Troy Jackson: the Maine lumberjack Democrats believe can beat Susan Collins
Democrats are set to nominate former state senate president and fifth-generation logger Troy Jackson to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins after the original candidate withdrew amid sexual assault allegations.
Maine Democrats are expected to select Troy Jackson as their candidate to take on longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins this weekend at a special party convention in Bangor. Jackson, a former president of the Democratic-controlled Maine Senate, steps in after the abrupt withdrawal of primary winner Graham Platner, who faced sexual assault allegations he denies.
Jackson, a fifth-generation lumberjack from Aroostook County, first gained prominence in the late 1990s for leading a week-long blockade by loggers protesting the hiring of Canadian workers. He initially ran for office as a Republican in 2000, lost, won as an independent in 2002, and switched to the Democratic Party in 2004. He served three terms in the state house and later in the senate, becoming its president from 2018 to 2024.
A progressive, Jackson supports Medicare for All and abolishing ICE. He previously opposed abortion rights and same-sex marriage but has since changed his positions. Collins, who has held the seat for three decades, has a significant fundraising advantage with over $16 million raised compared to Jackson's $1 million. Jackson portrays Collins as a Trump enabler and corporate ally, while Collins calls Jackson a "Bernie bro" and socialist.
Despite the short campaign timeline, progressive groups like Our Revolution and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have endorsed Jackson, praising his authenticity and working-class background. Recent events, such as the ICE killing of a Colombian man in Biddeford, could also impact the race, with Jackson condemning ICE as a "rogue agency" while Collins offered a more measured response.
