Former Maine state Senate president Troy Jackson is poised to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate today at a party convention in Bangor, positioning himself to challenge Republican incumbent Susan Collins in a race Democrats view as essential to their hopes of controlling the Senate after the November general election.
Hundreds of delegates are gathering Saturday morning at the Cross Insurance Center to select a nominee after the primary winner, Graham Platner, ended his campaign earlier this month following a sexual assault allegation, which he denied. Jackson’s preferred delegates secured a decisive majority at county meetings last weekend, and all major opposing candidates have dropped out, making his nomination all but certain.
Jackson, 57, is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, a tiny town in Aroostoak County in northern Maine. He served in the state Senate from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2024, including a stint as president. He came in third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary in June. Supporters believe his working-class roots and deep ties to rural Maine give him a unique advantage against Collins, who also hails from Aroostook County but has represented the state for nearly 30 years.
The rapid sequence of events that led to today’s convention upended a closely watched race. Graham Platner ended his Maine Senate campaign after a sexual assault allegation emerged in early July. Platner, a progressive activist whose viral videos had catapulted him to national prominence, had won the primary but faced immediate pressure from fellow Democrats and national party officials to step aside. He denied the allegation but announced on July 8 that for the movement to continue, it could not be him.
Jackson filed to replace Platner on the ballot the same day, telling supporters that it would be “self-serving” if Platner remained the nominee. He quickly consolidated support from delegates and raised over $600,000 in roughly 72 hours, surpassing $1 million since launching his Senate run, according to NBC News. Collins’ campaign, by contrast, had $11 million to spend as of late June, with Republican groups preparing to spend millions more.
Jackson previewed his case against Collins at rallies last weekend. “In nearly 30 years, Susan Collins has told Mainers that she is concerned. She’s told us that she is troubled,” Jackson said at a Sanford event. “Too often she’s stood with Donald Trump and the corporations that already have too much power.” He cited her votes for tax cuts he characterized as giveaways to billionaires and her support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, whose vote helped overturn Roe v. Wade.
Democrats view Maine as one of their best opportunities to flip a seat. To win statewide, Jackson will need to narrow Collins’ expected margins in the rural 2nd Congressional District while running up large numbers in Democratic strongholds like Portland. A Democratic strategist with experience in Maine races noted that Jackson’s background in Aroostook County and his history of overperforming in state Senate races position him well for that task, though Collins remains formidable, particularly in rural areas.
The Collins campaign has already begun attacking Jackson, comparing him unfavorably to Platner and questioning his electability. “Troy Jackson is showing us the low-energy version of the Graham Platner campaign,” Collins spokeswoman Blake Kernen told NBC News. “He lies about the facts and makes empty promises without plans. That is why he came in third in the Democratic primary for governor a month ago.”
Jackson also faces scrutiny over his legislative record and his alliance with Platner, though he quickly called on Platner to step aside after the allegation. Republicans have signaled plans to highlight his ties to the state Legislature and portray him as too far left, noting his support for Bernie Sanders in 2016 and his progressive policy positions.
If Jackson wins the nomination today, he will have 101 days to build a statewide campaign, raise millions to compete on television, and convince voters who have backed Collins for decades that it is time for her to go. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has signaled it will provide full support once Jackson clinches the nomination, according to NBC News. Democrats need to net four Senate seats nationally to take control of the chamber, making Maine a critical battleground in the 2026 midterms.
Sources
- NBC News — Jackson’s delegate support, fundraising figures, strategic analysis of his path to victory, and Collins campaign response
- Fox News — Jackson’s expected nomination and the race as a toss-up
- CNN — Convention details and Jackson’s position in the nominating process
- BBC — Platner’s withdrawal and denial of the sexual assault allegation
- The Guardian — Platner’s decision to end his campaign
- AP News — Jackson’s background, his legislative record, and challenges ahead in the general election
- USA Today — Details of the sexual assault allegation against Platner
