Maine Democrats convened in Bangor to choose a new U.S. Senate nominee after Graham Platner withdrew amid a sexual assault allegation. Troy Jackson, a former state Senate president and progressive leader, emerged as the clear frontrunner with broad delegate support. Jackson faces Saundra Pelletier for the nomination and will have under four months and a steep fundraising gap to close against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. A win in Maine is viewed as critical to Democrats' narrow path to reclaim the Senate.
Maine Democrats Convene In Bangor To Name Senate Nominee After Platner Withdrawal; Troy Jackson Emerges As Frontrunner
From left, U.S. Senate candidates Shenna Bellows, Troy Jackson, Dr. Nirav Shah, and Jordan Wood prepare for their televised debate at the WCSH-6 studio Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Maine Democrats gathered in Bangor on Saturday to select a replacement U.S. Senate nominee to challenge five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins after Graham Platner withdrew from the race following an allegation of sexual assault. Platner denies the allegation but stepped aside after pressure from key backers.
Frontrunner and The Selection Process
Support has coalesced around former state Senate President Troy Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine who campaigned with Platner during a prior bid for governor and has been a favorite among progressives. Jackson's campaign says more than 480 of the 601 delegates who will vote are committed to him.
U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson takes part in a debate at the WCSH-6 television studio, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
The Maine Democratic Party convened more than 600 delegates — elected at county party meetings the previous weekend — under a never-before-used selection process. State law gave the party authority to choose a replacement and required a new nominee to be named by Monday, 99 days before the Nov. 3 general election.
Why This Race Matters
Democrats view Maine as one of their best opportunities to flip a Senate seat this fall in a state President Donald Trump lost in 2024. But unseating Collins will be difficult: she holds a sizable fundraising advantage and broad name recognition across the state, while any new Democratic nominee will have under four months to introduce themselves to voters statewide.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asks a question during a Senate Health Education Labor and Pension committee confirmation hearing for Keith Sonderling to be the Labor Secretary, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)(AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Fundraising Gap
Federal filings show Collins has raised more than $16 million so far this cycle. Jackson's campaign reported it had raised more than $1 million since he entered the Senate contest, leaving a substantial fundraising gap to close before November.
Campaign Dynamics and Policy Positions
Jackson is well-known in Maine politics and has long-standing progressive credentials: he ran Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' Maine operation in 2016 and has advocated for policies such as Medicare for All and the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE's presence in Maine became a contentious issue after an ICE agent shot and killed a driver in the state earlier this month.
The headquarters for former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Graham Platner is seen Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Ellsworth, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Republicans have sought to paint Jackson as too extreme for Maine, and Collins this week criticized his views as aligned with socialism, noting his ties to Sanders. Jackson and his supporters say his campaign is building a grassroots movement across the state to defeat Collins and elect a senator who will fight for working people.
The Aftermath Of Platner's Withdrawal
Platner won the Democratic primary in June but withdrew on July 10 after a former girlfriend accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021. Platner denied the allegation; several prominent endorsers, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, rescinded their support after the allegation surfaced. A brief scramble followed, with multiple potential replacements emerging before most dropped out and Jackson emerged as the clear favorite by July 19.
Only one other candidate, Saundra Pelletier — a CEO of a women's health company — remained on the ballot for the party's selection. Pelletier faces long odds against Jackson, who has been active in state politics for more than a decade.
Outlook
If Jackson becomes the nominee, his campaign will need to persuade Maine's large independent voting bloc and rapidly narrow a significant fundraising deficit to make the race competitive. For Democrats, winning Maine is a crucial part of a narrow and challenging path to retake control of the Senate, alongside competitive contests in states such as North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.
"We are building a movement in every corner of this state to defeat Susan Collins and elect a senator who will fight like hell for working people," Jackson said.
AP journalist Nathan Ellgren in Washington contributed to this report.
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