Troy Jackson has secured overwhelming support to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine after Graham Platner withdrew from the race. County conventions held over the weekend gave Jackson pledges from at least 456 of 500 delegates ahead of the July 25 statewide convention in Bangor.
More than 500 Democrats gathered in Ellsworth on Saturday to select delegates for Hancock County. Attendees wore Platner campaign shirts and left notes of support for the withdrawn candidate while choosing delegates pledged to Jackson.
Jackson, a former logger and state senator from Allagash, outpaced rivals Nirav Shah and Shenna Bellows. Both Shah and Bellows have since dropped out of the contest.
The second source notes Jackson's earlier conservative record, including a perfect rating from Maine Right to Life and a 2009 vote against same-sex marriage. Jackson told the New York Times he had made mistakes on abortion and called his same-sex marriage vote his worst ever.
A Washington Post report described incidents in which Jackson lost his temper during legislative meetings. Campaign adviser BJ McCollister said Jackson regrets moments when disagreements became heated but stressed that passion should not be confused with intimidation.
