Andrews gained attention for his controversial actions, including filing unsuccessful impeachment resolutions against Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, a Democrat. However, he also broke ranks with his party on certain issues, notably supporting tribal sovereignty legislation opposed by Democratic Governor Janet Mills.

The resignation of State Rep. John Andrews further highlights the political volatility and rifts within the Republican party, as the stage is set for a high-stakes November election in Maine's 2nd Congressional District.