Troy Jackson has been formally nominated by Maine Democrats as their candidate for the U.S. Senate, aiming to unseat Republican incumbent Susan Collins in a race that is shaping up to be a key battleground in the upcoming midterm elections. The nomination came Saturday at the Maine Democratic Party's nominating convention in Bangor, where Jackson, a former state Senate president, was overwhelmingly elected to replace Graham Platner.
Platner, who had won the primary, withdrew from the race earlier this month amid allegations of rape from a former partner. Platner has denied the report but stepped aside. Jackson, who had also sought the Democratic nomination for governor, quickly positioned himself to capture the support of the progressive and populist movement that had backed Platner.
Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Republican who became a Democrat over two decades ago, has pledged to unite the party and build a broad coalition. His platform includes raising taxes on billionaires, advocating for Medicare-for-all, and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also opposes military aid to Israel, reflecting divisions within the Democratic party on the issue.
His campaign has already raised over $1 million and garnered support from progressive organizations like Our Revolution, an outgrowth of Bernie Sanders' presidential campaigns. U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, a progressive leader, also shifted his endorsement to Jackson. Labor unions in Maine have also provided significant backing.
Despite Jackson's swift consolidation of party support, some Democratic strategists have expressed concerns about the vetting process, citing reports of alleged temper and workplace conduct issues, as well as past mortgage improprieties and a strict anti-abortion stance. One anonymous Democratic strategist described the situation as a "rocket vetting process," suggesting the party may have to accept the nominee as is.
Republicans have criticized the Democratic nomination process, with the Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci calling it a "sham" and a "rigged nominating process to crown Platner 2.0 without a single vote being cast."
Senator Collins, seeking her sixth term, faces a challenging political landscape. However, she has a history of winning re-election in Maine, a state that President Donald Trump lost in the 2024 election. Democrats are targeting Collins over her past vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and her support for ICE funding, particularly in light of a recent fatal shooting involving federal immigration agents in Maine.
The Maine Senate race has been classified as a "toss-up" in the first Fox News Power Rankings for the 2026 midterms. A recent University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll indicated Jackson holding a narrow three-point lead over Collins among likely general election voters, within the margin of error.