Maine Democrats pick Troy Jackson for Senate race after Platner exit

Maine Democrats chose former state Senate President Troy Jackson as their U.S. Senate nominee on Saturday, moving quickly to reset the race after Graham Platner’s primary win collapsed amid rape allegations. Jackson won the party’s nominating convention in Bangor by a 566-5 vote over Saundra Pelletier after other rivals dropped out and backed him. The race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins is one of a handful of midterm contests that could help decide which party controls the Senate. Jackson, a former logger and past Republican who later became a Democrat, has already raised more than $1 million. But the fast-moving switch also comes as reports scrutinize his temperament, workplace conduct, mortgage issues and past anti-abortion stance.