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PoliticsTroy Jackson takes commanding lead in Maine delegate selection
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On July 18, 2026, Maine Democrats held county meetings across eight counties to select delegates for replacing scandal-plagued former nominee Graham Platner. Progressive logger and former state Senate president Troy Jackson dominated the first day of the two-day delegate-selection process, capturing an overwhelming majority of the 319 open delegate slots. His campaign benefited from strong union organizing, outmaneuvering rivals including former state CDC director Nirav Shah and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who each secured only a handful of delegates. Jackson rallied supporters in Portland on Friday evening, urging them to organize and turn out for county meetings. The process continues with additional delegate slots to be filled.
Source report
The progressive logger and lawmaker dominated Maine Democrats’ Saturday county meetings to pick a replacement for Platner.
By Aaron Pellish and Andrew Howard 07/18/2026 09:05 PM EDT
WISCASSET, Maine — As Maine Democrats began the rushed and convoluted process to name a successor to scandal-plagued former nominee Graham Platner, it quickly became clear that progressive Troy Jackson was in control.
From meetings in rural Calais near the Canadian border to urban, progressive Portland — in high school gyms and over Zoom calls across eight counties — the blue-collar logger and former state Senate president ran up the score on Saturday.
His campaign dominated the first of two days of the delegate-selection process, with his longtime union allies flexing their organizing muscles to outmaneuver his rivals en route to capturing a strong majority of delegates.
“I’m asking for your vote, but I’m also asking for more than that,” Jackson told over 100 supporters at a Friday evening rally under a gazebo at a park overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Portland, Maine.
“I’m asking you to organize,” he continued. “I’m asking you to talk to your neighbors. I’m asking you to show up at your county meetings, make the calls, send the texts and bring even more people into this movement.”
Organize they did.
On Saturday, Maine Democrats in eight counties chose 319 of the 500 open delegate slots. According to a POLITICO analysis of the campaigns’ released slates and the lists of elected delegates:
- Jackson-aligned candidates carried an overwhelming majority of the spots selected.
- Supporters of former state Center for Disease Control director Nirav Shah and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ backers made up just a handful apiece.
Source
PoliticsWestern
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Troy Jackson takes commanding lead in race to replace Graham Platner in Maine