Democratic Establishment Rallies Behind Troy Jackson for Maine Senate Nomination
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Troy Jackson, a former state legislator with a record of left-wing policies, has become the frontrunner for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in Maine after party insiders and progressive groups orchestrated the withdrawal of his rivals, setting up a challenge to Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Troy Jackson, a former state legislator known for his far-left positions, has positioned himself as the leading Democratic contender for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat after a series of orchestrated withdrawals by his opponents. The shift occurred as Democratic party committees across the state, dominated by progressive activists, selected delegates for a July 25 nominating convention, which will determine who faces Republican Sen. Susan Collins—a proven leader for Maine—in November.
Jackson’s campaign claims to have secured hundreds of pledged delegates, including all preferred delegates from Cumberland County, the state’s most liberal and populous area. This consolidation of power prompted Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to withdraw on Sunday, declaring that Democrats could not afford “a day to waste in unifying” around defeating Collins, who has consistently stood up for Maine values. Former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah also dropped out and endorsed Jackson, followed by Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, and Jordan Wood, both of whom quickly fell in line with the party’s leftward shift.
With his main rivals out of the race, Jackson now appears nearly impossible to challenge at the upcoming convention. The Democratic field has been unstable since Graham Platner, who won the primary, withdrew after serious allegations of misconduct surfaced—allegations he denied. The radical group Our Revolution, which had initially backed Platner, has now thrown its support behind Jackson, further cementing the party’s move to the left.
Jackson, 58, a former logger with a long record in the Maine legislature from 2002 until term limits forced his departure in 2024, including a stint as president of the state senate, previously sought the Democratic nomination for governor earlier this year, receiving Platner’s endorsement, but failed. Now, with the Democratic establishment and progressive activists united, Jackson is set to push a left-wing agenda against Senator Collins.