Troy Jackson
American logger and politician (born 1968)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Troy Dale Jackson (born June 26, 1968)[1] is an American politician and lumberjack. He served in the Maine Senate from 2008 to 2014 and 2016 to 2024, serving as its president and majority leader from 2018 to 2024.[2][3] He represented parts of northern Aroostook County, including the towns of Fort Kent, Madawaska, and Caribou. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the party's nominee for the 2026 United States Senate election in Maine.
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Troy Jackson | |
|---|---|
Jackson in 2023 | |
| President of the Maine Senate | |
| In office December 5, 2018 – December 4, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Thibodeau |
| Succeeded by | Mattie Daughtry |
| Minority Leader of the Maine Senate | |
| In office December 7, 2016 – December 5, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Justin Alfond |
| Succeeded by | Dana Dow |
| Majority Leader of the Maine Senate | |
| In office July 10, 2013 – December 3, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Seth Goodall |
| Succeeded by | Garrett Mason |
| Member of the Maine Senate | |
| In office December 7, 2016 – December 4, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Edgecomb |
| Succeeded by | Susan Y. Bernard |
| Constituency | 1st district |
| In office December 3, 2008 – December 3, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | John L. Martin |
| Succeeded by | Dawn Hill |
| Constituency | 35th district |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| In office December 4, 2002 – December 3, 2008 | |
| Preceded by | Marc Michaud |
| Succeeded by | John L. Martin |
| Constituency | 151st district (2002–2004) 1st district (2004–2008) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Troy Dale Jackson June 26, 1968 Fort Kent, Maine, U.S. |
| Party | Republican (before 2002) Independent (2002–2004) Democratic (2004–present) |
| Spouse | Lana Pelletier |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Maine, Fort Kent (AA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Jackson started in politics during a 1998 logging blockade along the Canada–United States border, protesting the entry of Canadian temporary workers who were being hired over Maine loggers by blocking them from crossing the border.[4] He first ran for office as a Republican, was first elected as an Independent, and then joined the Democratic Party in 2004.[5] In 2002, Jackson was elected as an Independent to the Maine House of Representatives. He served three terms there and was elected to the State Senate in 2008. He became Minority Leader in 2016, and after Democrats gained the majority in the 2018 election, Jackson was chosen to be Majority Leader and Senate President.
Jackson was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2014 Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd congressional district, losing by 58 percentage points to Emily Cain. He was later an unsuccessful candidate for governor of Maine in 2026, finishing third and eliminated on the third count in the Democratic primary with 29% of the vote.
Jackson supports Medicare for all, has called for the total abolition of ICE, is an advocate for worker rights, proposes banning certain purchases by non-Maine firms of starter homes, supports an increased lodging tax on out-of-state visitors, and is endorsed by the Maine Democratic Socialists of America. He was formerly anti-abortion, but now supports abortion rights. Similarly, though he previously opposed LGBTQ rights, he now supports them. When Democratic nominee for the 2026 United States Senate election in Maine Graham Platner withdrew his candidacy in July 2026, Jackson announced his candidacy for the Democratic nominating convention. He was formally nominated on July 25 and will face incumbent Republican Susan Collins in the general election.
Early and personal life
Jackson was born to a 16-year-old mother in Fort Kent, Maine, and was raised Catholic.[6] He attended Allagash Consolidated Community High School and earned an A.A. in business from the University of Maine at Fort Kent. He lives in Allagash, Maine.[7]
Career
1998 logging blockade
In 1998, Jackson helped lead a one-week blockade along the Maine–Canada border, with loggers from Maine physically blocking Canadian loggers from crossing the border at three border checkpoints.[1] Fourteen American loggers joined him in the blockade.[8]
According to Jackson, the group of American loggers had filed 137 complaints with the U.S. Department of Labor criticizing the hiring of temporary Canadian workers before the blockade, but all the complaints were denied.[9][10][11][12][13]
The blockade sparked controversy. Industrial timber owners and corporate forest groups strongly condemned the blockade of an international crossing. They said that using extralegal direct action set a dangerous precedent for both trade and for cross-border transit.[14][15] Industry representatives said the border blockade was a threat to the economic stability of Maine's forest products sector because it disrupted supply chains to regional mills.[4] Trade groups said the border blockade caused anti-Canadian sentiment and could damage longstanding bilateral trade partnerships.[15] Opponents of the blockade said that using bonded non-immigrant temporary foreign workers under the U.S. federal H-2A visa program was legal and also necessary because there were not enough local workers to meet the Maine wood industry's labor needs.[15] Industry advocates also accused protest organizers of scapegoating Canadian laborers for macroeconomic shifts and poor timber market conditions.[15]
