Maine Democrats on Saturday selected Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president and fifth-generation logger, as their nominee to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in the November election.
The party scrambled to choose a new candidate after the initial primary winner, Graham Platner, withdrew his candidacy following an allegation of sexual assault. Platner denies the accusation but stepped down after key supporters urged him to do so.
The selection process involved over 600 Democratic delegates meeting in Bangor. Jackson emerged as the clear favorite among potential replacements, securing commitments from a significant majority of the delegates.
Jackson previously managed U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign operations in Maine. His policy positions include support for Medicare for All and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Republicans have characterized Jackson's platform as too extreme for Maine voters. Collins, a five-term incumbent, has highlighted Jackson's progressive stances and his past campaign work with Sanders, referring to him as a "Bernie Bro."
Collins holds a significant fundraising advantage over Jackson. Federal filings indicate she has raised over $16 million, while Jackson's campaign reported raising more than $1 million since entering the race.
Democrats view the Maine Senate race as a key opportunity to potentially flip a seat, though defeating the incumbent Collins is expected to be challenging. The party faces a narrow path to regaining Senate control and must win in several competitive states, including Maine, North Carolina, Alaska, and Ohio, while defending existing seats.