Troy Jackson was nominated as the Democratic candidate for the US Senate race in Maine on July 25, 2026, at a special party convention in Bangor [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. He will challenge Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the upcoming midterm election [1, 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Jackson was chosen after original nominee Graham Platner withdrew in mid-July amid sexual assault allegations which he has denied [1, 2, 7, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Jackson won the nomination by an overwhelming delegate vote of 566 to 5 against Saundra Pelletier [2, 4, 6].
A fifth-generation logger from Aroostook County and former president of the Maine State Senate, Jackson previously ran for governor and finished third in the June 2026 Democratic primary [1, 2, 3, 5, 6]. His nomination came less than two months after Platner's withdrawal, giving Jackson roughly 101 days to campaign before the election [7, 4].
Jackson campaigned on a progressive platform supporting Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a federal right to abortion [1, 3]. Earlier in his career, he had opposed abortion and same-sex marriage but has since shifted to progressive stances [1]. Some party insiders expressed concerns about Jackson's temper, workplace conduct, and past positions, with one anonymous strategist saying Maine Democrats "have seemingly made their choice and they're just going to have to ride with it" [5, 6].
Despite these concerns, Jackson swiftly raised over $1 million for his Senate bid [5, 6]. He called his nomination "the absolute honor of my life" and said, "Thank you, Maine. In 101 days, we will defeat Susan Collins and reclaim our Senate seat. Let's get to work" [2, 7]. He also urged supporters to unite, saying, "We're from the bottom, and we are rising" and "Let's build the largest working class movement Maine has ever seen" [4, 6].
Jackson will formally begin campaigning to unseat Senator Collins, with the election set for November 2026.
