Maine Democrats Select Candidate to Challenge Susan Collins
WHO:
Slate Magazine - Troy Jackson is the third-place finisher in the gubernatorial race and has the support of roughly 75 percent of the volunteers who rallied behind Graham Platner.
ABC News - Maine Democrats are selecting a candidate to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Slate Magazine - Troy Jackson is the preferred candidate of the left wing of the Maine Democrats.
Slate Magazine - Graham Platner was a blue-collar oyster farmer and Marine veteran who dropped out of the race.
WHAT:
Slate Magazine - The county conventions featured turnout that was less than a tenth of the 216,000 Mainers who voted in the U.S. Senate primary on June 9.
ABC News - Maine Democrats are meeting to pick a new Senate nominee after Graham Platner dropped out.
Slate Magazine - Troy Jackson is set to be officially ratified as the nominee after Platner's withdrawal.
Slate Magazine - Jackson won every delegate at stake in some large counties, leading to a landslide victory.
WHERE:
Slate Magazine - The convention is being held at a combined conference center and minor league hockey arena in Bangor, Maine.
Slate Magazine - County conventions were held across Maine, with rural counties gathering in person and urban ones voting online.
WHEN:
Slate Magazine - The county conventions were held last weekend.
Slate Magazine - The U.S. Senate primary had 216,000 Mainers voting on June 9.
WHY:
Slate Magazine - The Democratic nomination became vacant after Graham Platner withdrew due to allegations of rape.
Slate Magazine - Maine Democrats aimed to unite the party against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
HOW:
Slate Magazine - Tiny rural Piscataquis County elected four delegates, while Cumberland County, which includes Portland, had 149 delegates. In total, 500 delegates were elected from the counties, along with 101 delegates composed of elected party officials to the Maine Democratic Party’s central committee.
Slate Magazine - Each Maine county held its own convention to select delegates for the state convention.
Slate Magazine - The process involved both in-person and online voting, with a total of 500 delegates elected from the counties.
(UPDATED July 25, 2026 16:19 UTC)
Troy Jackson has emerged as the third-place finisher in the gubernatorial race, garnering the support of about 75 percent of the volunteers who previously rallied behind Graham Platner. Meanwhile, the recent county conventions saw a turnout of less than ten percent of the 216,000 Mainers who participated in the U.S. Senate primary on June 9. In total, 500 delegates were elected from various counties, including four from tiny rural Piscataquis County and 149 from Cumberland County, which encompasses Portland, along with an additional 101 delegates made up of elected party officials for the Maine Democratic Party’s central committee.
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(UPDATED July 25, 2026 07:40 UTC)
Maine Democrats are gathering at a conference center and minor league hockey arena in Bangor to select a new Senate nominee after Graham Platner dropped out of the race amid serious allegations. Troy Jackson, who has garnered strong support from the left wing of the party and won every delegate at stake in several large counties, is set to be officially ratified as the nominee. The county conventions held last weekend allowed for both in-person and online voting, resulting in a total of 500 delegates elected from across Maine to unite the party against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.