It looks like former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is going to be the one to replace the putrid Graham Platner as the Democrat Party's best choice to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins this November. Jackson emerged as the runaway favorite after a strong showing in a series of caucuses held over the weekend to find the party's new candidate.
Platner, of course, withdrew from the Senate race ten days ago after almost a year's worth of increasingly serious allegations – from Nazi tattoos to sexual assault – finally sunk his candidacy. This led to Jackson and several others throwing their hats into the ring. It was a bit of a spectacle.
This man, who uses the name “Ashley” Webb, is running to replace Graham Platner as the Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine. pic.twitter.com/VgvMl1wVjL
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 17, 2026
The size of the field shrank considerably as the results of the weekend's caucuses began rolling in, leaving Jackson with virtually no competition – although "Ashley" Webb seems to still be in the race.
As results from the Pine Tree State’s 16 counties showed Jackson running away with the committed delegate count, would-be contenders Nirav Shah, former head of the state’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention; state Secretary of State Shenna Bellows; Maine Beer Co. founder Dan Kleban; and ex-congressional hopeful Jordan Wood dropped out one by one.
According to the Bangor Daily News, Jackson has secured at least 456 of the 500 delegates awarded following the county meetings. The convention will consist of approximately 600 delegates, giving the 58-year-old an overwhelming lead.
It looks like Jackson is opening up an insurmountable lead at this point, and he seized upon this momentum by releasing an "aw shucks, I'm just one of you" video.
In November, Mainers will defeat Susan Collins, and we will take back our Senate seat from the billionaires and corporations who think they own it. pic.twitter.com/LArQtAS1t8
— Troy Jackson (@TroyJackson207) July 19, 2026
And, now, the opposition research against Jackson begins in earnest, although it doesn't look like Republican sleuths will have to look very far to get the dirt on him. Jackson, who was once a pro-life Republican who opposed same-sex marriage, brings a whole bunch of baggage with him, including a serious allegation of mortgage fraud.
SEE ALSO: Has Graham Platner’s Quiet Departure Been the Result of a Medicaid Fraud Case Involving His Wife?
Big Action in Maine Senate Race As Candidates Drop Out, Who Will Replace Platner Becomes Clear
Here's Jeff Charles over at our sister site, Townhall:
In September 2019, Jackson and his wife purchased a home in Augusta for $216,015 using a Federal Housing Administration mortgage that required the borrower to occupy the property as a principal residence for at least a year.
However, the candidate admitted that he did not fulfill this requirement. “This is unfortunate, but I never really read the forms,” he told the Portland Press Herald. He noted that he paid his mortgage broker “a lot of money” and that “He filled out the forms and me and my wife signed them.”
There have been other questions raised about Jackson's possible unethical behavior while in office, including his acceptance of free legal services. And veteran political journalist Mark Halperin suggested on the Monday edition of his showing, Morning Meeting – co-hosted by Townhall's Larry O'Connor! – that something big and bad was going to soon come out about Jackson.
Whether Jackson's misdeeds will rise to Platner levels remains to be seen, but we know for sure that Democrats are firmly wedded to choosing and unabashedly supporting the most vile of candidates. The rise of figures like Graham Platner, Jay Jones – and possibly Troy Jackson – isn't an anomaly, it's the new norm for the Democrat Party.
The Maine Democratic Convention is scheduled for Saturday, July 25.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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