Democrats in Maine have chosen former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their nominee for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Susan Collins.
Jackson's platform includes several progressive policies, including abolishing ICE, implementing Medicare for All, and expanding the Supreme Court.
Jackson secured a commanding lead in county delegate elections, winning majorities in nearly every county, and will now move forward to the Democratic nominating convention scheduled for July 25.
He will replace Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Jackson's nomination comes despite concerns over his past behavior, including an ethics complaint regarding a mortgage fraud accusation and an incident in which he allegedly threw a bottle at a female colleague.
Progressive Victory, a group aligned with progressive causes, has warned about Jackson's behavior towards women, describing the incident as an "open secret" in Maine politics.
The group stated that they received troubling information about Jackson's behavior and that of other prominent Maine Democrats towards women, and that they chose to share this information to prevent making the same mistake twice.
Jackson, a logger from Allagash, previously served as Senate President from 2018 to 2024 and ran unsuccessfully for governor.
He has been aligned with progressive causes, including labor unions, and has long been a proponent of progressive policies.
The nomination pits Jackson against Collins in November, with Collins maintaining strong name recognition and fundraising advantages in the state.
Collins has held the seat since 1997 and will likely face a tough challenge from Jackson, who secured a commanding lead in the Democratic primary.
