Maine Democrats are actively selecting a new nominee to run against Republican Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming midterm elections, following the unexpected withdrawal of Graham Platner. The party must finalize its choice by July 27.
Troy Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate, has announced his candidacy for the nomination. "I’m in. And we're going to defeat Susan Collins," Jackson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Maine deserves a Senator that will fight for working families."
Jackson, a logger from rural Maine, has an extensive background in state politics, having served in the Maine Legislature for over two decades, including stints in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. He recently ran for governor but did not secure the nomination in the primary election.
The progressive group Our Revolution, founded by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, has endorsed Jackson. The organization stated that Jackson "has spent his life in the fight working people are asking for, not arriving to it just because a seat opened up."
A letter from within the Maine Democratic Party highlighted the enthusiasm of volunteers and supporters, expressing confidence in their ability to rally behind a new nominee. "There is an unprecedented amount of energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats, driven in part by many of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who were inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign,” the letter stated. “We look forward to coming together and harnessing that energy around our new nominee as we work to defeat Susan Collins in November.”