Maine Democrats Nominate Troy Jackson to Challenge Sen. Susan Collins/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Maine Democratic delegates overwhelmingly selected former state Senate President Troy Jackson to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson replaced primary winner Graham Platner, who withdrew after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault—an allegation Platner denies. The closely watched contest could help determine control of the US Senate, but Jackson faces a major fundraising disadvantage and less than four months to campaign.
Quick Look
- Troy Jackson won support from 566 of 571 voting delegates.
- He will face five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins on Nov. 3.
- Jackson replaces Graham Platner, who withdrew July 10.
- Platner denies a former girlfriend’s sexual assault allegation.
- Jackson is a former Maine Senate president and fifth-generation logger.
- He supports Medicare for All and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Collins has raised more than $16 million.
- Jackson reported raising over $1 million since entering the Senate contest.
- A Republican super PAC plans to spend more than $42 million against him.
- Maine is considered essential to Democrats’ effort to regain the Senate.
Deep Look
Maine Democrats Select Jackson for Senate Race
BANGOR, Maine — Democratic delegates in Maine overwhelmingly nominated former state lawmaker Troy Jackson on Saturday to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the November election.
Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate and a fifth-generation logger from the state’s rural north, received 566 of the 571 votes cast at a hastily organized nominating convention in Bangor.
The 58-year-old progressive entered the contest after Democratic primary winner Graham Platner withdrew earlier in July.
“When the people in power refuse to listen, you have to organize, you have to stand in solidarity, together. And you have to make them listen,” Jackson told delegates.
Jackson Replaces Platner on Democratic Ballot
Platner easily won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary in June but ended his campaign July 10 after a former girlfriend accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021.
Platner denies the allegation. He withdrew after several prominent supporters called on him to leave the race.
Under Maine law, the state Democratic Party had authority to select a replacement nominee. The party faced a Monday deadline, 99 days before the Nov. 3 general election.
The replacement process had never previously been used.
Hundreds of delegates chosen at county party meetings gathered in Bangor, approximately 130 miles north of Portland. The convention began Saturday morning and concluded by noon.
Jackson Wins Nearly Unanimous Support
Jackson entered the convention as the clear favorite after his campaign said more than 480 delegates had pledged to support him.
Only one other candidate remained in contention: Saundra Pelletier, the CEO of a women’s health company.
Several potential contenders initially expressed interest following Platner’s withdrawal, including former gubernatorial candidates. Most abandoned their campaigns by July 19 as support consolidated around Jackson.
Progressive groups that previously supported Platner quickly endorsed Jackson.
Former Republican Became Democratic Leader
Jackson first sought elected office as a Republican in 2000, unsuccessfully running for the Maine House of Representatives.
He won a legislative seat as an independent two years later and joined the Democratic Party in 2004. Jackson eventually became president of the Maine Senate before leaving the Legislature in 2024.
He finished third in Maine’s 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary. During that campaign, he received support from Platner, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Our Revolution, the political organization founded by Sanders.
Jackson previously managed Sanders’ Maine operation during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Progressive Positions Could Shape Campaign
Jackson supports Medicare for All and has called for dismantling Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE’s presence in Maine has become particularly contentious since an immigration agent killed a driver in the state earlier in July.
Republicans are expected to use Jackson’s positions to portray him as too far left for Maine’s general electorate, which includes a large and politically influential group of independent voters.
Collins has described his positions as “clearly” aligned with socialism.
She also noted his role in Sanders’ presidential campaign, calling him “a Bernie Bro.”
Republicans Launch Immediate Attack Campaign
Republicans began advertising against Jackson shortly after his nomination, accusing him of having a volatile temper and attempting to connect him politically to Platner.
The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, said it intends to spend more than $42 million opposing Jackson.
“Mainers value steady leadership that yields real results for the Pine Tree State, making Susan Collins the clear choice once again this November,” said Chris Gustafson, the organization’s communications director.
Jackson will have less than four months to introduce himself to voters as a federal candidate and build a statewide campaign against an established incumbent.
Collins Holds Major Fundraising Advantage
Collins, 73, is seeking a sixth Senate term and holds a significant financial advantage.
Federal campaign filings show she has raised more than $16 million.
Jackson’s campaign said he collected more than $1 million after entering the Senate race during the week leading up to the convention.
The Republican spending commitment, combined with Collins’ existing campaign resources, means Jackson must quickly expand his fundraising and campaign organization.
Maine Could Determine Senate Control
Democrats view Maine as one of their best opportunities to gain a Republican-held Senate seat in 2026.
Trump lost the state in the 2024 presidential election, but Collins has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to win crossover and independent support.
Defeating her remains a difficult task. She is a five-term incumbent with high name recognition, an established political network and a substantial fundraising operation.
Democrats’ path to a Senate majority is narrow and likely depends on winning Maine alongside competitive contests in North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.
The party must also defend all its current seats, including open contests in Michigan and Minnesota created by Democratic retirements.
Progressive Candidates Challenged Party Establishment
Maine’s Democratic primary became one of several contests in which progressive candidates challenged contenders favored by the national party establishment.
Platner initially faced Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who had the support of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. Mills withdrew before the June 9 primary, and Platner won the nomination.
He also received endorsements from Sanders, Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
That support collapsed after the sexual assault allegation emerged. Sanders withdrew his endorsement but said he would not take a position on Platner’s replacement.
Our Revolution, which had endorsed Jackson for governor and Platner for Senate, supported Jackson after Platner withdrew.
Jackson Frames Campaign as Working-Class Movement
Jackson has emphasized his background in Maine’s logging industry and presented his candidacy as a campaign for workers who feel ignored by political and economic institutions.
He will need to retain progressive enthusiasm while appealing to moderate and independent voters who have helped Collins remain in office.
Jackson expressed confidence Saturday that his campaign could overcome its late start and financial disadvantage.
“We’re not from the left, we’re not from the right. We’re from the bottom, and we are rising,” he said.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.