How Troy Jackson toppled Susan Collins in Maine Senate race

The Boston Globe · Sam Brodey, Emma Platoff · 2026-11-05 05:01 UTC

Throughout his short campaign, Troy Jackson was doubted, disrepected, and counted out. But early Wednesday morning, he was exalted.

PORTLAND, Maine — One symbol for how unlikely Troy Jackson’s victory over Susan Collins once seemed is the very room where he celebrated his triumph on Tuesday night.

Just months ago, the Holiday Inn ballroom in downtown Portland hosted a massive rally for Graham Platner, the candidate Democrats were initially convinced would be the one to finally oust Collins. When Platner dropped out in disgrace, many Democrats lost hope, convinced they could not beat the formidable Republican on a tight timeline, in the wreckage of scandal.

Jackson nevertheless took Platner’s place with the daunting 100-day assignment to pry a Senate seat from the hands of the Republican who has most bedeviled Democrats, both in Maine and nationally, with her political resilience. Throughout his short campaign, Jackson was doubted, disrespected, and counted out.

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