Former Maine Senate President, Troy Jackson, seems to have gathered sufficient delegates to take the lead in the race for the Democratic Senate nomination, potentially facing off against incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. Recently, delegates from sixteen counties in Maine met for two days to select candidates ahead of next weekend’s convention, and Jackson’s supporters claimed the majority of the competitive spots available. Notably, his main rivals, Maine Secretary of State Shena Bellows and former public health official Nirav Shah, dropped out of the contest on Sunday.
“In November, Mainers will beat Susan Collins and take back the Senate seat from the billionaires and corporations who believe they own it,” Jackson remarked on social media Sunday evening.
While Jackson’s delegates aren’t obliged to back him during the convention, he is in a solid position to secure the nomination for the expected tough battle against Collins. This contest is pivotal as the Democrats strive to regain control of the Senate, currently held by Republicans with a margin of 53-47.
Jackson, who has a background in logging and was previously a conservative Republican, switched to the Democratic Party over two decades ago. He previously landed third in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary last month. In this nomination race, Jackson’s followers captured over 90% of delegate seats, including all 149 from Cumberland County, the state’s most populated region where Portland is located.
“Yesterday was a giant leap, yet our task isn’t finished—we’re just getting started,” Jackson said on Sunday morning following the successful delegate selection.
The newly selected 500 delegates will join an additional 101 automatically chosen from the Democratic State Committee. Ultimately, all 601 will cast their votes at the convention in Bangor, Maine, scheduled for next Saturday. Bellows, who previously ran unsuccessfully for governor, withdrew from the Senate race, stating, “Donald Trump’s attack on our democracy has intensified, and my best service to our state and nation is to focus solely on my role as Secretary of State.”
Shah, who had previously led the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and then served the federal CDC under President Biden, also withdrew from the race on Sunday night, endorsing Jackson. He urged, “Susan Collins won’t lose unless Democrats unite, and we can’t unite without mutual respect—not just for our candidates but for everyone involved.” Jackson openly thanked Shah for his support, emphasizing the need for a broad coalition to defeat Collins.
Another contender, Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Brewery Co., announced the suspension of his campaign as well.
Jackson, along with the now-withdrawn Platner, had received backing from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and is presently supported by Our Revolution, which emerged post-Sanders’ first presidential campaign. Jackson’s campaign focuses on progressive, populist ideals aimed at working-class constituents, advocating for higher taxes on billionaires, universal healthcare (or “Medicare for All”), and the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He also opposes military support for Israel, an issue that divides the Democratic party.
Even with Platner initially gaining traction and support from the Democratic establishment, he faced challenges due to scandals and was pressured to withdraw following serious allegations of misconduct. Jackson had called for Platner to cease his campaign amidst the unfolding controversy, positioning himself as the ideal candidate to carry on the fight for progressive policies.
Jackson highlighted a broader movement focused on advocating for working individuals and collaborating to create an equitable economy. He praised Platner’s advocacy for healthcare access, suggesting that their shared commitment to fighting against systemic injustices remains the heart of their campaign efforts.
