Maine Democrats Nominate Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate

Maine Democrats have nominated Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president and logger, as their U.S. Senate candidate for November's midterm election. Jackson secured the nomination after his primary rivals dropped out following his decisive showing in the state party's delegate selection process.

The Democratic Party held a nominating convention in Bangor on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center, where Jackson received support from 566 out of nearly 600 delegates present. He took the stage to rapturous applause and a standing ovation as Noah Kahan’s Northern Attitude blared over the speakers.

Jackson's campaign has raised more than $1 million since he entered the truncated race earlier this month. He will face Republican incumbent Susan Collins, who is seeking her sixth term in office and has raised over $16 million for her campaign. Around 600 delegates selected Jackson as the nominee at the party convention.

The election is seen as a crucial opportunity for Democrats to regain control of the Senate, with Republicans currently holding a 53-47 majority. Maine is one of the few states where a Democrat won in 2024, making it a top flip opportunity for the party. Jackson held a narrow lead over Collins among likely general election voters in a University of New Hampshire poll released this week.

Abortion rights and immigration are expected to be key issues in the campaign. Jackson has called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and supports abortion rights, although he previously opposed both during his early years in public office. Collins voted for $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding without ICE reforms last month but has called for a pause in the agency's traffic stops.

Jackson's political views have shifted significantly over the years. Earlier in his career, he opposed abortion rights and same-sex marriage, positions he has since abandoned. He has emerged as one of Maine’s leading progressives, backing policies such as Medicare for All and calling for the abolition of ICE. Jackson first came to prominence in the late 1990s when he led a week-long blockade by Maine loggers protesting the employment of Canadian workers.

Jackson initially ran as a Republican in 2000 but switched to the Democratic party in 2004. He served three terms in the state house before being elected to the state senate, where he was president from 2018 until 2024. His ties to the left extend beyond Maine; he chaired Bernie Sanders’ successful 2016 presidential caucus campaign in the state and remains a close political ally of the Vermont independent senator.

Republicans have launched an ad campaign against Jackson, accusing him of having a volatile temper and linking him to Graham Platner. The Senate Leadership Fund, Republicans' super PAC, has committed to spending more than $42 million against Jackson. Collins has described Jackson's positions as 'clearly in line with socialism.'

Both Jackson and Collins are from northern Maine, where traditional industries such as potato farming and timber harvesting are vital parts of the economy. Both candidates will emphasize their ability to protect these industries, along with lobster fishing and tourism.