Troy Jackson Secures Maine Democratic Senate Nomination

Maine Democrats convened in Bangor on Saturday to replace Graham Platner, who withdrew on July 10 after a sexual-assault allegation. In a nearly unanimous vote, 566 delegates selected former state Senate president Troy Jackson as the party’s nominee to face five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson’s only remaining opponent, Saundra Pelletier, CEO of Evofem Biosciences, received five votes.

Associated Press

Platner had won the June Democratic primary, defeating Gov. Janet Mills, before the allegation forced his exit. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine, previously ran for governor and served as Senate president before leaving the statehouse in 2024. Progressives who backed Platner shifted to Jackson, and Our Revolution, founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders, endorsed him.

Associated PressCNN

• Delegate vote: 566 for Jackson; 5 for Pelletier.

CNN

• Fundraising gap: Collins has raised more than $16 million; Jackson’s campaign reports over $1 million since entering the race.

Associated Press

• Republican spending: The Senate Leadership Fund pledged over $42 million against Jackson, with outside groups reserving about $60 million in airtime for Maine ads.

New York Times

• Democratic spending: Senate Democrats’ super-PAC and affiliates have allocated roughly $24 million for Maine advertising.

New York Times

Collins’s spokesperson Shawn Roderick argued that Jackson’s platform aligns with “socialism,” saying his proposals would be paid for by middle- and lower-income workers. Collins herself called Jackson a “Bernie bro” in a recent press interaction.

Associated Press

Jackson emphasized grassroots organization, asserting his movement is “bigger than any one person” and that he is building a new coalition to challenge Collins’s record on tax policy, health-care and immigration enforcement.

CNN

• “When the people in power refuse to listen, you have to organize, you have to stand in solidarity, together.” — Troy Jackson

Associated Press

• “Troy Jackson will attempt to sell Mainers a multi-trillion dollar bill of goods based on rhetoric that will make everything sound free, but in reality would be paid for by middle and lower income workers,” — Collins’ campaign

Associated Press

• “I think she was a good senator for a long time, but she has moved too far to the right.” — Sara Barwise

CNN

• “We’re probably never going to be able to match what the Republicans are going to spend, but we’ve got to have a fight,” — Rufus Gifford

New York Times

With less than four months before the November election, Jackson must close the fundraising gap and appeal to Maine’s independent electorate. Collins, who attended a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing on July 15, is expected to rely on her established fundraising network and the Republican advertising budget. Both campaigns will intensify outreach in timber, lobster fishing, tourism and health-care as the contest moves toward the fall.

Associated Press