Democrat Troy Jackson has been officially nominated as the party's Senate candidate in Maine, setting the stage for a highly contested race against Senator Susan Collins. The nomination took place at a state convention in Bangor, where Jackson secured nearly all of the 571 ballots cast, with only five opposing votes.
Maine Senate Race Heats Up
The rapid series of events has shaken the Maine contest, where Senator Collins is seeking a sixth term. Democrats are looking to net four seats and take control of the Senate this fall, and Maine represents one of their best opportunities to notch a win. Jackson, a veteran legislator, previewed his case against Senator Collins at the convention, criticizing her record on healthcare, taxes, and social issues.
According to Jackson, Senator Collins has a history of expressing concern but failing to take action. "For nearly 30 years, Collins has told Maine that she is concerned," Jackson said. "She was concerned while she rubber-stamped Trump's Medicaid cuts and gutted our health care. She's concerned when she cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy." Jackson emphasized that concern does not translate to tangible results, such as lowering grocery or gas prices, or keeping rural hospitals open.
Challenges Ahead for Jackson
Jackson's most immediate challenge is fundraising, with his campaign announcing that it had raised over $600,000 in roughly 72 hours. However, Senator Collins' campaign had $11 million to spend as of June 30, and Republican groups are gearing up to spend millions more. Jackson will need to convince huge numbers of Mainers who have repeatedly backed Collins for decades that it's time for her to go.
A Democratic strategist noted that a Democratic statewide win against Collins involves narrowing a likely loss in the rural 2nd Congressional District to high single digits. "Being from Aroostook County and having shown a pretty significant overperformance in his state Senate races, [Jackson] is well-suited to do that," the strategist said. Other Democrats noted that Jackson mainly has to run up the score in traditionally Democratic strongholds of Portland and other cities.
What's Next in the Maine Senate Race
As the campaign heats up, Jackson can expect outside help from Democratic groups that had abandoned Platner amid his scandals. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, signaled that Jackson could expect full support from the party apparatus once he clinched the nomination. Meanwhile, Republicans are gearing up to unload attacks on Jackson, particularly over his long tenure in the state Legislature and his ties to Platner.
Looking ahead, the Maine Senate race is likely to be closely watched, with implications for the balance of power in the Senate. As Jackson and Senator Collins face off, voters will be weighing their options and considering the policies and records of both candidates. With the election just 101 days away, the stakes are high, and the outcome is far from certain.
