Maine Democrats officially nominated former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their U.S. Senate candidate during a convention on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Jackson, a progressive, received a standing ovation and described the nomination as the absolute honor of his life.
The selection follows a chaotic two-week scramble to replace Graham Platner on the ballot. Platner dropped out of the race following sexual assault allegations, leaving the party to find a replacement in a process defined by scandal and withdrawals.
Jackson now begins a 101-day sprint to Election Day, where he will face Republican incumbent Susan Collins. By commandeering the progressive movement that previously fueled Platner's rise, Jackson aims to unseat Collins in a race that is central to the Democratic strategy to recapture control of the Senate.