Politics
2000 Maine House of Representatives campaign
Jackson first ran for office as a Republican, running for the Maine House of Representatives in 2000 for District 151. He narrowly lost to Democratic nominee Marc Michaud, with 2,017 votes to Michaud's 2,172.[16]
Maine House of Representatives (2002–08)
In 2002, Jackson was elected as an Independent to House District 151, defeating Michaud, 2,171 votes to 1,176 in a race that did not include a Republican candidate.[17] He was the first non-Democrat to represent the area since 1978.[18] The Bangor Daily News called Jackson's victory the biggest upset of the 2002 elections in Maine.[18]
Jackson joined the Democratic Party in early 2004.[5] That year, after Maine's post-census legislative redistricting, Jackson ran for reelection in the new House District 1 as a Democrat. He defeated Republican Paul Berube by a vote of 3,486 to 1,248.[19] He was reelected to the State House unopposed in 2006.[20]
Maine Senate (2008–14)
In 2008, Jackson ran for and won Maine State Senate District 35, defeating Republican Daniel DeVeau, 11,188 votes to 6,593.[21] He was reelected in 2010, defeating DeVeau again, 7,525 votes to 5,620, and holding the seat despite a Republican wave that saw the GOP claim its first government trifecta in Maine since 1963.[22] In 2012, Jackson was elected to a third term with 8,521 votes to Republican nominee Peter Edgecomb's 8,016.[23] Democrats regained control of the Maine Senate in that election, and in December 2012, Jackson was elected Assistant Majority Leader of the State Senate. On July 10, 2013, Jackson was elected Majority Leader of the Maine Senate after the departure of fellow Democrat Seth Goodall, who resigned to accept a presidential appointment overseeing the New England region of the Small Business Administration.[24][25]
In June 2013, Jackson called governor Paul LePage "obstructionist" and "delusional" regarding discussions about the 2013–2014 state budget. LePage responded by saying that Jackson "claims to be for the people but he's the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline". LePage added that Jackson "is a bad person" with "no brains" and a "black heart".[26][27][28]
2014 U.S. Congress campaign and Democratic National Committee tenure
On July 1, 2013, after incumbent Democratic Congressman Mike Michaud's decided to explore running for governor, Jackson announced he would run for Maine's 2nd congressional district.[29] On June 10, 2014, Jackson lost the Democratic primary to fellow State Senator Emily Cain, with 21% of the vote to Cain's 79%.[30] Cain lost the general election to Republican Bruce Poliquin.[31]
On January 25, 2015, Jackson was elected as a member of the Democratic National Committee.[32] This gave him a superdelegate vote at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. He was one of only a handful of superdelegates to endorse and vote for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[33]
Return to the Maine Senate (2016–24); 2023 Allagash Board of Selectmen campaign
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In November 2016, Jackson was reelected to the Maine Senate, in what was now the 1st District, over Republican Timothy Guerrette, with 51.5% of the vote to Guerrette's 48.5%, gaining a seat for the Democrats.[34] A week later, he was chosen by his fellow Democrats to be the Senate Minority Leader.[35][36] He was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022,[37][38][39] becoming the Senate President as the Democrats gained the majority in 2018 and retained it in 2020 and 2022.
Ahead of the 2022 Maine gubernatorial election, supporters of Jackson, including several labor unions and former Portland mayor Ethan Strimling, formed a political action committee named "Run Troy Run" in an attempt to draft Jackson to challenge incumbent governor Janet Mills in the Democratic primary.[40] Jackson distanced himself from the group's efforts, said he would not run against Mills, and endorsed her reelection campaign.[40]
In 2022, Jackson Introduced LD 1954, "An Act To Ensure Access to Prescription Contraceptives". The bill required all state-regulated health care plans to cover FDA-approved prescription contraceptive medications with no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The legislation passed and was signed into law by Governor Mills.[41]
After the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Jackson collaborated with Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross to sponsor LD 1619, "An Act to Improve Maine's Reproductive Privacy Laws". Enacted later that year, the law established some of the most permissive abortion protections in the country, allowing patients to access abortion care later in pregnancy when deemed medically necessary by a certified health professional.[42]
In 2023 Jackson ran for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in Allagash. He lost the election by six votes.[43]
Jackson left the Maine Senate following the 2024 election due to term limits.
