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Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson formally clinched the Democratic nod to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in November, giving the party just 100 days to quickly turn the tides in the must-win race.
Jackson handily won on Saturday with 566 votes during the Democratic nomination convention in Bangor, Maine. His only challenger, biopharmaceutical executive Saundra Pelletier, nabbed the remaining five votes.
“This is the absolute honor of my life to accept the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate,” he said to cheers.
“I will spend every day now through November earning that trust,” Jackson vowed to his supporters.
Democrats in the state largely consolidated around the former state senator ahead of the convention to replace scandal-ridden Graham Platner, who exited the race earlier this month. The contest, which Decision Desk HQ and Cook Political Report rate as a toss-up, could prove decisive in the party’s chances of clinching the upper chamber this fall.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) celebrated the win in a joint statement Saturday.
“Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger with a demonstrated ability to win,” the duo wrote. “A champion for affordable health care and working people, Jackson has harnessed the grassroots energy in Maine and is well-positioned to defeat Susan Collins, who is more vulnerable than she has ever been.”
“Collins is facing record-low approvals after she voted with Trump 96 percent of the time, was the decisive vote for the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, and sold out to the special interests that fund her campaigns after three decades in the Senate,” the senators added. “In November, we will defeat Susan Collins and win a Senate majority.”
Jackson defeated Pelletier after a majority of delegates at a count meeting last weekend rallied behind the former state Senate leader.
Most of Jackson’s opponents — including former gubernatorial and congressional candidates Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows and Dan Kleban — dropped out ahead of Saturday’s convention as he coalesced delegate support.
The Maine Democratic Party now must submit Jackson’s name to state officials by Monday in order for the progressive logger to appear on the ballot.
Jackson’s nomination comes just over two seeks since Platner officially ended his insurgent Senate bid amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
Democrats had a short runway to replace the populist oyster farmer in order to have a party candidate appear on the general election ballot.
Platner had to formally withdraw himself from the race by July 13, and Maine Democrats have until just Monday to submit the replacement candidate.
Jackson and Graham are ideologically very similar.
The two are progressive populists with policy platforms that include taxing billionaires and passing Medicare for All. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed Jackson during his run for Maine governor and campaigned with both men.
Some Democrats, however, have noted that new nominee doesn’t have as much charisma as Platner.
Jackson first gained attention in the state for helping organize and participate in the October 1998 logging protests in which loggers blocked the Maine border amid anger that the companies were hiring cheaper labor from Canada.
A former Republican, Jackson first served in the state House as an independent in 2002 before joining the Democratic Party. He moved over to the state Senate in 2008 before serving as the upper chamber’s leader from 2018-2024.
The Washington Post reported earlier this week that during his time in the Senate, Jackson acted abrasive toward colleagues at times, including allegedly throwing a water bottle during a meeting and clashed multiple times with female legislative leaders.
Jackson’s campaign said he had apologized and took ownership when those events occurred.
“Troy regrets the moments when disagreements became too heated,” Jackson campaign adviser BJ McCollister told The Post, “but passion for the issues he advocates for should not be confused with physical intimidation or bullying.”
Updated at 11:55 a.m.
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