Maine Dems Pick Troy Jackson to Challenge Susan Collins
Maine Democrats nominated former state senator Troy Jackson to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, giving the party three months to campaign against the incumbent who has held the seat since 1997.
Troy Jackson secured the Democratic nomination during a state convention held Friday in Bangor, according to Emily Hallas writing in Washington Examiner. Hundreds of Democratic delegates representing Maine’s 16 counties voted overwhelmingly for Jackson, who defeated lesser-known rivals David Costello and pharmaceutical executive Saundra Pelletier by a margin of 566 to 5.
Jackson replaces Graham Platner, who was forced to suspend his Senate campaign earlier this month following a rape allegation. Platner had won the Maine Democratic primary but withdrew after mounting controversies that included revelations of a Nazi tattoo and sexual assault allegations made by his ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot. Platner has denied the assault allegations.
Speaking after his nomination, Jackson struck a populist tone. We’re not from the left. We’re not from the right. We’re from the bottom, and we’re rising, he declared, pledging to defeat Collins in November.
The nomination brings a chaotic Democratic selection process to a close, though Jackson faces a formidable challenge against Collins. While his campaign announced it had raised more than $600,000 in roughly 72 hours following his entry into the race on July 8, bringing his total to over $1 million, that figure is dwarfed by Collins’s $11 million war chest as of June 30.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement following Jackson’s victory claiming the nominee is well-positioned for the general election after harnessing grassroots energy in Maine.
Republicans have already moved to question Jackson’s eligibility. Hours before the convention vote, Maine state Representative James White sent a letter to the secretary of state suggesting Jackson may not be legally qualified to run, noting that Jackson had already sought and lost the Democratic gubernatorial nomination during the same 2026 election cycle. White argued the vacancy process exists to fill unexpected vacancies, not to provide second opportunities for candidates who failed in other races.
Jackson had previously served as a close ally of Platner and campaigned for him before the sexual assault allegations emerged. Following the scandal, Jackson distanced himself from his former friend, called on him to withdraw, and positioned himself as the leading replacement candidate while stating he did not want Platner’s endorsement.
A veteran of Maine politics, Jackson served as president of the state senate from 2018 to 2024. He previously worked as Sen. Bernie Sanders’s Maine political director, and the Vermont socialist endorsed his gubernatorial campaign. Collins has dismissed him as a Bernie bro.
Jackson was considered the frontrunner from the moment Platner exited the race, making Friday’s convention largely a formality. Serious potential challengers including Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Nirav Shah withdrew as Jackson’s nomination became inevitable.
The new nominee has embraced much of Platner’s progressive agenda, including support for Medicare for All and an aggressive anti-Israel stance. Jackson has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and pledged to never vote for U.S. taxpayer-funded military aid to the Jewish state.
Jackson has secured endorsements from progressive figures including Rep. Ro Khanna and Our Revolution, a group founded by Sanders.
With information from Washington Examiner
