Maine Democrats formally have a brand new U.S. Senate nominee.
Troy Jackson, a veteran state politician and logger, secured the nomination Saturday on the social gathering’s state conference which was held weeks after the Democratic nominee Graham Platner bowed out attributable to mounting scandals.
Jackson, who secured 566 votes, defeated the one different candidate within the race, Sandra Pelletier, who obtained solely 5 votes.
Troy Jackson speaks earlier than the Maine Democratic delegates as they collect for his or her social gathering’s nominating conference to pick out a U.S. Senate nominee to interchange Graham Platner on the poll in November, on July 25, 2026, in Bangor, Maine.
Joe Raedle/Getty Pictures
Taking the stage shortly after securing the nomination, Jackson mentioned it was one of many “absolute honors” of his life to be named the Democratic nominee.
“So, I would like you to listen to this straight from me. There’s a place on this marketing campaign for all of you. There may be be just right for you on this motion, and I’ll spend day-after-day now by November incomes that belief as a result of right now we flip the web page,” he mentioned.
Jackson took purpose at his opponent, incumbent GOP Sen. Susan Collins, and the Republican Celebration for the ache People really feel economically proper now.
He mentioned he’s working on defending Social Safety and Medicare, defending abortion entry, standing with the LGBTQ group and countering President Donald Trump’s insurance policies.
“Susan Collins retains telling us all the things is simply wonderful, and so they act like we’re idiots,” he mentioned. “You already know all of us have eyes; we will see what’s occurring. We will see our paychecks and the payments that now we have, and we all know that we’re getting screwed, and we additionally know who’s in charge.”
Troy Jackson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, takes the stage on the Maine Democratic Nominating Conference, on July 25, 2026, in Bangor, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photograph
“We can’t afford six extra years of the identical,” Jackson mentioned in a while in his acceptance speech.
Jackson’s solidification because the state’s Democratic nominee comes after Platner withdrew from the race earlier this month following allegations of sexual assault by a former girlfriend, and a sequence of different controversies which have marred his marketing campaign.
Platner has denied the sexual assault allegation.
In the beginning of the conference, Maine Democratic Celebration chair Charlie Dingman mirrored on the second that the state social gathering discovered itself in and mentioned he was happy with the work executed to make the nominating course of as clear and consultant as potential.
“The simple answer would have been to process a celebration committee with making that selection. As a substitute, as an alternative, we responded to the rising grassroots motion in our state to construct energy for atypical working folks,” he mentioned.
Delegates cheer for Troy Jackson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, on the Maine Democratic Nominating Conference, on July 25, 2026, in Bangor, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photograph
Jackson will now formally tackle Collins for management of Maine’s Senate seat in November, a seat vital to Democrats’ possibilities to regain management of the Senate.
However each candidates face their very own challenges of their quest to win in November.
Though Collins has confronted challengers previously, this time she’s working in a cycle the place voters have soured on Trump’s dealing with of the economic system and the conflict in Iran, and she or he’s working in a state that was gained by former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 by about 7 share factors.
Jackson should construct up his marketing campaign and proceed the momentum that was constructed round Platner with 101 days to go earlier than the Nov. 3 midterm elections. He misplaced within the state’s Democratic gubernatorial major in June.
The nominee has additionally confronted scrutiny for his previous positions, as he at all times did not assist or vote for progressive points.
Camapign playing cards for Troy Jackson, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, are displayed within the foyer of the Maine Democratic Nominating Conference, on July 25, 2026, in Bangor, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photograph
When Jackson initially ran for public workplace in 2000, he did in order a Republican. Even after changing into a Democrat in 2004, he voted towards same-sex marriage being legalized in 2009 and was towards abortion rights when he was within the Maine State Senate.
Jackson has mentioned since regretted his vote towards same-sex marriage and has advocated for abortion entry for years.
