Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson formally secured the Democratic nomination to challenge Senator Susan Collins in November, giving the party a tight 100-day sprint to flip a must-win seat. Jackson won handily at Saturday's nominating convention in Bangor, collecting 566 votes against biopharmaceutical executive Saundra Pelletier, who received just five.
“This is the absolute honor of my life to accept the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate,” Jackson told cheering supporters. “I will spend every day now through November earning that trust.”
Democrats consolidated behind Jackson after scandal-plagued candidate Graham Platner exited the race earlier this month. The contest, rated a toss-up by both Decision Desk HQ and the Cook Political Report, could determine control of the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and DSCC Chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement celebrating Jackson’s win, calling him “a fifth-generation logger with a demonstrated ability to win” and a champion for affordable health care and working people.
“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,” they said. “In November, we will defeat Susan Collins and win a Senate majority.”
Jackson’s path to the nomination accelerated after most of his primary opponents—including former gubernatorial and congressional candidates Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows, and Dan Kleban—dropped out ahead of the convention. The Maine Democratic Party must submit Jackson’s name to state officials by Monday to secure his spot on the ballot. That tight deadline comes just over two weeks after Platter ended his insurgent bid amid sexual assault and misconduct allegations he has denied. Platter had to formally withdraw by July 13, leaving Democrats a narrow window to field a replacement.
Ideologically, Jackson and Platter are nearly identical: both are progressive populists who back taxing billionaires and Medicare for All. Senator Bernie Sanders endorsed Jackson during his 2018 gubernatorial run and campaigned with both men. However, some Democrats note that Jackson lacks Platter’s charisma. Jackson first gained statewide notice in 1998 for helping organize logging protests that blocked the Maine border over the use of cheaper Canadian labor. A former Republican, he served in the state House as an independent before joining the Democratic Party in 2002, then moved to the state Senate in 2008 and served as its leader from 2018 to 2024.
Jackson’s past behavior has drawn scrutiny. The Washington Post reported that he acted abrasively toward colleagues, including allegedly throwing a water bottle during a meeting and clashing with female legislative leaders. His campaign acknowledged the incidents, with adviser BJ McCollister saying, “Troy regrets the moments when disagreements became too heated, but passion for the issues he advocates for should not be confused with physical intimidation or bullying.”
For more on how Jackson seized the nomination after Platner's fall, read our full analysis here. The race also highlights broader Democratic infighting, as covered in this piece on internal party tensions.
