BANGOR, Maine — Maine Democrats are holding a special convention Saturday to select a new U.S. Senate candidate to run against five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a race that could ultimately determine which party controls the Senate.
The need for a new nominee arose after Graham Platner, who won the Democratic primary in June, withdrew from the contest following an accusation by a former girlfriend that he sexually assaulted her in 2021. Platner has denied the allegation, but stepped aside after key backers urged him to exit the race.
Former state Senate President Troy Jackson has quickly risen to the front of the pack as a replacement. A fifth-generation logger from rural northern Maine, Jackson had previously campaigned alongside Platner during an unsuccessful run for governor and was already a favorite among progressive Democrats.
Jackson’s campaign reports that more than 480 of the 601 delegates set to vote at Saturday’s convention have pledged their support to him. The only other candidate still in the running is Saundra Pelletier, the CEO of a women’s health company, though she faces long odds given Jackson’s commanding delegate lead.
More than 600 Democratic delegates are gathering in Bangor — roughly 130 miles north of Portland — to cast their votes. Those delegates were chosen at county party meetings last weekend. Maine law required the party to name a new nominee by Monday, which falls 99 days before the November 3 election.
“We have worked hard to create a fair process that is inclusive of varying viewpoints and diverse backgrounds of Democrats across the state of Maine, as we all come together in service of our ultimate goal: defeat Susan Collins and win this Senate seat,” the Maine Democratic Party said in a statement.
After Platner announced his withdrawal on July 10, a wave of candidates — including Jackson — rushed to fill the vacancy. By July 19, most had dropped out, leaving Jackson as the clear frontrunner.
Jackson drew early backing from progressive organizations that had previously supported Platner. Our Revolution, the political group founded nearly a decade ago by Sen. Bernie Sanders, had originally backed Jackson for governor and Platner for Senate. Once Platner exited, the organization shifted its support to Jackson.
Jackson previously managed Maine’s operations for Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign. This election cycle, Sanders had endorsed Jackson for governor and Platner for Senate, but withdrew his support for Platner after the sexual assault allegation surfaced. Sanders said he did not intend to weigh in on who should replace Platner.
On the issues, Jackson has championed progressive stances including Medicare for All and has called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement — a topic that has stirred intense debate in Maine after an agent fatally shot a driver in the state earlier this month.
Democrats have identified Maine as their strongest opportunity to flip a Republican-held Senate seat this year, particularly because it is a competitive race in a state that President Donald Trump lost in 2024. However, toppling Collins will be no easy task. The longtime incumbent holds a significant fundraising advantage, and whoever wins the nomination will have fewer than four months to introduce themselves to voters statewide.
Federal campaign finance records show Collins has raised more than $16 million so far. Jackson’s campaign said this week that he has raised more than $1 million since entering the Senate contest.
Collins has already gone on offense against Jackson, saying earlier this week that she knows him well and that his positions are “clearly” aligned with socialism. She pointed to his role running Sanders’ first Maine presidential campaign, adding, “He’s a Bernie Bro.”
Republicans have broadly characterized Jackson as too far outside the mainstream for Maine voters, and Jackson would need to win over the state’s large bloc of independent voters if he hopes to unseat Collins.
Jackson, for his part, is projecting confidence heading into the convention.
“We are building a movement in every corner of this state to defeat Susan Collins and elect a senator who will fight like hell for working people,” Jackson said last week.
Beyond Maine, Democrats face a narrow path to recapturing Senate control in November. They would also need wins in competitive races in North Carolina, Alaska, and Ohio, while holding onto open seats in Michigan and Minnesota, where incumbent Democrats are retiring.
Maine’s Democratic primary earlier this year was one of several contests where progressive candidates clashed with establishment-backed rivals. Platner had defeated Gov. Janet Mills, who was supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer but dropped out before the June 9 primary. Platner had also received endorsements from Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren — support that evaporated after the sexual assault allegation came to light.
