Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, has secured the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine. He will face longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins in November in a race that could decide which party controls the Senate.
Background
Jackson replaces Graham Platner, who won the Democratic primary in June but withdrew from the race earlier this month following an allegation of sexual assault that Platner has denied. Maine Democrats met Saturday to choose a new Senate nominee to face Collins.
Support coalesced around Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from rural northern Maine who campaigned alongside Platner during a failed bid for governor and was a favorite among progressives to replace him.
Jackson has supported progressive positions such as Medicare for All. He also has called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Upcoming Election
Democrats have a narrow path to take back the Senate in November and it’s highly unlikely they can do it without a win in Maine. Jackson will need to convince the state’s large independent voting bloc that it’s time to replace Collins.
Collins said earlier this week that she knows Jackson well and that his positions are “clearly” in line with socialism. Jackson also needs to scramble to make up a fundraising gulf against Collins, who has been raising money for months.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
