Maine Democrats Name Troy Jackson as Candidate Following Platner’s Exit

Topline

Former state Senate president Troy Jackson was selected as Maine’s Democratic nominee on Saturday morning, stepping in for previous candidate Graham Platner, who withdrew following a string of controversial accusations including sexual assault, problematic interpersonal conduct, and troubling behavior.

Key Facts

The Maine Democratic Party officially nominated Jackson, establishing a contest against Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, this November, a race that will determine if the Democrats can seize control of the Senate.

Jackson has just over 100 days to launch his campaign, while Collins is expected to reap the benefits of Platner’s collapse and maintain her advantage as a five-term incumbent.

“Today we turn the page,” Jackson stated during his acceptance speech, emphasizing, “We are not from the left. We are not from the right. We’re from the bottom, and we are rising.”

Jackson secured votes from 566 delegates, while opponent Evofem Biosciences CEO Saundra Pelletier garnered only five votes.

Tangent

At Friday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Donald Trump remarked, “I think Platner might’ve done surprisingly well because we’re in the age of Trump.” The president further asserted that Platner “didn’t defend himself well.”

Who Is Troy Jackson?

Jackson has been active in Maine politics for approximately 25 years. He served several terms in the state’s House of Representatives from 2002 to 2008 and remained a state senator from 2008 to 2024. Jackson opposed marriage equality in 2009 and backed anti-abortion measures until 2013, though the Maine Morning Star noted that during his tenure as Senate president from 2018 to 2024, he supported legislation to expand abortion access. He has also championed efforts to expand child care, strengthen labor standards, lower prescription drug costs, and facilitate collective bargaining for loggers and haulers, according to the Star.

Key Background

Platner initially secured the Democratic nomination earlier this year, only months before The Maine Monitor uncovered past comments he made on Reddit, which contained remarks deemed offensive toward rural voters. In June, The New York Times interviewed several women who alleged that Platner engaged in physical intimidation, engaged in extramarital affairs, and made unsettling statements. Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., one of Platner’s prominent supporters, continued to back the nominee amid the controversy. In response to the escalating scrutiny, Platner rallied his supporters, saying, “As every single piece of that past and journey gets dug up, litigated, and weaponized, you have my back.” By July, accusations intensified when Politico published a report detailing a woman’s claim that Platner sexually assaulted her in 2021. He subsequently lost his endorsements and faced mounting pressure to withdraw, which he ultimately did earlier this month.

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