FOX News

Platner ally Troy Jackson closing in on Democratic Senate nod in key race to face Collins

The New York Times

Without Platner, Maine Democrats Scramble to Keep Grassroots Energy Alive

Ginasassyass

EricLDaugh

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Substack

Troy Jackson: The Tested Leader Maine Needs in the United States Senate

MikeNellis

OccupyDemocrats

The Washington Examiner

Troy Jackson emerges as front-runner for Maine Democratic Senate nomination

Just The News

Maine Democrats withdraw and endorse Troy Jackson to replace Platner in key Senate race

The Washington Post

Troy Jackson gains momentum to replace Platner as Democrats' Senate candidate in Maine

Maine Democrats rally around logger Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner

Reuters

Jackson gains majority delegate support in Maine to challenge US Senator Collins, Politico reports

In Maine Senate Race, Jackson Sprints Ahead of Pack, as Bellows Drops Out

In Maine, Jackson Takes Big Step Toward Nomination as Top Rivals Bow Out

Troy Jackson effectively wraps up Maine Democrats nomination to face Sen. Susan Collins

Maine Democrats Take Step Toward New Senate Pick, With Jolt of Momentum for Jackson

The Guardian

Maine Democrats rally around Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner in crucial Senate race  US politics live

Steve Robinson

Patrick Svitek

Max Cohen

Taniel

Alex Seitz-Wald

Sahil Kapur

Maine's Troy Jackson all but locks down Democratic nod for U.S. Senate seat

The Hill

Former Maine state senator announces campaign after Platner suspension

BostonGlobe

Troy Jackson dominates Maine Democratic caucuses, emerges as frontrunner to face Susan Collins

Shenna Bellows drops out of Maine’s Senate race as Troy Jackson builds Democratic support

WBUR

Troy Jackson appears headed for Maine Democratic nomination in race against Sen. Susan Collins

Harry Enten

Chuck Schumer

James M. Lindsay

Polymarket

Mike Marinella

Nate Cohn

Kirsten Gillibrand

The Times

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Election Betting Odds

RacetotheWH

Matthew Yglesias

Matt K. Lewis

"If I had to bet today — and I tend to define bet as “regret later” — I’d put my chips on the Democrats."

"Donald Trump knows, his party knows, that they’re at risk of losing this election in 2026"

"A feasible path for the [Democratic] party to win the Senate is coming into focus."

"There is a 47.4% chance the Republican Party will control the US Senate in 2026."

"There is a 48% the Republican Party will win the US Senate in 2026."

"There is a 52% chance the Republican Party will control the Senate after the 2026 election."

"There is a 53.2% chance the Republicans will win a Senate Majority in 2026."

"Democrats face an uphill battle to capture the U.S. Senate in the November midterm elections."

"Republicans are favored to retain their majority in the Senate. "

"Democrats’ chance of winning a Senate majority in 2026 is nearly zero unless they do something dramatically different."

Will Republicans Maintain Control of the Senate After the November 2026 Midterm Elections?

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson effectively secured the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins after winning more than 460 of the 500 delegate slots across Maine's 16 counties at weekend meetings ahead of the July 25 convention.

Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson effectively secured the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins after winning more than 460 of the 500 delegate slots across Maine's 16 counties at weekend meetings ahead of the July 25 convention.

All four of Jackson's leading rivals — Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, brewery owner Dan Kleban and former congressional staffer Jordan Wood — ended their campaigns Sunday and endorsed Jackson.

All four of Jackson's leading rivals — Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah, brewery owner Dan Kleban and former congressional staffer Jordan Wood — ended their campaigns Sunday and endorsed Jackson.

Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine, supports Medicare for All, raising taxes on billionaires and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also opposes military aid to Israel.

Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine, supports Medicare for All, raising taxes on billionaires and abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also opposes military aid to Israel.

Jackson's delegate success was driven largely by organized labor and former supporters of Graham Platner, who <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/platner-drops-maine-senate-bid-over-sexual-assault-claims">dropped out July 8</a> after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault — an allegation he denied — following a primary win with over 70% of the vote.

Jackson's delegate success was driven largely by organized labor and former supporters of Graham Platner, who dropped out July 8 after a former girlfriend accused him of sexual assault — an allegation he denied — following a primary win with over 70% of the vote.

Collins, seeking a sixth Senate term, is the only Republican incumbent up for reelection in a state that Kamala Harris carried in 2024. Republican groups backing Collins have already spent or reserved over $112 million in advertising, compared to roughly half that amount for Democrats.

Collins, seeking a sixth Senate term, is the only Republican incumbent up for reelection in a state that Kamala Harris carried in 2024. Republican groups backing Collins have already spent or reserved over $112 million in advertising, compared to roughly half that amount for Democrats.

Jackson is the real deal who has spent decades fighting for working families, rural communities and affordable health care. Unlike Collins, who votes with the far right when it counts most, Jackson brings authentic, tested leadership to this race. With roughly two-thirds of delegates already behind him, Democrats have found a stronger candidate than the one they lost.

Jackson is the real deal who has spent decades fighting for working families, rural communities and affordable health care. Unlike Collins, who votes with the far right when it counts most, Jackson brings authentic, tested leadership to this race. With roughly two-thirds of delegates already behind him, Democrats have found a stronger candidate than the one they lost.

Richard A. Evans MD

Mike Nellis

Occupy Democrats

Democratic narrative

Maine Democrats bypassed nearly all their voters in order to hand-pick a nominee accused of mortgage fraud and throwing a bottle at a woman. Jackson backs abolishing ICE and supports Medicare for All and packing the Supreme Court, making him a radical pick dressed up as a working-class hero. Collins is the clear choice for Mainers who want honest, accountable representation.

Maine Democrats bypassed nearly all their voters in order to hand-pick a nominee accused of mortgage fraud and throwing a bottle at a woman. Jackson backs abolishing ICE and supports Medicare for All and packing the Supreme Court, making him a radical pick dressed up as a working-class hero. Collins is the clear choice for Mainers who want honest, accountable representation.

Amuse

Eric Daugherty

Gina Beana Fofina

Republican narrative

There's a 56.1% chance that Republicans will hold the most seats in the U.S. Senate after the 2026 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 56.1% chance that Republicans will hold the most seats in the U.S. Senate after the 2026 midterm elections, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Which party will hold a plurality in the US Senate after the 2026 midterm elections?

Nerd narrative

Troy Jackson

Susan Collins

Graham Platner

Sophie Park/Bloomberg/Getty Images