Lana Pelletier, the longtime partner of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, is reportedly his second cousin. This relationship has come under scrutiny during one of the nation’s closely watched Senate races. The claim originated on July 30 in The Maine Wire, citing genealogical records showing that Pelletier and Jackson share great-grandparents. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) subsequently highlighted excerpts from the report. However, neither birth, marriage, nor genealogical records were made public in these articles. As a result, Newsweek has been unable to independently verify the familial connection.
Newsweek has reached out to Jackson’s campaign and The Maine Wire for comments and to request copies of the records supporting the report.
Who Is Troy Jackson?
Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash in northern Maine and a former president of the Maine Senate. His campaign describes him as a “lifelong fighter for workers’ rights” and the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. Jackson entered the 2026 Senate race as the replacement Democratic nominee after winning the party’s July 25 nominating convention. He challenges Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November 3 general election.
Who Is Lana Pelletier?
Lana Pelletier has been Jackson’s partner for decades, and they have two adult sons, Chace and Camden, according to The Maine Wire. They are described as high-school sweethearts who attended Fort Kent High School. Jackson listed Pelletier as an immediate family member in a 2019 financial disclosure filed with the Maine Ethics Commission. This form requires lawmakers to disclose certain income from a spouse or domestic partner and dependent children.
In April 2023, Pelletier submitted written testimony to the Maine Legislature as a resident of Allagash, the same community Jackson calls home. She described herself as a social worker and shared her experience of starting to smoke at 15 before quitting in her 20s when she became a mother. In her testimony, she supported a proposed ban on flavored tobacco products, emphasizing how addiction can affect families. Despite some references over the years describing Pelletier as Jackson’s wife, The Maine Wire stated it could not find a marriage license for the couple.
Genealogical Findings
The Maine Wire reported that Jackson and Pelletier share the same great-grandparents, Thomas Pelletier and Edith Thibodeau Pelletier. The couple’s family tree indicated that their daughter, Albertine Pelletier O’Leary, was Jackson’s grandmother, while their son, Louis A. Pelletier Sr., was Pelletier’s grandfather. This would mean Jackson’s mother and Pelletier’s father are first cousins, making Jackson and Pelletier second cousins. The report generically referred to “genealogical records” and local sources but did not publish or link to the original records supporting the family tree.
Maine law does not prohibit marriage between second cousins. It restricts marriage between closer relatives like parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. First cousins can marry with a physician’s certificate confirming they have received genetic counseling.
Maine Electoral Race Insights
The Senate race is highly competitive, with the RealClearPolitics average of polls showing Jackson at 48.6 percent and Collins at 47.3 percent, providing Jackson with a 1.3-point lead. The campaign is in the spotlight as control of the U.S. Senate could hinge on a few tight races. Jackson’s campaign focuses on his logging heritage, support for organized labor, and criticizes Washington for favoring the wealthy and large corporations over working families.
Newsweek relied on Martyn, their AI assistant, to generate this story. For additional information, contact Newsweek editors Ben Kelly and Tony Phillips.