Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as their nominee for the U.S. Senate on July 25 to replace Graham Platner, who withdrew earlier this month amid scandals. Jackson, a former state Senate president, will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.
The nomination took place at a state party convention where 566 Democratic delegates chose Jackson. He had finished third in the Democratic primary for governor earlier this year.
Jackson, a logger from Allagash with two decades in the state legislature, has positioned himself as a working-class populist. He has pledged to focus the campaign on Collins's record, including her votes aligning with former President Donald Trump.
Republicans quickly launched attacks linking Jackson to Platner and portraying him as a party insider selected without a popular vote. The National Republican Senatorial Committee described him as a radical career politician unfit for the seat.
Sen. Bernie Sanders said he had no regrets about supporting Platner and urged him to exit the race once allegations surfaced. Collins's campaign said Jackson was handpicked by insiders.
