Troy Jackson Secures Most Maine Democratic Delegates

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has built a commanding lead to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, dominating the first day of county-level delegate selection on Saturday, July 18. Jackson’s slate of delegates won approximately 300 of the 319 slots decided that day, putting him on the verge of clinching the nomination at the party’s July 25 convention in Bangor.

Jackson’s momentum follows the abrupt exit of the previous Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race on July 10 amid a sexual assault allegation, which he denied. Jackson, a longtime state lawmaker and former Senate president from 2018 to 2024, quickly positioned himself as the candidate to continue Platner’s progressive movement, despite having called for Platner to end his campaign. Jackson had campaigned alongside Platner during the earlier gubernatorial primary and was Platner’s ranked-choice endorsement in that contest.

The delegate selection process, organized in just ten days after Platner’s departure, saw eight counties vote on Saturday. Jackson’s campaign demonstrated significant organizational strength, with his pre-released slate of preferred delegates winning nearly...