Maine Democrats have united around Troy Jackson as their candidate for the Senate, following Graham Platner’s exit due to allegations. The Maine Republican Party criticized the nomination process. Jackson, a former state Senate president, won decisively at the Democratic nominating convention in Bangor.
Jackson’s main opponents in the primary supported him after withdrawing their candidacies. He defeated Saundra Pelletier in the voting at the convention. The Senate race is significant, with incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins seeking re-election in a state President Trump lost in 2024.
“Are you ready to defeat Susan Collins?” Jackson asked his supporters at the convention.
Jackson emphasized unity among Democrats and building a strong working-class movement in Maine. He has raised over $1 million for his campaign, but concerns remain due to past allegations related to his temper and workplace conduct.
A Democratic strategist noted the challenges of vetting Jackson. A consultant remarked that Democrats should not rely on Maine for flipping the Senate but seek opportunities in states like Texas, Iowa, and Alaska.
Platner, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and others, exited the race after allegations of rape surfaced. Jackson, previously aligned with Platner, has adopted similar working-class focused policies. He advocates for raising taxes on billionaires and supports Medicare-for-all, alongside opposition to military aid to Israel.
Jackson’s Senate campaign is backed by Our Revolution, a group stemming from Sanders’ campaign. Rep. Ro Khanna, who previously supported Platner, has shifted his backing to Jackson. Jackson enjoys support from Maine’s labor unions, assisting him in securing delegates in last weekend’s vote.
Republicans criticized the nominating process for favoring Jackson unfairly. Kristen Cianci from the Republican National Committee called it a “rigged” process. Collins faces a challenging political environment, amid Trump’s low approval ratings and other issues.
Collins, noted for her moderate stance, received bipartisan praise recently for her 10,000th Senate vote. Democrats criticize her support for Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation and her stance on ICE funding.
Collins historically defeated Democratic efforts to unseat her, previously winning re-election against challenger Sara Gideon. The Senate race in Maine is anticipated to be competitive and expensive, with significant spending from both parties.
A recent Pine Tree Poll indicated Jackson slightly leading over Collins among likely voters. The Fox News Power Rankings classified the Maine Senate showdown as a toss-up.