Democrat Troy Jackson, a former logger and longtime Maine legislator, entered the 2026 Senate race to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins.
Troy Jackson, a 58‑year‑old Democrat, announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate from Maine, campaigning in cargo shorts and a baseball cap while driving a 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan. He highlighted his working‑class background, noting he followed his father into logging at 19, led a 2000 logging blockade against Canadian labor, and served nearly two decades in the Maine Legislature, including six years as Senate president.
Jackson replaced Graham Platner on the Democratic ticket in July after Platner’s campaign collapsed amid a rape allegation he denied. Party officials had been emphasizing Jackson’s blue‑collar credentials to attract voters who have recently drifted toward the GOP. He now faces five‑term Republican incumbent Susan Collins, a 73‑year‑old centrist who has used her seniority to bring federal projects and dollars to Maine.
In a recent appearance at a former union hall in Jay, Jackson said, “I may not be good at very many things… I am very good at pushing back,” positioning himself as a scrappy progressive contrast to Collins, who has been criticized for expressing “concern” over tough issues.
The available reporting does not provide polling data or detailed analysis of how Mainers are responding to Jackson’s message, leaving the electoral outlook uncertain.