Troy Jackson
Democratic Nominee, U.S. Senate (ME) · Democratic · Maine
Troy Jackson is a former Maine Senate President and logger from Aroostook County who is the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate after securing majority delegate support and clearing the replacement field in July 2026.
Profile last updated Jul 14, 2026 · Center Field Politics
Scout's Report
The labor-left standard-bearer facing Susan Collins: a Sanders-aligned populist with two decades of legislative wins and deep rural credibility in Trump-leaning northern Maine.
Core Strength
Cleared the convention field after rivals Bellows, Shah, and Wood dropped out and endorsed him; labor and progressive endorsements plus a proven record winning as a progressive in red territory.
Core Weakness
Lost the 2026 gubernatorial primary earlier in the cycle, and his combative progressive style gives moderates pause in a statewide federal race against Collins.
Recent Action
Secured majority delegate support over the July 19–20 weekend (his campaign claimed 481 of 601); rivals Shenna Bellows, Nirav Shah, and Jordan Wood dropped out and endorsed him ahead of the July 25 Bangor convention.
Key Metrics
- Reliability
- 94%
- Documented Controversies
- 0
- Funding Secured
- $90M
Roll-call or session participation — did they show up?
Official ethics findings or court records only.
State-legislative and gubernatorial finance history; federal campaign finance to be filed with the FEC as the Democratic nominee (absolute).
Where They Stand
Stances on the issues many voters care most about. Where a candidate has not given a clear answer we mark it "Mixed / Partial" or "Unclear" rather than guess. Positions are drawn from official records and bias-labeled news sources; they are descriptive only and are never scored.
Environment—Mixed / Partial36
Climate protections and regulation versus fewer climate-related regulations on industry.
Backed the aerial-herbicide ban and clean-energy jobs, while emphasizing forest-economy livelihoods over mandates.
Healthcare—Supports47
Expanding healthcare coverage for all versus expanding market-based, private insurance.
Campaign priority: pass Medicare for All and lower prescription-drug costs; longtime Maine drug-price reformer.
Second Amendment—Mixed / Partial3
New firearm regulations versus no new firearm regulations.
A rural Democrat historically cautious on gun restrictions while backing targeted safety measures.
Immigration—Supports45
Pathways to citizenship versus a closed-border approach.
Campaign calls to dismantle and abolish ICE; rose to prominence defending Maine loggers against guest-worker displacement and frames reform around labor protections and legal pathways.
Roe v. Wade—Supports4
Protecting access to abortion versus restricting access to abortion.
Campaign pledges to pass a federal right to abortion; backed Maine’s access-protection laws as Senate President.
National Security—Unclear45
Whether diplomacy or military strength should be the primary national-security priority.
No documented public position on U.S. military action against Iran specifically; Sanders-aligned and anti-war, and his campaign calls to end U.S. military aid to Israel over Gaza.
Party Loyalty
Not currently a legislator; loyalty is not scored for this race. In his legislative career he was a reliable Democratic vote who nonetheless defied leaders of both parties, including Govs. LePage and Mills.
As Senate President he passed budgets and signature bills through a closely divided chamber, securing Republican votes for the aerial-herbicide ban, childcare investments, universal school meals, and saving rural veterans’ homes.
On the 2026 Ballot
Sources
- Maine Legislature — Senate President Troy Jackson (archived)
- AP — State policy coverage
- Ballotpedia — Troy Dale Jackson
- Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate — Priorities
- AP — Who is Troy Jackson, Democrats’ likely Maine Senate nominee?
- Maine Legislature — LD 125 (aerial herbicide ban), 130th Legislature
- Maine Legislature — LD 1272 (wholesale drug importation), 129th Legislature
- Maine GOP — Statement on the Democratic Senate field