Troy Jackson Hands Susan Collins Some Gifts in

With some of the polling, er, “mishaps” in both the Wisconsin Democrat gubernatorial and the Michigan Senate main races, many are selecting to take the numbers with a grain of salt going ahead as we put together to head into the autumn months, which is, by the way, when issues heat up – and the October surprises, if there are any, get dropped.

With that in thoughts, we flip to the Maine Senate race, where the polling so far has been restricted since disgraced former Democrat nominee Graham Platner suspended his marketing campaign in mid-July. His substitute, ex-state senate president Troy Jackson, has polled barely forward of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), but in all but one ballot, the “lead” was nicely within the margin of error.

Jackson, as RedState readers might recall, had been a gubernatorial candidate but completed third in the first. Platner – who voted for Jackson in the governor’s race –  reportedly needed a say in who his substitute could be as a drop-out condition, and finally, the Democrat delegates at the Maine nominating conference picked Jackson.

READ MORE: Troy Jackson Picked to Replace Platner at Maine Democrat Convention – but He May Have More Issues

Because there’s still some dangerous blood simmering among Maine Democrats over Platner dropping out, Jackson has made sure to guarantee voters in his celebration that he and Platner are “closely aligned.” He did it again on Saturday during a marketing campaign stop in Belfast, Maine:

Far-Left Maine Senate Candidate Troy Jackson says he and accused rapist Graham Platner “were pretty aligned”:

“Me and Graham were pretty aligned on our policies. I believe Medicare for all…I’ve been fighting for that forever.” pic.twitter.com/Rhlm64j2lD

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 22, 2026

He went additional this time, though, noting he wished Platner was still in the race:

Maine Senate Candidate Troy Jackson —who was handpicked to substitute accused rapist Graham Platner — says he needs Platner was still in the race:

“I wish things would have continued, it would have been much better.” pic.twitter.com/imU7TfC0Xj

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) August 22, 2026

I do know Jackson is attempting to keep the Platner devotees placated, but I’ve to suppose this rhetoric will not help with the disaffected Democrats who had been disillusioned by the Platner marketing campaign, not to point out the unbiased voters who are still attempting to make up their minds. The more Jackson mentions Platner, the more often voters in the state are going to look back on what occurred not only in disgust, but also disappointment because Jackson wasn’t chosen by a majority of Democrats who voted in the first. He was picked by delegates at the conference.

Further, I’m not so sure I’d be bragging so a lot about being a lot like Graham Platner, contemplating not only the polarizing nature of the Platner marketing campaign and the scandals surrounding it but also because Jackson has a Platneresque scandal of his own involving a girl now in the minds of voters, as we beforehand reported.

DIVE DEEPER: ‘Platner Vibes’: Major Scandal Hits New Maine Dem Senate Nominee, and It All Sounds So Familiar

This follows studies that he once bought so offended in a legislative assembly that he threw a water bottle and hit a feminine legislator.

Can Maine Democrats discover a candidate who DOESN’T have a historical past of violently abusing ladies? https://t.co/2098T2wP2g

— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) August 13, 2026

It’s fascinating when you suppose about how often Democrats speak about “toxic masculinity” and yet their unique nominee and now their new nominee in the Maine Senate race seem to match the poisonous masculinity invoice.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will decide the destiny of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must keep control of both chambers of Congress.

Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to obtain 60% off your membership.