Troy Jackson, a former state legislator, has positioned himself as a strong contender to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine, following the withdrawal of several rival candidates over the weekend.
The shift in the race occurred as party committees across Maine began selecting delegates for a nominating convention scheduled for July 25. Jackson’s campaign announced it had secured hundreds of delegate commitments, including support from all preferred delegates in Cumberland County, Maine’s largest population center. The show of strength prompted multiple opponents to exit the race.
Secretary of State Shenna Bellows withdrew Sunday morning, citing the need for party unity in the effort to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November. Later that day, Nirav Shah, former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, announced his departure and endorsement of Jackson. Shah was followed by Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, and Jordan Wood, who also backed Jackson.
Democrats have been working to identify a replacement candidate after Platner, who won the party’s primary election, withdrew this month. Platner’s campaign ended following complaints from several women about his behavior, including an allegation of sexual assault from a former girlfriend. Platner denied the accusation. Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders, which had initially supported Platner, subsequently endorsed Jackson.
Jackson, 58, worked as a logger before entering politics. He was elected to Maine’s state legislature in 2002 and served as president of the state senate before departing in 2024 due to term limits. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination earlier in the year with Platner’s support.