Maine Democrats are coalescing around former state Senate president Troy Jackson as they begin the process of choosing a new U.S. Senate nominee. Meetings held across the state marked an early but important step in the effort to replace Graham Platner on the Democratic side of the race.
Jackson, a logger and prominent progressive, quickly opened a sizable advantage over the rest of the field. His candidacy was strengthened further when two of his leading competitors dropped out, helping consolidate support behind him.
The contest is drawing attention because the eventual Democratic nominee is expected to face Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Jackson has built his profile in part around left-leaning policy positions, including support for Medicare-for-all, giving voters a clear ideological contrast in the developing race.
With Democratic activists gathering in large numbers around Maine, the early momentum appears to be moving decisively toward Jackson. The weekend meetings underscored both the party’s urgency in filling the vacancy and Jackson’s emergence as the leading contender.
