Maine Democrats are expected to officially select Troy Jackson, a veteran state politician and former logger, as their nominee to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November's closely watched Senate race. The party is holding a convention on Saturday to formalize the nomination.
Jackson, who hails from the same northern Maine county as Collins, emerged as a potential candidate after the initial Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race amid allegations of sexual assault, which he has denied. Jackson had previously supported Platner and called on him to step down after the accusations surfaced.
Jackson, currently Maine's former state senate president, announced he was considering a run after Platner suspended his campaign. While other Democrats also sought the nomination, it became apparent that Jackson had secured the support of a majority of delegates. "It's going to be a very tight and tense race for three months," Dan Shea, a Colby College professor of government, told ABC News.
Described as a "genuine Mainer" with an "authentically rural Maine" background, Jackson is seen by some as possessing an appeal to voters who are skeptical of candidates perceived as outsiders. "He talks and acts like a rural Maine logger," Shea noted.
Jackson's political journey began with his election to the Maine House of Representatives after graduating from the University of Maine at Fort Fort Kent. He later served as a state senator and rose to become the state senate president. His background includes work as a logger and a logging equipment operator, and he has also been involved in political organizing, including for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns.
Initially running as a Republican in 2000, Jackson has evolved politically. While he has since become a Democrat, he has expressed regret for past stances, including voting against same-sex marriage legalization in 2009, and now advocates for abortion rights. A spokesperson for Jackson addressed past reports of contentious behavior, stating that while he is passionate, he has never acted in a way that endangered colleagues.
The upcoming contest against Collins, one of the longest-serving senators, is anticipated to be highly competitive and could influence the balance of power in Washington.