Troy Jackson, a Maine logger and former state senator, is poised to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate after Graham Platner’s abrupt withdrawal from the race. Jackson’s path to nomination cleared after rivals dropped out, with delegates consolidating behind him ahead of a July 25 vote.
Jackson’s Rise and Controversial Past
Troy Jackson, 58, a former Maine Senate president and longtime legislator, is poised to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. His rise followed the sudden exit of Graham Platner, who withdrew earlier this month after allegations of sexual assault from a former partner. Jackson, who lost the Democratic gubernatorial primary earlier this year, now faces Republican Susan Collins in a race for Senate control.
Jackson’s legislative career has been marked by controversy. He once hurled a water bottle in a meeting and shouted at a colleague, leading to a social media post accusing straight men of being “too emotional” for politics. Another incident saw him ejected from the House speaker’s office after a heated exchange. These episodes have raised questions about his public persona, though Jackson’s campaign emphasizes his grassroots support.
In one instance, Jackson yelled at another lawmaker, prompting her to post on social media that straight men were ‘too emotional’ to be in politics.
In another, he cursed and shouted in a meeting with the speaker of Maine’s state House, until she kicked him out of her office.
These accounts highlight tensions in legislative settings.
Delegates and the Path to Nomination
The Maine Democratic Party’s 601 delegates are poised to confirm Jackson as the nominee at a convention in Bangor on July 25. His rivals, including former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah and current secretary of state Shenna Bellows, withdrew in recent days. A majority of the 601 delegates have pledged to vote for him.
Wood, Shah and Dan Kleban—founder of Maine Beer Company—ended their campaigns, with all three endorsing Jackson. Kleban had previously run in the Senate primary against Platner before withdrawing months ago. Shah and Bellows both fell short in this year’s gubernatorial primary before dropping out of the Senate race.
Jackson’s Challenges and Momentum
Despite his delegate support, Jackson faces hurdles. Questions have lingered about his public speaking style and whether he could match the commanding presence that helped Platner build a statewide following for his populist platform. Jackson’s campaign has secured backing from major unions and progressive groups. Those delegates were not handed to us,
Jackson said in Sanford. You know, we earned them because hundreds and hundreds of people organized their neighbors, made the calls, had the conversations.
Jackson’s campaign said on Monday it was turning its “full focus” to defeating Collins. His previous alliance with Platner during his gubernatorial run, where he finished third, has raised concerns that Jackson might be tainted in the process to replace the nominee. Jackson told Politico on Sunday it was “incredible” to see people really concerned about making sure this momentum, this movement continues
as it became clear he would emerge as the presumptive nominee.
State Democrats have until July 27 to formally choose Platner’s replacement for the general election ballot. Jackson, 58, was first elected to the legislature in 2002 and became senate president in 2018. He left office in 2024 due to term limits.
The race for Maine’s Senate seat remains critical for Democrats, who need to net four seats to retake the Senate. Collins is the only GOP senator running for re-election in a state Kamala Harris carried in 2024. With the July 25 convention approaching, the focus shifts to the general election, where Jackson aims to unseat an incumbent who has held the seat for nearly three decades.
Sources: Washingtonpost, The Guardian.
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