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2026 Maine Senate
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Last Update: 10/27/2026 at 6:01 AM EST
2026 Maine Senate Race
Coverage from WMTW, Press Herald, and others
The 2026 Maine U.
S. Senate contest brings Democratic nominee Troy Jackson into a challenge against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Jackson was selected after Graham Platner, who had won the Democratic primary, withdrew amid allegations he denied; the party’s convention and delegate process then became central to choosing a replacement. Jackson has sought to carry forward support associated with Platner’s progressive, working-class coalition, while supporters discussed a Platner write-in campaign. That effort raised questions about ranked-choice voting and Maine rules that exclude write-in votes for undeclared candidates.
Looking Back
34 Day Timeline
Jul 31
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History
10/03/2026
The write-in effort is now defined by six eligible declared candidates and clearer ballot rules: undeclared names do not count as candidate votes, and ranked-choice tabulation occurs only if no one wins a majority. The current account also qualifies scrutiny of Jackson’s past conduct and highlights debate over the delegate-based replacement process.
All Articles36 articles
Important
On July 25, 2026, Maine Democrats selected former Senate President Troy Jackson as their U.S. Senate nominee at a convention in Bangor after Graham Platner withdrew.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Maine Democrats selected former Senate President Troy Jackson as the 2026 Senate nominee in Bangor on July 25 through a 571-delegate convention after Graham Platner's replacement.
8/2/2026 • Parties & Political Organizations • General
The Maine Democratic Party nominated Troy Jackson on July 25 in Bangor through a 571-delegate convention, replacing Graham Platner as Susan Collins's Democratic challenger.
8/2/2026 • Parties & Political Organizations • General
Troy Jackson won Maine Democrats' Senate nomination on July 25 in Bangor after Graham Platner withdrew, gaining rapid support from labor organizations and progressive leaders.
8/1/2026 • Endorsements & Surrogates • General
Maine Democrats nominated Troy Jackson at a Bangor convention after county delegate meetings replaced Graham Platner, while Susan Collins’ campaign challenged the process.
7/31/2026 • Parties & Political Organizations • General
Troy Jackson won Maine Democrats' Senate convention nomination on Saturday after Graham Platner withdrew July 10 amid misconduct reports and a sexual assault accusation.
7/31/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson on July 25, 2026, to replace withdrawn nominee Graham Platner in the U.S. Senate race against Susan Collins.
7/31/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Graham Platner supporters are promoting a November write-in effort in Maine, where ranked-choice voting could direct eligible second-choice votes toward Democratic nominee Troy Jackson against Susan Collins.
8/31/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Graham Platner is weighing a declared write-in campaign for Maine's Nov. 3 Senate election, with an Aug. 25 filing deadline preceding his Sept. 7 Ellsworth rally.
8/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Interesting
Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as replacement 2026 Senate nominee at a July 25 Bangor convention after county delegates participated in an expedited process created by party volunteers.
7/31/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Maine Democrats nominated Troy Jackson at a convention in Maine after Janet Mills declined to lead the field and Graham Platner withdrew before the filing deadline.
9/1/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Maine Democrats are expected to nominate Troy Jackson through a statewide county convention process after Graham Platner's campaign collapsed, positioning Jackson to challenge Senator Susan Collins.
9/1/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Six declared write-in candidates joined Susan Collins and Troy Jackson in Maine's November Senate election after meeting the Tuesday filing deadline, triggering ranked-choice voting.
8/31/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
The Maine Democratic Party nominated Troy Jackson on July 25 in Bangor after delegates completed an expedited statewide process to replace the departing Senate nominee.
8/25/2026 • Parties & Political Organizations • General
Troy Jackson became Maine's Democratic Senate nominee after Graham Platner's withdrawal, while Platner supporters urged a write-in registration before the August 25 deadline in Maine.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Graham Platner supporters in Maine are organizing a November write-in campaign that would rank Platner first and Troy Jackson second, pending Platner's filing with Secretary of State Shenna Bellows.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Troy Jackson became Maine's Democratic Senate nominee while Graham Platner supporters promoted a write-in candidacy requiring registration by August 25 in Maine.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Graham Platner supporters are pressing for a write-in candidacy before August 25 in Maine, potentially complicating Troy Jackson's Democratic challenge to Susan Collins.
8/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Graham Platner supporters are urging a write-in candidacy before Maine's August 25 deadline, potentially complicating Troy Jackson's Democratic challenge to Susan Collins.
8/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Supporters led by Danny Aguilar are urging former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to file a write-in bid by August 25, potentially affecting Troy Jackson's challenge to Susan Collins.
8/17/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Six Maine candidates filed write-in declarations by Aug. 25 for the Nov. 3 Senate election, potentially forcing ranked-choice tabulation between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson.
8/27/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as the 2026 Senate nominee after Graham Platner withdrew in July, reshaping the challenge to Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as their 2026 Senate nominee after Graham Platner withdrew, setting up a contest against incumbent Susan Collins in Maine.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
In 2025 and at a DNC meeting in Austin, Maine Democratic Party leaders expanded grassroots organizing and defended voting procedures across Maine.
9/2/2026 • Parties & Political Organizations • General
Six write-in candidates qualified Tuesday for Maine's November 3 Senate election, triggering possible ranked-choice counting in Augusta if Susan Collins or Troy Jackson fails to exceed 50 percent.
8/26/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said Tuesday that six declared write-in candidates will require ranked-choice ballots for the November 3 Senate race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson.
8/25/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows confirmed that the November 3 Senate race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson will include six declared write-in candidates on ranked-choice ballots.
8/25/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
Six declared write-in candidates met Maine's Tuesday deadline for the November U.S. Senate race, ensuring ranked-choice voting if no candidate wins a majority.
8/26/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as the leading challenger to Senator Susan Collins after county conventions and delegate voting across Maine.
8/29/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Maine Democrats are expected to nominate Troy Jackson at a 2026 convention after county-level delegate selection consolidated support statewide in Maine.
8/27/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Troy Jackson became Maine Democrats' Senate nominee after Graham Platner's campaign collapsed, while supporters promoted a legally ineffective write-in alternative in Maine.
8/25/2026 • Candidates & Campaigns • General
Graham Platner supporters are organizing a potential November write-in campaign in Maine after Platner withdrew from the Senate race, prompting concerns about divided Democratic support for Jordan Jackson against Susan Collins.
8/24/2026 • Campaign Messaging & Media • General
Six candidates filed write-in paperwork by Maine's deadline for the November 3 Senate election, joining Susan Collins and Troy Jackson on the statewide ballot.
8/26/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
Six write-in candidates filed by Maine's August 25 deadline for the November 3 U.S. Senate election featuring Susan Collins and Troy Jackson.
8/26/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
The Maine Secretary of State's Office announced in Augusta that six write-in candidates filed for the November 3 Senate election, potentially requiring ranked-choice tabulation.
8/25/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General
WriteInGrahamForME is urging Graham Platner to register by August 25 as a write-in candidate for Maine's 2026 Senate election to preserve support among his former primary voters.
8/21/2026 • Election Administration & Ballot Access • General