Troy Jackson poised to seize Maine baton after Platner's exit
Axios
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Democrats are rallying around former Maine Senate President https://www.axios.com/2026/07/09/democrats-maine-senate-race-replace-platner" target="_blank">Troy Jackson (D) in the quest to unseat Republican Sen. https://www.axios.com/2026/03/16/one-nation-susan-collins-maine-senate-ad-buy" target="_blank">Susan Collins this fall after https://www.axios.com/2026/07/10/graham-platner-maine-senate-democrats" target="_blank">Graham Platner's embattled campaign crashed, burned and ended.
Why it matters: Jackson's expected coronation is another win for the left flank of the Democratic party, which is lining up behind another progressive candidate as their best shot at flipping one of the most important seats to win back Senate control.
Driving the news: Jackson all but locked up the https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/19/maine-democrats-rally-around-logger-troy-jackson-replace-graham-platner/" target="_blank">nomination last weekend after Democrats across the state overwhelmingly selected his https://www.jacksonformaine.com/caucus" target="_blank">preferred https://mainedems.org/over-17000-maine-democrats-voted-in-delegate-nominating-meetings/" target="_blank">delegate slate ahead of Saturday's convention.
- "We're well on our way to getting the government that we fucking deserve," Jackson said in a https://www.facebook.com/reel/1739609183915711" target="_blank">video to supporters.
- Top contenders in the crowded race have since https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/four-democratic-us-senate-hopefuls-drop-out-of-race-sunday-three-endorse-troy-jackson/97-8cee8caa-3cea-44b0-af9c-b3482e433147" target="_blank">ended their campaigns.
Nirav https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=122133710973009456&set=pcb.122133711003009456" target="_blank">Shah, Dan Kleban, and Jordan Wood all backed Jackson.
- The nominee will replace the scandal-plagued Platner, who https://www.axios.com/2026/07/06/graham-platner-democrats-maine-senate-susan-collins" target="_blank">was accused of sexual assault — an allegation he denies.
Catch up quick: Jackson, whose campaign describes him as a fifth-generation logger and "lifelong fighter for workers' rights," finished third in June's Democratic primary for governor.
- His campaign priorities https://www.jacksonformaine.com/" target="_blank">include passing Medicare for all, cutting off tax dollars to Israel's military, abolishing ICE and passing a federal right to abortion.
- Progressive kingmaker Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/senator-bernie-sanders-endorses-troy-jackson-for-maine-governor-citing-working-class-roots-2026/97-eaf20f02-8cef-41de-a106-210894bf331d" target="_blank">endorsed Jackson in the gubernatorial race.
What's next: Saturday's convention of 601 delegates from the state's 16 counties will make the new Democratic candidate official.
- "The convention will be fair, representative, and as transparent as possible as we all come together in service of our ultimate goal: defeat Susan Collins and win this Senate seat," Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman said in a https://mainedems.org/mdp-statement-on-democratic-u-s-senate-nomination-process-2/?link_id=2&can_id=16556ae51dc9d379382e90b86cc89592&source=email-thousands-of-maine-democrats-participate-in-first-day-of-delegate-nominating-meetings&email_referrer=email_3327297&email_subject=over-17000-maine-democrats-voted-in-delegate-nominating-meetings" target="_blank">statement.
- Votes will be cast in rounds until one candidate reaches a majority, according to the party.
The delegates are not pledged to any specific candidate, but a majority have reportedly https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/19/troy-jackson-likely-maine-senate-nominee-platner-01004490" target="_blank">committed to backing Jackson.
Friction point: Jackson may glide through his party's nomination process, but Republicans have been preparing a https://www.axios.com/2026/07/07/republicans-8-million-ad-campaign-platner-replacement" target="_blank">massive ad blitz against Platner's replacement.
Go deeper: https://www.axios.com/2026/07/08/trump-effect-platner-maine-democrats" target="_blank">The Trump effect: Why Dems embraced a Platner time bomb