{"id":101021,"date":"2026-07-25T06:17:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T10:17:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maine-democrats-set-to-nominate-troy-jackson-for-u-s-senate-race\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T06:17:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T10:17:44","slug":"maine-democrats-set-to-nominate-troy-jackson-for-u-s-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maine-democrats-set-to-nominate-troy-jackson-for-u-s-senate-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Democrats Set to Nominate Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate Race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Maine Democrats are expected to formally select former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their U.S. Senate nominee on Saturday, bringing a two-week rush to find a replacement candidate to a close.<\/p>

The scramble began when Graham Platner stepped down from the race on July 10 following sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.<\/p>

Jackson \u2014 a fifth-generation logger and one-time Republican from northern Maine \u2014 effectively secured the nomination last weekend when his backers dominated the state party’s delegate selection process. His top competitors dropped out following his strong performance.<\/p>

The campaign received a significant financial boost after that, pulling in more than $600,000 from nearly 25,000 donors between Sunday and Wednesday alone. By Wednesday, Jackson’s team announced total fundraising had surpassed $1 million since he entered the abbreviated race earlier this month.<\/p>

Approximately 600 delegates will cast votes at a party convention in Bangor to make the nomination official. Jackson and Saundra Pelletier \u2014 a wealthy CEO of a biopharmaceutical firm \u2014 are the only two candidates still standing in a contest that once featured 13 contenders.<\/p>

Once Jackson accepts the nomination, he will have 101 days to mount a campaign against five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has used her seniority and her position as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to direct funding to Maine. Collins is considered a vulnerable incumbent.<\/p>

Collins stands as the only Republican senator seeking reelection in a state that Democrat Kamala Harris carried in 2024, making Maine a prime opportunity for Democrats hoping to flip the chamber and gain leverage during the final stretch of President Donald Trump’s administration.<\/p>

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority. A Democratic win in Maine would help the party’s path to a majority, while a Republican hold would narrow Democrats’ options.<\/p>

A University of New Hampshire poll released this week showed Jackson holding a slim lead over Collins among likely general election voters.<\/p>

Collins, 73, is a moderate with an $11 million campaign fund. She was last reelected in 2020 by nearly 9 percentage points, even as Maine voters chose Democrat Joe Biden over Trump by a comparable margin. Harris, who herself became a replacement nominee after Biden abruptly exited the 2024 race, won Maine by roughly 7 percentage points.<\/p>

Political analysts expect affordability, Trump, and immigration to dominate the general election conversation. Jackson has called for eliminating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement \u2014 an agency that has been involved in several high-profile deaths this year, including a 26-year-old Colombian man killed in Biddeford, Maine, on July 13.<\/p>

Collins voted last month in favor of $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding without any ICE reforms, though she has called for a halt to the agency’s traffic stops. Trump has since pushed back, saying such stops must go on and calling them one of the agency’s most important and effective tools.<\/p>

Social issues are also expected to play a role in the race. Jackson currently supports abortion rights and same-sex marriage, though he opposed both throughout much of his state legislative career \u2014 positions he did not change until his second Senate term in 2016. His earlier anti-abortion voting record was featured in campaign ads targeting him during his unsuccessful run for governor in Maine’s primary earlier this year.<\/p>

Whether Republicans will run similar ads in the Senate race remains uncertain, but GOP officials say Jackson’s past stance gives Collins some cover over her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court \u2014 a confirmation that ultimately led to the end of federal abortion rights protections.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maine Democrats are gathering Saturday to officially nominate former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their candidate for the U.S. Senate, replacing Graham Platner who stepped aside following sexual assault allegations. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Republican, locked up delegate support last weekend and has raised over $1 million since entering the race. He will face five-term incumbent Senator Susan Collins in a November contest seen as critical to control of the Senate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":101020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[833],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784974663959.jpg?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-qhn","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":100714,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maine-democrats-set-to-nominate-troy-jackson-for-senate-seat\/","url_meta":{"origin":101021,"position":0},"title":"Maine Democrats Set to Nominate Troy Jackson for Senate Seat","author":"Admin","date":"July 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Maine Democrats are expected to choose Troy Jackson as their U.S. Senate nominee at a special convention in Bangor this weekend. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president and fifth-generation logger, would face Republican Susan Collins, who has held her seat for 30 years. The party was forced into this unusual\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784907121706.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784907121706.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784907121706.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784907121706.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":100954,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maine-democrats-gather-to-select-new-senate-candidate-to-challenge-collins\/","url_meta":{"origin":101021,"position":1},"title":"Maine Democrats Gather to Select New Senate Candidate to Challenge Collins","author":"Admin","date":"July 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Maine Democrats are convening Saturday in Bangor to choose a replacement U.S. Senate nominee after their original candidate stepped aside following a sexual assault allegation. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson has emerged as the overwhelming favorite among delegates. The outcome could play a significant role in determining which party\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784953862718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784953862718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784953862718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784953862718.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":97924,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/troy-jackson-surges-toward-maine-democratic-senate-nomination\/","url_meta":{"origin":101021,"position":2},"title":"Troy Jackson Surges Toward Maine Democratic Senate Nomination","author":"Admin","date":"July 19, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has emerged as the overwhelming frontrunner to become the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine after several rivals stepped aside Sunday. The shift came as local party committees across the state spent the weekend selecting delegates for a July 25 nominating convention. Jackson\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784518268155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784518268155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784518268155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784518268155.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98294,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maine-democrats-rally-behind-logger-troy-jackson-for-senate-seat\/","url_meta":{"origin":101021,"position":3},"title":"Maine Democrats Rally Behind Logger Troy Jackson for Senate Seat","author":"Admin","date":"July 20, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Maine state Senate president, has emerged as the overwhelming frontrunner to become Maine Democrats' Senate nominee after the previous candidate stepped aside. Jackson's campaign reports having secured commitments from 481 of 601 delegates ahead of Saturday's state convention vote in Bangor. He will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784568697627.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784568697627.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784568697627.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1784568697627.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":93990,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/maine-democrat-graham-platner-officially-exits-senate-race-after-assault-allegation\/","url_meta":{"origin":101021,"position":4},"title":"Maine Democrat Graham Platner Officially Exits Senate Race After Assault Allegation","author":"Admin","date":"July 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Graham Platner has formally withdrawn from Maine's U.S. Senate race, filing paperwork with the state's secretary of state office. His exit comes amid a sexual assault allegation he denies and puts Democrats in a scramble to find a replacement candidate before a July 27 deadline. Several hopefuls have already stepped\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719173586.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719173586.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719173586.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783719173586.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92328,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/sanders-calls-on-maine-democrat-platner-to-exit-senate-race-after-assault-allegation\/","url_meta":{"origin":101021,"position":5},"title":"Sanders Calls on Maine Democrat Platner to Exit Senate Race After Assault Allegation","author":"Admin","date":"July 7, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is urging Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner to drop out of the race following a sexual assault allegation that Platner has denied. Party leaders and allied groups have threatened to pull financial support from Maine if Platner stays on the ballot. Several potential replacement candidates\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/news-1783448203920.jpg?fit=450%2C310&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101021"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101021\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}