Troy Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate and a Democrat, is positioned to become the party’s nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Multiple outlets report that Jackson has won overwhelming support among Democratic delegates and is expected to formally secure the nomination at the party’s nominating convention in Bangor on Saturday. In the lead-up to the convention, Jackson’s main competitors have withdrawn from the race. The Hill reports that Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah suspended their candidacies and urged Democrats to rally behind Jackson. The Hill also notes that other challengers, including Dan Kleban and Shah, endorsed Jackson and described him as the most electable option. The New York Times adds that state Democrats have released a convention ballot that lists Jackson and three long-shot candidates, with limited delegate support for the remaining contenders.
Overall, the reporting indicates Jackson is the clear frontrunner within Maine’s Democratic process, setting up a likely general-election contest against Collins after Saturday’s convention vote.
