Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, drawing a comparison between his campaign and her own 2024 presidential run.
"I know what it is like to step up to the plate with a short runway to Election Day. Troy will have just 101 days between his nomination for Senate and when voters in Maine will cast their ballots," Harris stated in a fundraising email. Harris was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024 after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
Jackson, a former state senator, was selected as the Democratic nominee at the Maine Democratic Party's U.S. Senate Nominating Convention on Saturday in Bangor. He will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has held the seat since 1997. The general election is scheduled for November 3.
Jackson replaced Graham Platner, who had won the Democratic primary last month but withdrew his candidacy earlier this month following a rape allegation. Platner has denied the accusation.
Collins' campaign spokeswoman, Blake Kernen, commented on Harris's endorsement, stating that the former Vice President "knows exactly what he’s going through." The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) criticized the selection process, noting, "Nice to see two people bond over their shared passion for completely bypassing primary voters."