Troy Jackson, a former Maine state lawmaker and longtime logger, has won the Democratic nomination for the US Senate race in Maine, stepping in after the party was forced to find a new candidate following Graham Platner’s exit over a sexual assault allegation that Platner has denied.
Party delegates gathered Saturday for a special vote to choose a replacement. Jackson, who built a national profile during his run for governor and became a well-known figure among progressive voters, quickly emerged as the leading choice.
His victory was overwhelming: Jackson received 566 votes out of 571 delegates who participated. But even as Democrats rallied behind him, the new nominee is already confronting criticism and renewed scrutiny over claims that he has a reputation for being “hot-headed.”
Earlier in the week, sources who spoke with CNN and The Washington Post described several alleged episodes involving Jackson’s temper, including one meeting in which he was accused of throwing a water bottle.
Some former colleagues who worked with Jackson while he served as Maine Senate leader characterized his approach to leadership as “very aggressive.”
“It’s one thing to be screaming when you’re just mad about the world or sad about the world. But his screaming felt like intentional intimidation. So you would feel like, then, what else is he going to do?” one unnamed source told The Washington Post.
Several people pointed to what has become known as the “water bottle incident,” alleging that Jackson grew furious during a discussion about gun control policy, pounded the table and cursed at fellow lawmakers.
According to the accounts, then-House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross responded by ordering Jackson out of her office after the confrontation.
Troy Jackson spoke to delegates during a last-minute vote on Saturday to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic candidate in the Maine Senate race
Jackson rose to national prominence after his gubernatorial run. He campaigned alongside Senator Bernie Sanders and Platner
Jackson easily secured the last-minute nomination after a delegate vote on Saturday. Delegates are pictured above cheering as he was formally announced as the nominee
However, a second person in the room told the Washington Post that Jackson did not slam his hand on the table or curse, clarifying that Ross and Jackson had a ‘heated argument’ about red-flag laws.
The ‘water bottle incident’ has also emerged as a potential flashpoint of Jackson’s upcoming campaign.
Differing recollections have been recounted to the media. Sources told the Washington Post that the argument stemmed from a bill to lower prescription drug prices between Jackson and former State Senator Heather Sanborn.
As the conversation became heated, Jackson ‘threw’ a water bottle. One source described his behavior as ‘screaming and hollering,’ throwing the bottle ‘an inch from her nose.’
However, State Senator Mark Lawrence and former State Senator Susan Deschambault disputed that recollection, acknowledging that Jackson was angry but denying that he threw the water bottle close to Sanborn.
Jackson’s campaign admitted to CNN that he tossed a water bottle during a heated confrontation but denied that it was thrown at anyone.
‘Troy Jackson is passionate and deeply invested in the people and policies he advocates for,’ his campaign said in a statement.
‘Over 22 years in public office, there have been moments when he let his frustration get the better of him. When that happened, he took responsibility and apologized directly at the time.’
Multiple sources recalled instances where Jackson exhibited ‘hot-headed behavior.’ His campaign said he is passionate about the issues
Jackson’s campaign said he has taken responsibility for heated moments. He has emerged as a prominent progressive in Maine and is pictured above speaking at a demonstration in July
However, many of Jackson’s colleagues stood up for him as a passionate lawmaker and as what the Democrats need to stand up to President Donald Trump.
‘If everyone is happy with you all the time, you’re not doing your job in politics… He doesn’t run things like he’s coddling in kindergarten,’ Jennifer DeChant, another former state House Democrat who worked with Jackson, told CNN.
Charlotte Warren, a former state representative, told the Washington Post that even though she also had a heated dispute with Jackson, the two later made up and she believed he would fight if elected to the Senate.
Democrats are placing heavy bets on Jackson, who has only 99 days to defeat longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins.
Republicans have already launched an ad campaign against Jackson, accusing him of having a volatile temper and linking him to Platner.
The Senate Leadership Fund, Republicans’ super PAC, said it is committed to spending over $42 million against Jackson.
Maine’s Democratic primary was one of the early contests where progressives took on establishment-backed Democrats.
While Platner faced several controversies during his campaign, he easily outlasted Governor Janet Mills, who was backed by Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer but dropped out before the June 9 primary.
Platner had backing from Sanders, Senator Ruben Gallego and Senator Elizabeth Warren. That support disintegrated after a former girlfriend accused him of assaulting her in 2021.
The allegation came after a string of scandals involving a past offensive tattoo, problematic Reddit posts and a pattern of concerning behavior with women in a New York Times report.
Platner denied all sexual assault allegations and maintained that his past social media posts and tattoo came at a time when he was struggling with mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder from his time as a combat veteran.
