Maine Democrats Pick Their Candidate. Was It Too Easy?

Troy Jackson just steamrolled Maine Democrats' scramble to find a new Senate nominee, though Politico reports that plenty in the party aren't exactly swooning. The fifth-generation logger and former state Senate majority leader locked up more than 75% of delegates at hastily arranged county conventions over the weekend, all but guaranteeing he'll replace scandal-hit Graham Platner on the November ballot against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. A state party convention next week will make it official. His margin was so wide that all four major rivals exited the race by Sunday night. As the New York Times puts it, the race "that began as a messy free-for-all has turned into a coronation" for Jackson.

The problem? Jackson's rise is colliding with unease over both the process and the product, according to the Politico assessment. Platner's exit—after an allegation of sexual assault he denies—forced a rushed, insiders-heavy selection system that shut out independents, leaving some, like former Platner backers, calling it "very undemocratic." And while Democrats largely like Jackson's progressive record and union roots, many question whether his gruff, unpolished style can ignite the same energy Platner did or overcome Collins' five-term incumbency and deep familiarity with voters. Supporters counter that his "regular guy" image could play well if the race becomes less about Jackson's charisma and more a verdict on Collins' long tenure.