Troy Jackson appears closest to securing Maine Democrats' nomination - WMTW

What the report says

WMTW Portland reports that former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is in the strongest position to become the Maine Democratic Party’s nominee for U.S. Senate, after delegates aligned with his campaign won most available slots in county-level voting. The delegates will help choose the party’s replacement nominee at a convention scheduled for July 25 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, where 601 voting members are expected, including 500 county delegates.

The party is using the delegate process after its previous nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race amid sexual assault allegations, according to WMTW. Results were still pending for several counties as of the report, but Jackson’s preferred delegate slate had taken nearly all delegate spots in Cumberland County and majorities elsewhere. The Maine Democratic Party has said delegates are not formally bound to any candidate, meaning their votes could still shift before the convention.

Several Democratic contenders have exited the race and moved toward Jackson. WMTW reported that Secretary of State Shenna Bellows withdrew without endorsing, while former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah, Dan Kleban, Jordan Wood and David Costello ended their campaigns and backed Jackson. Ashley Webb said she did not meet the signature threshold for the convention and plans a write-in campaign in November. As of Thursday night, WMTW said Jackson and Saundra Pelletier remained in contention.

The nomination matters because Democrats are selecting a challenger to Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. WMTW also noted that state law requires the party to choose a replacement nominee by July 27, giving Democrats a short timeline to settle the contest and organize for the general election.