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Sanders Defends Platner; Maine Picks Jackson Amid Bottle Assault Allegations

7/27/2026

Summary

Sanders Defends Backing

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he doesn't regret backing Graham Platner (D) after sexual-assault allegations and he called Platner to ask him to quit, which Platner did.
Maine Democrats chose Troy Jackson (D) 566-5 vote.
Sanders said Jackson could defeat Susan Collins (R-ME).
John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Sanders should apologize; a strategist called Jackson’s vetting a “rocket process,” and Mayor Rahm Emanuel warned “Bernie Bros” could hurt Democrats in November.

Summary

Jackson Accused

Progressive Victory, a far-left advocacy group, accused Jackson of striking a female colleague with a thrown bottle, citing multiple witnesses.
The Washington Post noted Jackson previously tossed a water bottle in a legislative meeting after losing a vote.
Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman called the convention open, representative and transparent, while Devon Murphy-Anderson praised Jackson’s hand-selection as democracy and said candidate Ashley Webb failed to qualify for the ballot.

History

Historical Context

In July 1972 the Democratic National Convention in Miami Beach nominated Senator George McGovern but fell short of the 1,509 delegates required for a first-ballot win. The chaos led to the McGovern-Fraser Commission, which imposed new delegate-selection rules and quotas for women and minorities. Today Maine Democrats recall that split as Senator Bernie Sanders backs Troy Jackson while the Progressive Victory Party accuses Jackson of assault.

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Sanders Defends Backing

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he doesn't regret backing Graham Platner (D) after sexual-assault allegations and he called Platner to ask him to quit, which Platner did.
Maine Democrats chose Troy Jackson (D) 566-5 vote.
Sanders said Jackson could defeat Susan Collins (R-ME).
John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Sanders should apologize; a strategist called Jackson’s vetting a “rocket process,” and Mayor Rahm Emanuel warned “Bernie Bros” could hurt Democrats in November.

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