Maine Democrats are set to nominate Troy Jackson as their U.S. Senate candidate, replacing Graham Platner, who withdrew amid accusations of sexual assault. Jackson, a former lumberjack and the former president of the Maine State Senate, has a documented history of anger issues, including an incident where he allegedly hurled a water bottle during a heated meeting.
Sources describe Jackson as having a reputation for vicious anger flare-ups. A former colleague recounted to The Washington Post that during the water bottle incident, Jackson was "an inch from her nose, screaming and hollering and haranguing her." The incident occurred when a fellow state lawmaker refused to change her vote. The targeted lawmaker reportedly feared he was attempting to strike her with the bottle, though Jackson's campaign denies this. His campaign stated that witnesses claimed the bottle was thrown away from individuals and did not hit anyone.
Jackson's campaign acknowledged the water bottle incident, stating that "Over 22 years in public office, there have been moments when he let his frustration get the better of him. When that happened, he took responsibility and apologized directly at the time." The campaign also asserted that witnesses indicated the bottle was thrown away from everyone and struck no one.
Beyond the water bottle incident, Jackson has also been accused of aggressive behavior towards other lawmakers. Reports indicate he yelled at and cursed out a female state Speaker of the House to such an extent that she reportedly removed him from her office. Another lawmaker who interacted with Jackson allegedly posted on social media that men were "too emotional" to serve in public office, a sentiment seemingly directed at Jackson's demeanor.
Some lawmakers who served with Jackson, who led the Maine Senate Democrats from 2018 to 2024, described his temper as a "reign of terror," easily triggered when he disagreed with legislation. Others characterized his style as bullying, with one individual telling The Washington Post that Jackson's screaming felt like "intentional intimidation."
Jackson is expected to secure the Democratic nomination after winning a significant majority of delegates in recent caucuses. His campaign stated he garnered over 481 of 500 delegates, leading to the withdrawal of most of his rivals. The deadline for Democrats to make the replacement official is Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
"Thank you, Maine," Jackson posted on social media after his caucus victory. "In November, we are going to defeat [GOP incumbent] Susan Collins and reclaim our Senate seat."
Jackson previously ran for governor with an endorsement from Sen. Bernie Sanders but finished third. He initially identified as a Republican before switching parties in 2004 and held socially conservative stances on issues like abortion and gay marriage, positions that have evolved over time.