Overview
- Troy Jackson is the official Democratic nominee challenging five‑term Sen. Susan Collins, and several people have formally filed as write‑in candidates so a write‑in line will appear on the November ballot.
- Graham Platner did not file as a write‑in and has told supporters he will not run, a stance that makes an informal write‑in for him unlikely to count under Maine law.
- Under Maine’s ranked‑choice rules, a write‑in counts only if the candidate has officially filed, and ballots for unfiled names are discarded or have their next choice transferred, which could help Jackson if his supporters are ranked second.
- Jackson has moved quickly to build a statewide campaign after being named the replacement nominee, recovering from a brief COVID illness and launching a multi‑town “Solidarity Forever” tour to expand his reach.
- Reporting highlights two pressure points for Democrats: lingering ethics and conduct questions that invite scrutiny, and Collins’s institutional advantage as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee that she uses to deliver federal projects to Maine.