Former state lawmaker and logger Troy Jackson secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in Maine on Saturday, July 25, 2026. He is set to face long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November general election, a high-stakes contest that could decide which political party controls the Senate chamber.
Jackson was selected to replace Graham Platner, who won the state's Democratic primary in June but withdrew from the race earlier this month. Platner's departure followed an allegation of sexual assault made by a former girlfriend regarding an incident in 2021. Although Platner denied the allegation, he exited the race after key supporters called on him to step down. Under Maine law, the state party had the authority to choose a replacement, with a deadline to name the new nominee by Monday—exactly 101 days before the November 3 election.
To select the nominee, hundreds of Democratic delegates gathered in Bangor, located about 130 miles north of Portland, utilizing a voting process never before used by the state party. The delegates, who were elected at county party meetings last weekend, delivered an easy victory to Jackson over his sole opponent. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from rural northern Maine and former Maine Senate president, quickly emerged as the favorite among progressives after Platner dropped out on July 10. While several former gubernatorial candidates initially jumped into the race, most had abandoned their bids by July 19, allowing support to coalesce around Jackson.
Democrats view Maine as their premier opportunity to flip a Republican-held Senate seat this year, pointing to the fact that President Donald Trump lost the state in the 2024 election. However, defeating Collins will be a significant challenge. The five-term, 73-year-old incumbent holds a massive fundraising advantage, having raised more than $16 million according to federal filings. Jackson, 58, will have less than four months to introduce himself to the wider electorate. His campaign announced this week that he has raised over $1 million since entering the race.
Republicans immediately launched an aggressive campaign against Jackson following his nomination. The Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican super PAC, has committed to spending more than $42 million on ads targeting him. Initial Republican ad campaigns accuse Jackson of having a volatile temper and attempt to link him directly to Platner. Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci described Jackson as "a Platner apologist, a radical Bernie Bro, and a walking red flag displaying all the warning signs of the early days of the Platner campaign."
Collins has also targeted Jackson's progressive platform, noting that he ran U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders' first presidential campaign in Maine. "He's a Bernie Bro," Collins said, adding that his political positions are "clearly" in line with socialism. Collins' campaign spokesperson, Shawn Roderick, added that Jackson "will attempt to sell Mainers a multi-trillion dollar bill of goods based on rhetoric that will make everything sound free, but in reality would be paid for by middle and lower income workers."
When asked about the "Bernie Bro" label, Jackson dismissed the criticism. "I don’t really care. What I am is a guy from northern Maine that’s a logger," he told reporters. Jackson stated that he intends to attack Collins' legislative record, focusing on her support for tax cuts for the wealthy and what he described as her failure to protect healthcare. Jackson has championed progressive positions such as Medicare for All and has called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The presence of ICE has been a highly debated topic in Maine since an agent killed a driver in the state earlier this month.
Both Jackson and Collins are from northern Maine, where traditional industries like timber harvesting and potato farming are vital to the local economy. Both candidates are expected to spend the coming months arguing that they are the best leader to protect those sectors, along with lobster fishing and tourism. To win, Jackson must appeal to the state's large block of independent voters and unite a Democratic base that has seen recent internal friction.
The Maine Democratic primary was initially a battleground between progressives and establishment-backed candidates. Platner had easily outlasted Governor Janet Mills, who was backed by Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer but dropped out before the June 9 primary. Platner had secured endorsements from Sanders, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren before those alliances dissolved following the assault allegation. Jackson, who ran for governor earlier this year and finished third, had been endorsed by Platner and the Sanders-founded group Our Revolution during that primary. When Platner withdrew, Our Revolution rallied behind Jackson for the Senate seat.
Jackson told reporters on Saturday that he has not been in communication with Platner and is building a new movement. He did not mention Platner by name during his two addresses to delegates, declaring instead that the campaign was "bigger than any one person." He acknowledged the disappointment and anger among Platner's supporters, stating, "I agree there are people that are still very frustrated and angry what happened. I understand that. All I’m trying to do is explain to them that his campaign was about the issues."
Jackson's political career began in 2000 when he ran unsuccessfully for the Maine House of Representatives as a Republican. He won a seat two years later as an independent, before joining the Democratic Party in 2004. He eventually rose to serve as Maine Senate president before leaving the statehouse in 2024.
Democrats face a narrow path to regaining control of the Senate in November, and political analysts suggest a victory in Maine is essential. In addition to defeating Collins, Democrats must secure victories in highly competitive races in North Carolina, Alaska, and Ohio, while defending existing seats. This includes holding open Senate seats in Michigan and Minnesota, where Democratic incumbents are retiring.
