{"id":2632633,"date":"2026-07-20T12:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/troy-jackson-turns-race-to-replace-platner-into-a-near-coronation\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T12:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T16:51:26","slug":"troy-jackson-turns-race-to-replace-platner-into-a-near-coronation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/troy-jackson-turns-race-to-replace-platner-into-a-near-coronation\/","title":{"rendered":"Troy Jackson turns race to replace Platner into a near-coronation"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftroy-jackson-turns-race-to-replace-platner-into-a-near-coronation%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2632633&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>troy Jackson is poised to become the Democratic nominee for Maine&#8217;s U.S. Senate race, having secured overwhelming support from party delegates after rivals dropped out and his supporters gained key delegate wins. This narrows the contest in favor of Jackson,who is seen as a progressive candidate endorsed by groups like the Democratic Socialists of america and Senator Bernie Sanders. Jackson&#8217;s opponents, including Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, and Jordan Wood, withdrew and endorsed him, emphasizing the need for party unity to defeat incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Despite past associations with Graham Platner, who faced allegations, Jackson has distanced himself and highlighted his grassroots support and anti-corporate stance. This consolidation sets the stage for Jackson to challenge Collins in the upcoming election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654871\/troy-jackson-front-runner-maine-democratic-senate-nomination\/\">Troy Jackson<\/a> is all but certain to replace <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Graham Platner<\/a> as the Democratic nominee after rival candidates dropped out and his supporters swept delegate elections, effectively turning the party\u2019s open nominating process for Maine Senate into a near-coronation. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson has secured the support of a majority of the state party delegates who will choose Platner\u2019s replacement on July 25, effectively locking up the nomination before the convention convenes and clearing a path to face Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) in November.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4655161\/elizabeth-warren-endorsement-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Elizabeth Warren endorsement adds to Abdul el Sayed\u2019s progressive bona fides<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4654999\/haley-stevens-michigan-senate-race-black-voters-abdul-el-sayed\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Haley Stevens bets on black support in Michigan primary homestretch<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4655087\/russell-fry-announces-campaign-lindsey-graham-senate-seat\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Russell Fry announces campaign for Lindsey Graham\u2019s Senate seat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike the rapid Democratic consolidation around then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"193\">Maine<\/a> Democrats opted for a delegate convention designed to give multiple candidates a chance to compete. County-level delegate elections, however, demonstrated Jackson\u2019s organizational strength, with his supporters winning a majority of delegate seats before the convention.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Former health official Nirav Shah, beer brewer Dan Kleban, and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood dropped out of the race over the weekend and endorsed Jackson. The withdrawals underscored how quickly the contest had consolidated around Jackson, a former Maine Senate president who lost a primary challenge this year to Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each of the exiting candidates cited the need for Democrats to unite behind a single candidate to defeat Collins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shah, for example, warned that five-term incumbent Collins \u201cwill not be defeated without a united Democratic Party.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shenna Bellows, who serves as the state\u2019s top elections official as Maine secretary of state, also withdrew but did not make an official endorsement. She said Democrats \u201cdon\u2019t have a day to waste in unifying around that shared goal\u201d of unseating Collins.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">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)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26197843722983.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson takes part in a debate at the WCSH-6 television studio, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Portland, Maine. (Robert F. Bukaty\/AP Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The rapid consolidation came despite Jackson\u2019s past ties to Platner, which have been a point of criticism in recent weeks. Jackson has distanced himself with statements and deleted social media posts after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sexual-abuse-allegations\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2500\">sexual assault allegations<\/a> against Platner arose from former girlfriends.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4652023\/troy-jackson-anti-corporate-maine-senate-hopeful-endorsements-lobbyists\/\">TROY JACKSON, AN ANTI-CORPORATE MAINE SENATE HOPEFUL, TOUTS ENDORSEMENTS FROM LOBBYISTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson is also among the most progressive and was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America\u2019s Maine chapter\u00a0in his gubernatorial bid. Like Platner, he was also supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur campaign has always been powered by ordinary Mainers \u2014 not corporate PACs or wealthy special interests, but neighbors organizing neighbors because they believe we deserve better,\u201d Jackson posted Monday to social media. \u201cIn November, we are going to defeat Susan Collins and reclaim our Senate seat.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Troy Jackson poised to secure Maine Senate Dem nomination<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2632634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26197843722983.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3728,50402,65502,5894,82490],"class_list":["post-2632633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-election","tag-leadership-2","tag-platner","tag-politics","tag-troy-jackson"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26197843722983.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2632633"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2632641,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2632633\/revisions\/2632641"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2632634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2632633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2632633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2632633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}