{"id":49283,"date":"2026-07-20T12:21:05","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:21:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=49283"},"modified":"2026-07-20T12:21:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T19:21:06","slug":"working-class-organizing-wins-troy-jackson-pulls-ahead-in-race-to-replace-platner-in-maine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/07\/20\/working-class-organizing-wins-troy-jackson-pulls-ahead-in-race-to-replace-platner-in-maine\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Working-Class Organizing Wins\u2019: Troy Jackson Pulls Ahead in Race to Replace Platner in Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"ICE<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Troy Jackson, Democratic candidate for US Senate, speaks to a woman during a demonstration after a man was fatally shot by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on July 14, 2026 in Scarborough, Maine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0(Photo by Ryan Murphy\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re well on our way to getting the government that we deserve,\u201d said Jackson.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Julia Conley<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jul 19, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Democratic US Senate<\/a> candidate Troy Jackson pulled far ahead of his opponents in the race to replace Graham Platner as the party\u2019s nominee on Saturday, one commentator credited<\/a> the former state Senate president\u2019s campaign with an \u201cextremely impressive organizational feat\u201d\u2014one that was focused on nominating a working-class champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight of Maine\u2019s 16 counties held in-person and virtual delegate nominating meetings on Saturday, deciding<\/a> on the first 319 of 500 total delegates who will vote for the Democratic nominee at next weekend\u2019s convention, which was rapidly organized after Platner dropped out of the race last week following rape allegations that he denied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RECOMMENDED…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Troy<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2018I\u2019ll Be a Vote for Medicare for All\u2019: Troy Jackson Makes His Case After Platner Exit<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Democratic<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Following Platner Allegations, Progressives Warn Democratic Establishment: \u2018This Is Not Your Opening\u2019<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At least 290 of the delegates who were chosen in the first eight counties backed Jackson, the Bangor Daily News reported<\/a>. The former logger, who previously ran for governor, has deep union ties, and has been endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders<\/a> (I-Vt.), won at least 148 of the 149 delegates in Cumberland County, all 44 delegates in Penobscot, and 22 of 23 in Hancock, dominating in several other counties as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rest of the state\u2019s counties will vote on delegates at similar meetings on Sunday, but as one election watcher said, \u201cTroy Jackson will almost certainly be the next Democratic nominee for Maine\u2019s 2026 US Senate election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/x.com\/gavinbena\/status\/2078642123683844329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2078642123683844329%7Ctwgr%5Efd5d7e8030972cedde28f011d390fea19186b86a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fmaine-senate-troy-jackson<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackson appeared confident enough in Saturday\u2019s results to announce<\/a> a celebratory tailgate planned for Sunday in York County as voters there would be selecting delegates. The Maine<\/a> State Nurses Association also announced<\/a> its endorsement of the candidate on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Saturday\u2019s county meetings, Jackson addressed some of his supporters virtually, giving his volunteer network credit for quickly organizing on his behalf after many had previously expected to be campaigning for Platner, who spent nearly a year mobilizing Mainers from across the political spectrum with a platform focused on taxing billionaires, ending US \u201cforever wars\u201d and military aid for Israel, and passing Medicare for All<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you how much I appreciate all the hard, hard work. I\u2019ve been getting text messages all day about what a great job I did. I didn\u2019t do a goddamn thing, all of you just smoked it,\u201d said Jackson in a video posted on\u00a0social media<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s really, really incredible, so thank you so much. We\u2019re well on our way to getting the government that we fucking deserve, and that\u2019s what I\u2019m excited about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We're well on our way to getting the government that we deserve. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. pic.twitter.com\/pP1HDr9RKF<\/a><\/p>— Troy Jackson (@TroyJackson207) July 19, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>