Troy Jackson nears Maine Senate nod as Democrats reset Collins fight
Troy Jackson is expected to become Democrats’ Maine Senate nominee after Graham Platner quit the race over an allegation he denied.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
4 min read
Troy Jackson’s Maine Senate bid is suddenly the Democratic Party’s rescue mission, with the former state Senate president expected to emerge from a Saturday convention in Bangor as the nominee against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, NBC News reported.
The party is choosing a new standard-bearer after primary winner Graham Platner ended his campaign earlier this month following a sexual assault allegation, which he denied. Jackson still faces pharmaceutical executive Saundra Pelletier at the convention, but NBC News reported he is favored after his delegate slate performed strongly at county meetings and major rivals exited.
The reset lands with 101 days until Election Day in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. Collins is seeking a sixth term and is the only Republican senator representing a state Donald Trump lost in 2024, according to NBC News.
Democrats need to gain four seats to take the Senate, and Maine is one of their clearest targets on paper. NBC News reported that if Collins survives, Democrats would need to find another pickup in a state Trump carried by double digits.
Can Troy Jackson beat Susan Collins in Maine?
Jackson’s pitch is built around class, geography and a blunt attack on Collins’ long record in Washington. A former logger from Allagash in northern Maine, he is being cast by supporters as a Democrat who can cut into Collins’ rural strength, especially in the 2nd Congressional District.
At a Sanford rally, Jackson accused Collins of spending nearly three decades telling Mainers she was “concerned” or “troubled,” while too often siding with Trump and corporations. He also criticized her votes on tax policy and her support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Collins’ campaign pushed back hard. Spokeswoman Blake Kernen told NBC News that Jackson is offering a “low-energy version” of Platner’s campaign and accused him of lying about facts and making promises without plans. She also pointed to Jackson’s third-place finish in the Democratic primary for governor a month ago.
Jackson’s allies argue his background gives him a rare opening against Collins, who is also from Aroostook County. Shelly Mountain, a former Aroostook County Democratic Committee chairwoman and Jackson delegate, told NBC News that Jackson has been a champion for working-class voters.
Democratic strategist David Farmer told NBC News there is also a path based on larger margins in Portland and other Democratic areas. Another Democratic strategist, granted anonymity by NBC News, said Jackson will need stronger performance in the greater Portland suburbs, where Collins has done well.
What obstacles does Jackson face next?
Money is the first problem. Jackson’s campaign said Wednesday it raised more than $600,000 in about 72 hours and more than $1 million since he entered the Senate race on July 8. Collins had $11 million available as of June 30, and Republican groups are preparing to spend more, NBC News reported.
Democratic outside help appears likely. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, told NBC News the committee would support whoever wins after Maine Democrats finish their process.
Republicans are already testing lines of attack on Jackson’s legislative record and his ties to Platner. Jackson and Platner campaigned together, though NBC News reported Jackson quickly called for Platner to leave the race after the allegation surfaced.
Collins has also tried to label Jackson as too far left, telling NBC News he “seems to be firmly aligned with the democratic socialists” and telling CNN he is a “Bernie bro,” a reference to his 2016 support for Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders endorsed both Jackson and Platner in earlier primaries but stayed out of the brief replacement fight, while praising Jackson as someone who understands working-class problems.
The 2020 race shows why Collins remains difficult to beat. NBC News reported she won re-election by nearly 9 points even as Joe Biden carried Maine by a similar margin, with exit polls showing she outperformed among independents, moderates and women.
Some Democrats who were uneasy about Platner now appear ready to return. Carol Eisenberg, a Maine lawyer who backed Janet Mills in the primary, told NBC News that Jackson has her full support and said she had not been sure she could vote for Platner.
This story draws on original reporting from NBC News.