Following Troy Jackson's nomination to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, Republicans are initiating a campaign to define him as an establishment insider and link him to his former political ally.
Key facts
- •Troy Jackson secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by Susan Collins after losing the gubernatorial primary earlier this year.
- •The Senate Leadership Fund is launching a six-figure ad campaign to link Jackson to Graham Platner.
- •Republicans are highlighting that Jackson was selected by 566 delegates at a nominating convention rather than a general primary vote.
- •Jackson’s campaign adviser, BJ McCollister, criticized Sen. Collins for her nearly 30-year tenure in Washington and her voting record.
- •Jackson has publicly disavowed Graham Platner following allegations of sexual assault against Platner.
Republicans have begun a coordinated effort to challenge Troy Jackson, the former Maine Senate president who recently secured the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. Susan Collins in November. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund are targeting Jackson by framing him as a political insider and highlighting his past association with Graham Platner. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, maintains his focus on a pro-worker platform and is actively criticizing Collins' long-standing record.
By the numbers
GOP Messaging Strategy
The Republican strategy involves a six-figure ad blitz from the Senate Leadership Fund that links Jackson to Graham Platner, a former candidate who exited the race. The GOP is using internal messaging guidance to label Jackson as a "radical" and "ill-tempered" politician. Additionally, Republicans are emphasizing that Jackson was selected by 566 party delegates rather than through a primary election, characterizing his nomination as a coronation by party insiders.
Jackson’s Response
Jackson has dismissed the Republican attacks as a tactic by Collins to distract from her own record. He emphasizes his background as a fifth-generation logger and his 20 years of experience in the state legislature. Regarding his past association with Platner, Jackson stated he has not spoken to him since disavowing him earlier this month following sexual assault allegations against Platner, which Platner denies.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Politico.
