Maine Democrats Gather for Nominating Convention to Replace Senate Nominee

By July 25, 2026 / 6:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Maine Democrats will convene Saturday for the party’s nominating convention to select a U.S. Senate nominee. This comes as former state Senate President Troy Jackson is expected to secure the nomination. This selection process began after Graham Platner, the previous nominee, withdrew following a sexual assault allegation.

Initially, about a dozen Democrats intended to compete for the nomination. However, the field narrowed after Maine counties held nomination meetings. Jackson managed to get most of his delegate slates elected, with a significant number of the 500 delegates supporting him.

Jackson has effectively secured the nomination by obtaining an informal majority of delegate slots. This outcome led other prominent candidates, including Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, to exit the race. They have encouraged party cohesion to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins. Still, candidates like David Costello and Saundra Pelletier will remain on the convention ballot.

Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban also qualified but endorsed Jackson and requested withdrawal. “We look forward to hearing directly from these candidates and bringing Democrats from every corner of Maine together on Saturday to choose the strongest nominee to defeat Susan Collins,” stated Devon Murphy-Anderson, Executive Director of the Maine Democratic Party.

At the convention, delegates from Maine’s 16 counties will vote. While Jackson’s delegates aren’t legally required to support him, they are expected to do so.

Troy Jackson speaks to reporters at an event for his gubernatorial campaign on June 5, 2026, in Bar Harbor, Maine. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

About Troy Jackson

Jackson, 58, is a fifth-generation logger and served as the state Senate president from 2018 to 2024. He previously represented Maine’s northern region as a state representative. He initially ran for office as a Republican but was elected to the state House as an independent in 2002. He later became a Democrat.

Before joining the Senate race, Jackson ran for governor with backing from Platner and independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Although he finished third in the gubernatorial primary in June, he aligns with Sanders and supports progressive policies.

Platner’s exit from the race necessitated a quick process to find a replacement. According to Maine election law, a nominee must withdraw by 5 p.m. on the second Monday in July to be replaced on the ballot. The party was then given two weeks to select a new nominee. Democrats opted for the nominating convention to involve Mainers and scheduled it just before the July 27 deadline.