Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has effectively secured the Democrat nomination to ‌challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November, winning support from a majority of ​delegates ahead of the state’s convention next weekend, Politico reported on Sunday.

Democrats are scrambling to regroup after their initial nominee, Graham Platner, left the race following a ⁠sexual assault allegation.

Collins is widely seen as the most vulnerable incumbent Republican senator in 2026, making the ​Maine seat critical to Democrats’ hopes of overturning Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority in the midterm elections.

Nearly two-thirds ⁠of the 601 delegates have committed to backing Jackson at the statewide convention, though they are not legally bound to do so, Politico reported. Jackson dominated county-level meetings over the weekend that selected the delegates, with two rivals falling far ‌behind.

One of those rivals, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, withdrew earlier on Sunday, ​saying she would focus ‌on her current role and urging Democrats to unify quickly to defeat Collins.

Jackson, a former logger from rural northern Maine, ‌has deep roots in the state’s labor movement and close ties to the party’s progressive wing; Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont Independent who caucuses with Democrats, endorsed him in a past gubernatorial race.

Jackson ⁠had campaigned for Platner during the primary ‌but joined Democrats who urged him ⁠to step aside after the allegation emerged.

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Tagged: Elections BACK TO HOMEPAGE