Maine Democrats are rallying behind Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate President, to replace former candidate Graham Platner on the ballot for the U.S. Senate race against Republican Susan Collins. Jackson, who has cultivated a "working-class hero" image, has secured backing from progressive organizations and figures, including Our Revolution, founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).
Jackson, 58, has campaigned alongside Sanders and Platner, participating in events like the "Fighting the Oligarchy" tour. His alignment with the progressive wing on economic populism is seen as a key asset. Our Revolution stated Jackson "spent his life in the fight working people are asking for," and Khanna was among Platner's top congressional supporters.
However, Jackson's political record reveals a history of social conservatism that contrasts with his current progressive endorsements. He began his political career as a Republican, running unsuccessfully in 2000 before registering as an Independent and then a Democrat. In 2009, he voted against same-sex marriage in the Maine Senate and, until recently, held positions opposing abortion except in cases of rape or incest, even when the mother's life was endangered. He also voted for state legislation in 2011 that would have declared a fetus a person and in 2013 for mandatory abortion-counseling laws. Jackson has attributed these earlier stances to his Catholic upbringing and has since reversed some of his views.
Jackson has also faced criticism for anti-immigrant and nationalist rhetoric. In 2022, he authored legislation to restrict Canadian workers with legal work permits from entering Maine, a move a federal judge blocked as unconstitutional. Jackson vowed to continue fighting the policy, stating, "No other state allows this in any occupation. It’s only Maine."
The strategic shift to Jackson appears to be a continuation of a Democratic approach that sought to win back working-class voters, a strategy also employed with Platner, who withdrew from the race after allegations of sexual assault. Observers have noted a pattern of Democrats seeking candidates with a stereotypically masculine, blue-collar image.