2026 Maine Senate race
One page that accretes the verified record as the story develops. Every fact keeps its date and its sources.
Sen. Collins responds to Democratic challenger controversy
A 1988 police report claims that Troy Jackson assaulted a man at a bar and states that his partner accused him of pushing her around.
The Maine Wire reported in July that Troy Jackson and his longtime partner share the same great-grandparents.
Collins told Fox News Digital in August that based on widespread reporting it appears Jackson struggles to control his temper.
“he’s the one that needs to respond to the reports. I’m not going to comment on them. But I will say that based on widespread reporting it appears that he struggles to control his temper ... From my perspective, it seems that vetting is very important. We learned the failure of vetting with Graham Platner. But that’s really up to the Democrats.”
Abortion rights group endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race
In 2023, Jackson co-sponsored legislation expanding abortion access to include medically necessary procedures after fetal viability.
Susan Collins is a five-term Republican incumbent in the US Senate.
Graham Platner exited the race after facing allegations of sexual assault, which he denies.
Republicans plan to challenge Troy Jackson
Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash.
Jackson told reporters he has not spoken to Platner since disavowing him.
Jackson publicly disavowed Platner after POLITICO reported that a woman who dated Platner said he had sexually assaulted her.
Democrats poised to nominate Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race
Jackson and Platner were close allies and campaigned together, but Jackson called on Platner to step aside following the sexual assault allegation.
Collins told NBC News that Jackson seems to be firmly aligned with the democratic socialists.
Democrats held a state convention in Bangor to pick their Senate nominee after primary winner Graham Platner ended his campaign amid a sexual assault allegation.
“She was concerned while she rubber-stamped Trump’s Medicaid cuts and gutted our healthcare. She’s concerned when she cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy. Concerned when she confirmed justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, and really tragically, she was concerned when she gave ICE billions to terrorize our neighbors and murder people in the streets with no accountability.”
Troy Jackson nears Maine Democrats' nomination
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced Sunday that she is withdrawing from the race to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
Jordan Wood announced he was dropping out in a social media video posted to X Sunday evening and gave his endorsement to Jackson.
Former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah announced he was dropping out of the race and endorsing Troy Jackson.
Troy Jackson closes in on Maine Democratic Senate nomination after caucus
Jackson won at least 290 of the first 319 delegates decided across the first eight counties to vote for delegates.
Lobbyist Michael Saxl, a Bellows supporter, was listed on Shah's slate.
Washington County extended voting after some participants' landline-registered phone numbers caused technical problems.
Platner withdraws from Maine Senate race; Democrats announce nominee replacement process
Platner's withdrawal paperwork was received by the Maine secretary of state's office Friday afternoon.
State law requires that Platner's replacement be named by July 27.
Platner's formal withdrawal came two days after he said he would quit the race, facing an allegation of sexual assault that he has denied.
Graham Platner suspends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows announced she is seeking the Democratic Senate nomination to replace Platner.
Bellows ran for Senate in 2014 and lost the general election to Susan Collins by almost 37 percentage points.
Dan Kleban is a co-founder of the Maine Beer Company.