Maine Democratic Nominating Convention Expected to Select Troy Jackson

Maine Democrats will gather on Saturday for a nominating convention aiming to choose a U.S. Senate candidate. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson is set to become the nominee after Graham Platner exited the race due to a sexual assault accusation.

Initially, around twelve Democrats showed interest in the nomination. However, the field has since narrowed. Jackson secured the support of the majority of delegate slates in Maine counties, effectively ensuring his nomination. Nearly 500 elected delegates mostly support Jackson, leading other major candidates like Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to withdraw.

The nominating convention will still feature less prominent candidates David Costello and Saundra Pelletier. Although Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban qualified for the ballot, he has endorsed Jackson and requested to withdraw.

We look forward to hearing directly from these candidates and bringing Democrats from every corner of Maine together on Saturday to choose the strongest nominee to defeat Susan Collins, said Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson.

During the convention, delegates from Maine’s 16 counties will cast votes. While they are not legally required to vote for Jackson, they are expected to support him.

About Troy Jackson

Troy Jackson, aged 58 and a fifth-generation logger, held the position of state Senate president from 2018 to 2024. He previously served as a state representative in northern Maine. Initially, Jackson ran as a Republican before switching to an independent and then joining the Democratic Party. He was first elected as an independent in 2002.

Before pursuing the U.S. Senate seat, Jackson ran for governor with support from Platner and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. He finished third in the gubernatorial primary in June. Jackson shares alignment with Sanders and backed progressive policies during his campaign. He also participated in Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.

With Platner withdrawing in July, Maine Democrats initiated a rapid process to find a replacement. Maine election laws require a nominee to withdraw by the second Monday in July to be replaced on the ballot, giving the party two weeks for selection. The nominating convention has been organized just before the July 27 deadline to ensure public participation in the decision-making process.