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DrFunkenstein

(8,965 posts)
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 10:21 AM 4 hrs ago

Former Maine state senator announces campaign after Platner suspension

Source: The Hill

Former Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson (D) on Wednesday announced his campaign to run against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), not long after Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner dropped out of the race amid a slew of scandals.

“There is a powerful movement of working class people in the state of Maine, and millions more across America who are ready to send a progressive fighter to the Senate,” Jackson wrote on the social platform X. “I’ve been fighting for that movement my whole life — and I’m sure as hell not backing down now, when this fight is needed most.”
...
Jackson also shared an ActBlue donation link in a second post, writing, “Flipping this seat has to be our #1 priority every single day between now and November. If you’re with me, I need you to step up today.”

His name was already floated among the list of other state lawmakers who could potentially replace Platner on the ballot. He previously ran for governor in the Pine Tree State but lost during the state’s primary last month.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5960448-troy-jackson-maine-senate-race-platner-withdrawal/



Bernie Sanders' organization, Our Revolution, is putting its support behind Jackson. Sanders previously endorsed Jackson during his gubernatorial run last year.

"As far as influencing the process and making the case, the most approximate thing we can point to as a proxy to an election is the last one that just happened. We just did have an election, and yes, personality matters, but so does platform. The platform that won is Graham Platner’s platform.”
21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Former Maine state senator announces campaign after Platner suspension (Original Post) DrFunkenstein 4 hrs ago OP
He has been President of the Senate Easterncedar 4 hrs ago #1
Sorry to disagree moonbeam23 1 hr ago #20
Sorry. I was stating a fact, not advocating Easterncedar 52 min ago #21
Waiting to hear from the state Dem party on how they will select a new nominee. Fiendish Thingy 3 hrs ago #2
Hope this report of state caucuses or pop-up convention from 7/6 are accurate pat_k 3 hrs ago #5
I'm guessing that's the likely course of action Fiendish Thingy 3 hrs ago #6
UGH! What a mess! Jacson6 3 hrs ago #3
Simple as that? Just like that? He declares he's "in" and with Bernie's and Our Revolution's backing... QueerDuck 3 hrs ago #4
He's declared he's *running* to be the new nominee Fiendish Thingy 3 hrs ago #7
The Proverbial Tossing of A Hat Into The Ring DrFunkenstein 3 hrs ago #8
The first paragraph in the article is a bit ambiguous on that point... QueerDuck 3 hrs ago #9
Troy Jackson might have some baggage. lapucelle 3 hrs ago #10
What's the baggage? Raven123 1 hr ago #15
Jackson was a big Platner supporter. They co-endorsed each other and campaigned together. N/T lapucelle 1 hr ago #16
Here is his Wiki ... FakeNoose 3 hrs ago #11
OK Mainers: who would be the best Democratic candidate with few to no skeletons and wide appeal? Chasstev365 2 hrs ago #12
My concern about Jackson is he got creamed in his campaign for Governor. Wiz Imp 2 hrs ago #13
That's because he is totally uninspiring moonbeam23 1 hr ago #19
Bernie is awesome. I often describe my political stance Dr. T 2 hrs ago #14
All Bernie had to do was kiss and make-up with Hillary FakeNoose 1 hr ago #18
He has the charisma moonbeam23 1 hr ago #17

Easterncedar

(6,715 posts)
1. He has been President of the Senate
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 10:44 AM
4 hrs ago

Always very pro-union. Not a great speaker, but a known quantity.

moonbeam23

(429 posts)
20. Sorry to disagree
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 01:25 PM
1 hr ago

we NEED a great speaker. Replacing Platner with mr no charisma is not the flex you might think.

Easterncedar

(6,715 posts)
21. Sorry. I was stating a fact, not advocating
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 01:59 PM
52 min ago

Your "not the flex you think it is" is unnecessarily pugnacious. Please try to work from a more comradely set of assumptions.

Fiendish Thingy

(24,688 posts)
2. Waiting to hear from the state Dem party on how they will select a new nominee.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 10:57 AM
3 hrs ago

They have to move fast, yet tread carefully.

pat_k

(14,717 posts)
5. Hope this report of state caucuses or pop-up convention from 7/6 are accurate
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 11:04 AM
3 hrs ago
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/06/us/politics/who-would-replace-graham-platner-maine.html?unlocked_article_code=1.v1A.iM4y.eQFzT3W_7ioS&smid=url-share

Top Maine Democratic Party officials have discussed possible plans to replace Mr. Platner on the ballot, with options including a pop-up convention on the weekend of July 25 to choose a nominee, or holding a statewide caucus to effectively redo the party’s primary election, according to two people who have talked with the officials and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party conversations.

Officials have ruled out having the state party’s committee, which includes about 100 members, choose the nominee, the people said.

QueerDuck

(2,424 posts)
4. Simple as that? Just like that? He declares he's "in" and with Bernie's and Our Revolution's backing...
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 10:59 AM
3 hrs ago

... he's our new guy? Or does the state party have anything to say? Bernie is not the state party. Our Revolution is not the state party. This kind of haste caused a lot of trouble last time, so even though time is precious, let's not jump the gun.

DrFunkenstein

(8,965 posts)
8. The Proverbial Tossing of A Hat Into The Ring
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 11:12 AM
3 hrs ago

What's most newsworthy for me is that we have options that don't necessarily involve holding our noses. From what I've read, this guy is a real progressive.

QueerDuck

(2,424 posts)
9. The first paragraph in the article is a bit ambiguous on that point...
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 11:21 AM
3 hrs ago
Former Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson (D) on Wednesday announced his campaign to run against Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), not long after Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner dropped out of the race amid a slew of scandals.

It says that he announced his "campaign to run against Se. Susan Collins" ... not "to run to be the Democratic nominee". Sure, I quibble, but accuracy and clarity still mean something to me. At first glance it looks like The Hill is skipping beyond the duties of the party and just anointing him.

lapucelle

(21,372 posts)
16. Jackson was a big Platner supporter. They co-endorsed each other and campaigned together. N/T
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 01:15 PM
1 hr ago

Chasstev365

(8,490 posts)
12. OK Mainers: who would be the best Democratic candidate with few to no skeletons and wide appeal?
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 11:57 AM
2 hrs ago

Wiz Imp

(11,031 posts)
13. My concern about Jackson is he got creamed in his campaign for Governor.
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 12:45 PM
2 hrs ago

Maine voters had a chance to vote for him (for Governor) in the primary and he got only 21% of the vote.

Dr. T

(871 posts)
14. Bernie is awesome. I often describe my political stance
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 12:48 PM
2 hrs ago

as slightly to the left of Bernie. Having said that, he has a lousy track record of endorsements.

FakeNoose

(43,302 posts)
18. All Bernie had to do was kiss and make-up with Hillary
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 01:20 PM
1 hr ago

If only he had given her the endorsement she deserved, we'd be living in a different country now.
Probably a different world.

moonbeam23

(429 posts)
17. He has the charisma
Thu Jul 9, 2026, 01:19 PM
1 hr ago

of a dishrag! TERRIBLE CHOICE. Only through pure luck wads he ever elected to anything. He was republican anti choice before he converted. His positions now are fine or my man Bernie wouldn't endorse him , i hope.

David Costello has a much more impressive and varied background, is also a born Mainer, and seems to have more personality.

IMHO

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