Maine Democrat Troy Jackson says he won't back Schumer for Senate leader

Jackson breaks with Schumer

Troy Jackson, the former president of the Maine Senate who is set to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, said in an interview with The New York Times that he would not support Senator Chuck Schumer of New York to remain as the party's leader in the chamber.

The Democratic Party needs to have a different approach -- getting people back in the party, getting working-class, everyday people back in the party -- and I don't believe it's going to happen with Senator Schumer.

Schumer has grown deeply unpopular with the Democratic base, and several of his preferred candidates have lost primaries this year. Jackson, a progressive, also expressed wariness about accepting Schumer's help in the general election, saying he would consider it only if there were "absolutely no strings."

A rushed candidacy

Jackson emerged as the likely nominee after Graham Platner, the previous Democratic pick, exited the race following a rape allegation. With little time or money to build a campaign, Jackson faces an uphill battle against Republican incumbent Susan Collins, who is backed by well-funded conservative groups. Jackson raised just $1.2 million in his unsuccessful bid for governor this year, a fraction of what a Senate race in a battleground state would cost.

You know, Susan's got $12 million. I got $12. I'm hopeful that, you know, we're going to tell the story about what we want, what we're going to be fighting for, and people are going to come on board.

Who is Troy Jackson?

Jackson, a former logger from the remote town of Allagash in northern Maine, served in both houses of the state legislature and was president of the Maine Senate. He speaks with a distinctive Acadian accent and comes from a working-class family, in contrast to Platner, who was a prep-school-educated lawyer's son. His platform includes Medicare for all, abolishing ICE, and ending military aid to Israel, positions similar to Platner's. In June, Jackson finished third in Maine's Democratic primary for governor. He is a populist with strong support from labor unions, but he lacks the charisma that propelled Platner's rapid rise.

Temper and electability

Jackson's tenure in the state Senate was marked by outbursts. According to the Washington Post, he once threw a water bottle in a meeting after failing to persuade a lawmaker, yelled at another lawmaker (prompting her to post that straight men were "too emotional" for politics), and cursed at the House speaker until she ejected him from her office. Despite these incidents, Jackson has demonstrated an ability to win over working-class voters in his district who had shifted to Donald Trump and former Governor Paul LePage. Whether that appeal can translate statewide remains uncertain.

Financial gap

The disparity in resources is stark. Collins has $12 million in campaign cash, while Jackson's gubernatorial campaign raised only $1.2 million. Any Democratic path to victory in Maine, widely seen as a key state for Senate control, is likely to require substantial support from national party committees and super PACs aligned with Schumer. Jackson's reluctance to embrace that help adds another layer of uncertainty to his candidacy.