Maine Democrats pick Troy Jackson for Senate race against Collins
What's next: Jackson enters a high-stakes fall contest that could help decide control of the Senate.
Maine Democrats chose former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their nominee for the U.S. Senate, putting the logger and longtime state lawmaker on a collision course with Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Jackson won the party's Bangor convention by a 566-5 delegate vote over Saundra Pelletier after Graham Platner, the earlier primary winner, suspended his campaign amid sexual assault allegations he denied. Jackson had been running for governor before switching to the Senate race. The contest is one of a handful of competitive races that could shape which party controls the chamber after the midterms.