Maine Democrats rally around Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner in crucial Senate race – US politics live

Maine Democrats Unify Behind Troy Jackson for Senate Race as Other Candidates Withdraw

Maine Democrats moved to consolidate support behind former state Senate President Troy Jackson as the party’s nominee in the state’s Senate race against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Several candidates withdrew over the weekend ahead of a nominating convention scheduled for July 25 in Bangor.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows withdrew on July 19, stating that Democrats lacked “a day to waste in unifying” around the goal of defeating Collins in the November midterm elections. Nirav Shah, former director of Maine’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also exited the race and endorsed Jackson. Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, and Jordan Wood, a progressive who served as chief of staff to former Representative Katie Porter, followed with similar endorsements.

The withdrawals came after the party’s initial nominee, Graham Platner, suspended his campaign earlier in July following allegations including a claim of sexual assault, which Platner has denied. Maine is viewed by Democrats as a key state in efforts to gain control of the Senate.

Jackson, 58, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine, served in the state legislature beginning in 2002 and later as Senate president until term limits ended his tenure in 2024. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for governor earlier in 2026 with Platner’s support. At county-level meetings over the weekend, party committees selected delegates for the convention. Reports indicated that more than two-thirds of the 601 delegates had committed to Jackson, though the commitments are not legally binding.

Additional Developments

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