(WASHINGTON) Maine Democrats on Saturday nominated progressive Troy Jackson as their candidate for the U.S. Senate after their previous candidate withdrew in early July amid rape allegations in a crucial state in the race for the congressional majority.
Mr. Jackson, a lumberjack and former Maine Senate president, was elected almost unanimously at the local Democratic Party convention, called in an emergency following Graham Platner’s resignation two weeks ago.
PHOTO BY BRIAN SNYDER, REUTERS ARCHIVE
The scandals forced Graham Platner to resign.
A Democratic campaign sensation with midterm elections in November, Mr. Platner announced on July 8 that he was withdrawing from the Senate race following allegations of rape, which he denies. They put an end to a journey already marred by numerous scandals.
The Maine election is one of the key elections in November for Democrats if they want to regain the majority in the Senate, which is currently controlled by Republicans.
The state has voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential candidates since 1992. But retiring Sen. Susan Collins has been re-elected there four times since 1996 under the Republican banner.
PHOTO ERIC LEE, REUTERS
Republican Senator Susan Collins
Graham Platner was due to face the 73-year-old elected official in a few months and several polls gave him a win, with his message centered on fighting oligarchy and lowering the cost of living generating some public enthusiasm.
Troy Jackson, a spokesman for the progressive wing of the Maine Democratic Party, has a similar message, centered on protecting the working class from the economic and political elite.
“A champion of access to affordable and effective health care, Jackson has mobilized popular energy in Maine and is well positioned to defeat Susan Collins, who is more vulnerable than ever,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Democratic campaign manager for the upper house of Congress, responded in a statement.