Maine Democrats nominate Troy Jackson as U.S. Senate candidate, will face Sen. Collins in November

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Troy Jackson emerged as the winner of the Maine Democratic Party’s Senate Nominating Convention Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, earning the party’s nomination to take on five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November’s general election.

Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from Allagash and former Maine Senate President, won in a landslide — 566 to 5 — over the only other remaining candidate, Saundra Pelletier.

Convention called after Platner’s withdrawal

The Maine Democratic Party called the convention following Graham Platner’s withdrawal from the race earlier this month. Platner had overwhelmingly won his primary election in June, but his campaign ended after he was accused of sexual assault — an allegation he denies. He withdrew days later.

With a July 27 deadline, the party moved quickly to select a new nominee. Party officials said they could have formed a committee to pick a nominee but instead opted for a convention to include more voices.

From a dozen candidates to two

Roughly a dozen candidates initially declared their intent to seek the nomination. As support coalesced behind Jackson, the others began to drop out. By the time Saturday’s convention opened — just 15 days after Platner’s exit — only Jackson and Pelletier remained.

Hundreds of delegates from all 16 Maine counties gathered in the Cross Insurance Center ballroom. Voting was conducted by paper ballot, with a simple majority required to win. Jackson entered the convention with more than enough pledged delegate support to secure the nomination.

Before the vote, both candidates addressed the crowd. Pelletier urged delegates to select the candidate best positioned to defeat Collins.

“Today your responsibility is to select the candidate that can beat Susan Collins so we finally have a Democrat as our U.S. Senator,” Pelletier said.

Jackson addresses the crowd

Jackson framed his appeal around working-class voters and sought to carry forward the enthusiasm that fueled Platner’s primary campaign.

“I know many of you poured your hearts into building this movement way before I ever entered this race,” Jackson said. “But the hope you built never belonged to any one campaign.”

After winning the nomination, Jackson addressed the delegates.

“Today we turn the page,” Jackson said. “Today this becomes a general election campaign and today we begin the work of defeating Susan Collins in November.”

Jackson on unifying the party

Following the convention, Jackson spoke about concerns from some Democrats who expressed frustration with the nomination process.

“There’s no doubt that at the beginning there’s a lot of people that were upset and angry,” Jackson said. “We’ve tried to talk to them, bring them on board, talked about how it’s about the issues — if they were still interested in Medicare for all, if they’re still interested in reproductive rights access. This campaign is there for them.”

Jackson also described the energy he said he has seen building among voters.

“People are fed up,” Jackson said. “Everything costs so much. They’re fed up with the war. Diesel prices, gas prices are insane. Health insurance is out of reach. Housing is out of reach. People are at their ends of the rope.”

Delegate Johanna Bozuwa said Jackson’s remarks resonated with her.

“I think that he said it so well when he talks about being shoulder to shoulder with working class people, and that’s exactly what I want to be doing,” Bozuwa said.

Republicans respond

The Republican National Committee released a statement following Jackson’s nomination.

“This coronation is proof that Democrats are willing to shove socialism down the throats of Maine voters, even if it means spitting in the face of democracy to do it,” RNC Spokesperson Kristen Cianci said. “Troy Jackson is 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. Senator Susan Collins is a proven leader with unimpeachable character who will continue to deliver for Mainers when they re-elect her this November.”

Collins campaign spokesperson Shawn Roderick also released a statement, criticizing Jackson and the nominating process.

“Today, in a process concocted by the Maine Democratic Party establishment, a 24-year Augusta insider was appointed to run for the Senate by fewer than three-tenths of one percent of its primary voters,” Roderick said, “Troy 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.

“Our campaign will continue to run on Senator Collins’ bipartisan record of delivering results for Maine and America, which will stand in stark contrast to Troy’s low-energy campaign and his partisan record of driving up costs, hurting our schools, and making life less affordable for families across the state. Just one month ago, Troy came in third in the Democratic primary for Governor.  Now he will run for Senate as the third choice of his party insiders. Senator Collins looks forward to waging a vigorous and issues-oriented campaign that will distinguish her record of accomplishment against Troy’s angry sound bites and far-left ideology.” 

Jackson now has 101 days to campaign before the general election on Nov. 3.