Longtime Sen. Susan Collins is facing a new Democratic challenger. Troy Jackson is on the cusp of the nomination, setting up a 101-day sprint in a must-win race that could decide control of the Senate.

Troy Jackson Expected to Secure Democratic Nomination for Maine Senate Race Against Susan Collins

BANGOR, Maine — Former state Senate President Troy Jackson is positioned to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine following a state convention scheduled for Saturday. The nomination process follows the withdrawal of primary winner Graham Platner earlier this month after a sexual assault allegation that Platner denied.

Jackson will face pharmaceutical executive Saundra Pelletier for the nomination at the convention. Jackson, a veteran state legislator, is projected to receive the nomination after delegate candidates aligned with him prevailed at county meetings the previous weekend and other major candidates withdrew.

The sequence of developments has altered the contest involving longtime Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican seeking a sixth term in the only state that President Donald Trump lost in the 2024 election. Democrats aim to gain four seats to obtain a Senate majority. Maine is one of several states under consideration for a Democratic gain. If Collins is not defeated, Democrats would need to win in a state that Trump carried by double digits.

Jackson has outlined his arguments against Collins at recent events. At a rally in Sanford, Jackson stated that Collins has expressed concern over nearly 30 years without sufficient action on certain issues. He added that she has aligned with Trump and corporations on tax legislation and supported the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later participated in the decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Jackson also referenced positions on federal workers, unions, immigrants, and healthcare.

Collins campaign spokeswoman Blake Kernen responded that Jackson’s approach resembles that of the Platner campaign and described his statements as inaccurate with limited details on implementation. She noted Jackson’s third-place finish in the Democratic primary for governor earlier this year.

Jackson’s tasks include constructing a statewide organization, raising substantial funds for advertising, and persuading voters who have supported Collins in prior elections.

Jackson’s background and electoral considerations

Supporters have cited Jackson’s background as a former logger and legislator from Allagash in Aroostook County as potentially advantageous for appealing to working-class and rural voters. This marks the first Senate contest in which Collins, also from Aroostook County, faces an opponent from the same region.

Aroostook County Democratic Committee chairwoman Shelly Mountain stated that Jackson has consistently advocated for working-class interests. A Democratic strategist familiar with Maine contests, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that a Democratic victory would require limiting the margin of defeat in the rural 2nd Congressional District to the high single digits. The strategist noted Jackson’s prior performance in state Senate races as relevant to that objective.

Maine Democratic strategist David Farmer observed that success could occur by increasing turnout in established Democratic areas such as Portland without necessarily altering the overall geographic map. Farmer referenced Collins’ 2020 reelection, in which she won by nearly 9 percentage points while Joe Biden carried the state by the same margin. Exit poll data from that election showed Collins receiving support from independents, moderates, and women at higher rates than the presidential results.

Farmer expressed that reactions to federal policies, an incident involving immigration enforcement in Biddeford, economic conditions, and international developments could maintain Democratic cohesion compared with 2020. The anonymous strategist added that Jackson’s earlier gubernatorial primary performance showed weaker results in suburban areas where Collins has maintained support.

Fundraising and external involvement

Jackson’s campaign reported raising more than $600,000 within approximately 72 hours after his July 8 entry into the race, exceeding $1 million total. Collins’ campaign reported $11 million in available funds as of June 30, with additional spending anticipated from Republican-aligned groups.

Democratic organizations that had withdrawn support from Platner are expected to resume activity. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, indicated that the committee would provide assistance to the eventual nominee after the state convention.

Republican strategists have prepared lines of attack focused on Jackson’s legislative record and prior association with Platner. Jackson and Platner had campaigned jointly before Jackson called for Platner’s withdrawal. GOP strategist Lance Dutson, who has worked on Collins’ previous campaigns but is not currently involved, stated that the race would center on comparisons of legislative accomplishments, including Collins’ work on appropriations legislation that directed funds to Maine.

Collins has described Jackson as aligned with democratic socialists and referenced his support for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential primary. Sanders endorsed both Jackson and Platner in their respective primaries and later described Jackson as attuned to working-class concerns in Maine. Dutson noted that Jackson’s policy positions differ from those typically associated with rural northern Maine voters.

Jackson has faced prior attention regarding exchanges with legislative colleagues. Supporters, including organic farmer Jim Gerritsen, have viewed such instances as evidence of commitment to constituent interests. Voter Carol Eisenberg, who backed Janet Mills in the gubernatorial primary and expressed reservations about Platner, stated support for Jackson in the Senate contest.

The convention proceedings and subsequent campaign activities will determine the final nominee and the parameters of the general election contest.