WASHINGTON — Former logger and onetime Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is on course to replace accused rapist Graham Platner as the Democratic Senate nominee following a series of party caucuses over the weekend.
As results from the Pine Tree State’s 16 counties showed Jackson running away with the committed delegate count, would-be contenders Nirav Shah, former head of the state’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention; state Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; Maine Beer Co. founder Dan Kleban; and ex-congressional hopeful Jordan Wood dropped out one by one.
“Today, I am stepping aside, and I am doing it for exactly the same reason that led me to get in: we must defeat Susan Collins, and the Democratic Party must be unified to do it,” Shah declared Sunday evening.
Jackson’s nomination will be made official at a statewide convention Saturday in Bangor.
According to the Bangor Daily News, Jackson has secured at least 456 of the 500 delegates awarded following the county meetings. The convention will consist of approximately 600 delegates, giving the 58-year-old an overwhelming lead.
Even before the contest began, many viewed Jackson as the favorite to succeed Platner given his populist brand of politics.
Jackson was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the Maine governor’s race, but ultimately finished third in the ranked-choice voting behind Shah and the eventual nominee, former state Rep. Hannah Pingree.
Platner officially withdrew July 10 following a series of allegations of sexual and physical abuse. Democrats have until 5 p.m. July 27 to pick his replacement.
Jackson will face off against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who will be seeking a sixth term and has a history of overperforming polls.
The former logger has a history of taking conservative positions on social issues, despite having left-wing economic views.
A onetime Republican, Jackson once got a 100% rating from Maine Right to Life for opposing pro-choice legislation. Jackson also voted against legalizing same-sex marriage in 2009.
In 2022, he backed legislation to restrict non-Americans from traveling to the Pine Tree State for work, even if they had the proper paperwork.
Maine is widely seen as a must-win seat for Democrats on their quest to recapture control of the Senate.
Collins, 73, is the lone Republican to represent New England in the House or Senate.
