Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate president, secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate on Saturday with an overwhelming 566 of 571 delegate votes at a convention in Bangor, positioning him to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins in November’s general election.
Jackson’s victory at the Cross Insurance Center came after every major rival stepped aside, clearing a path for the progressive politician to replace Graham Platner, the previous Democratic nominee who withdrew two weeks earlier following sexual assault allegations he has denied.
The rapid-fire nomination process reflected the chaos that engulfed Maine’s Senate race after Platner’s exit. Politico had reported that a woman Platner dated five years ago said he forced her to have sex despite her repeated objections. Prominent Democrats, including party leaders, called for his withdrawal, and Platner announced his departure in an 11-minute video on July 8, saying “for the movement to continue, it can’t be me.”
Maine’s Democratic Party faced a July 27 deadline to select a replacement for the general-election ballot. Rather than have the state party committee choose the nominee, party chair Charlie Dingman opted for a special convention process. “The easy solution would be to let the state committee select the new nominee,” Dingman said. “Instead, we responded to the growing grassroots movement in our state to build power for ordinary working people.”
Jackson, 58, represented far northern Maine for 20 years in the state legislature and served as Senate president. He began his political career as a Republican and once opposed abortion and gay marriage, but has since become staunchly progressive. He finished third in Maine’s gubernatorial primary earlier this year, earning the endorsement of Platner during his own unsuccessful run for governor.
At the convention, Jackson told delegates: “If you’ve ever been ignored, underestimated, pushed around or told that you have to wait your turn while the rich cut the line, I’m asking you to stand with us in this campaign.” He criticized Collins directly, saying “For 30 years, she’s told us that she’s ‘concerned’. But look, concern is not courage.”
Preliminary polling from the University of New Hampshire shows Jackson and Collins statistically tied in a November matchup. Collins, a five-term incumbent and the only Republican senator seeking re-election in a state that Kamala Harris won in 2024, has maintained her political standing through a reputation for moderation. However, Democrats view Maine’s Senate seat as central to their plan to retake the chamber, needing four pickups nationwide in November.
Jackson acknowledged the compressed timeline ahead. With 101 days until the general election, he will need to accelerate his campaign to match Collins’s fundraising advantage and the momentum Platner built through months of statewide travel and grassroots organizing. Some Democratic voters noted the convention process did not fully represent the more than 200,000 voters who participated in June’s primary that elected Platner.
Party delegates, however, expressed confidence in Jackson’s ability to carry forward the populist economic message that energized Platner’s campaign. “It never was about the person, but about the policies,” said Lydia Stone, 31, a delegate from North Yarmouth. “I think what Graham said he was, I think Troy Jackson actually is.”
Sources
- The Guardian — Jackson’s nomination, Platner’s withdrawal context, convention details, and polling
- NBC News — Nomination confirmation and 101-day timeline to general election
- Maine Public — Convention results and delegate vote count
- Reuters — Platner’s withdrawal and Jackson’s nomination
- University of New Hampshire Survey Center — Polling showing Jackson and Collins statistically tied
- AP News — Jackson’s background as former state lawmaker and logger
- NPR — Platner’s withdrawal over sexual assault allegations