2026 gubernatorial campaign
On March 7, 2025, Jackson announced he was exploring a run for governor of Maine in the 2026 election.[44] On May 19, he announced his candidacy at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. He said he was running on behalf of working-class Mainers who feel "under attack from billionaires, special interests, and their friends who control Washington".[45]
Jackson was endorsed by 40 local Maine labor unions, as well as high-profile national progressives such as U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Representative from California Ro Khanna. In March 2026, he was endorsed by the Mi'kmaq Tribal Council, which cited Jackson’s longtime support for tribal sovereignty and his establishing a commission to examine the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act.[46][47]
In the ranked-choice Democratic primary, Jackson finished third on first preferences and was eliminated on the third count with 29% of the vote.[48] The primary was won by Hannah Pingree, whom Jackson had cross-endorsed along with fellow candidate Shenna Bellows.[49]
2026 U.S. Senate campaign
During their respective primary campaigns, Jackson often campaigned with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, and they cross-endorsed each other. On June 9, 2026, Platner won his primary, while Jackson lost his. Less than a month later, a former partner of Platner's accused him of sexually assaulting her in 2021.[50] Jackson immediately distanced himself from Platner, rescinded his endorsement, and called on Platner to withdraw from the race.[51]
On July 7, Jackson filed Federal Election Commission paperwork forming a campaign committee to run for the U.S. Senate as Platner's replacement.[52] Jackson formally announced his candidacy to replace Platner the next day.[52] He has been endorsed by U.S. Representative Ro Khanna,[53] influencer Hasan Piker, and the Maine Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).[54][55]
During county caucuses held on July 18 and 19 to elect delegates to a special nominating convention scheduled for July 25, Jackson's slate won an absolute majority in every county except Lincoln and Washington, and 456[a] out of 500 total elected delegates statewide.[57] His major opponents, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former CDC official Nirav Shah, businessman Dan Kleban, and former congressional staffer Jordan Wood, withdrew on July 19, with the latter three endorsing Jackson.[58]
At the special Democratic convention on July 25, Jackson won the Democratic nomination over healthcare executive Saundra Pelletier, 566–5.[59][60]
Political positions
Abortion rights
Early in his legislative career, Jackson held socially conservative positions on abortion rights. In both 2003 and 2010, the organization Maine Right to Life, which opposes abortion rights, gave him perfect scores on his voting record.[61] In 2011, he was the only Democrat in the Maine State Senate to vote for of a bill that would have given legal standing to a fetus in the event of an attack on a pregnant woman.[61] In 2012, Jackson identified as anti-abortion, and said that abortion should be illegal in all cases except for rape or incest.[62]
He attributed his pro-life stance to his Roman Catholic upbringing, and later said "I've made mistakes early on in understanding" the issue of abortion[6][61] and changed his stance on the issue.[61] In 2017, he voted against a fetal personhood bill like the 2011 bill he supported.[63][61] In 2019, he voted for of a bill that guarantees that MaineCare and private insurance provide coverage of abortion care if a plan offers prenatal care.[61][64][65] In 2023, Jackson helped pass a law that allows abortion at any stage of pregnancy if a doctor deems it medically necessary.[61]
Jackson condemned the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade, though he said he was still not comfortable with abortion.[61] In his 2026 Senate campaign, Jackson is running on federally codifying the right to abortion.[66]
Daylight saving time
Jackson has said that he would preserve daylight saving time, rather than support permanent time observation.[67]
Environment
Jackson supports expanding conservation of public lands, while maintaining public access.[68][69]
In the Maine Senate, he proposed a bill to ban aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate in forests. The bill passed the legislature but was vetoed by Governor Janet Mills, who said she supported taking certain steps but did not support the proposed "blanket prohibition".[70][71]
Foreign policy
Jackson opposes the 2026 Iran war. He supports aid to Ukraine.[72][73]
Jackson is critical of Israel and accuses it of genocide, writing in July 2026 on social media, "anybody with eyes and a heart knows the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza." He added that as a senator, he would never vote for U.S. military aid to Israel.[74]
Gambling
As Maine Senate President, Jackson pushed strongly to expand tribal gambling rights. He sponsored legislation that granted Maine's Wabanaki nations exclusive rights to operate mobile and online sports betting apps.[75][76]
Guns
Early in his political career, Jackson had a pro-Second Amendment "right to keep and bear arms" voting record with regard to firearms.[77] During this period, he often opposed firearms restrictions and had high ratings from the National Rifle Association.[78][79]
After the 2023 mass shootings in Lewiston, Jackson shifted his approach toward gun laws in Maine.[78] In the 2024 Maine legislative session, he led several gun safety bills through the legislature, including a 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases and a ban on bump stocks.[80] In 2025, he wrote an op-ed supporting a "yes" vote on Maine Question 2, which implemented a red flag law in the state.[81]
Healthcare
In a 2026 debate, Jackson said he supports Medicare for all.[73]
Jackson has advocated for a legally binding moratorium to prevent private equity firms from purchasing independent medical and healthcare practices in Maine.[82]
Immigration
Jackson has called for the abolition of ICE, and said in a July 2026 debate, "I’d abolish it [ICE] altogether."[83][84][85] He also said that ICE was a "rogue agency" that "gives us nothing in this country but heartache and racism."[86]
LGBTQ rights
Early in his legislative career, Jackson held socially conservative positions on LGBTQ rights. In May 2009, he was one of only two state Senate Democrats to vote against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Maine.[87]
By 2019, his position had shifted, and he voted in favor of a ban on conversion therapy.[88] In 2024, the LGBTQ rights advocacy group Equality Maine gave him a 100% rating.[61] In his 2026 Senate campaign, Jackson is running on strengthening anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBTQ citizens.[66]
Real estate
Jackson proposes banning purchases by non-Maine private equity firms and multi-state real estate conglomerates of single-family residential starter homes.[89][90][91]
Jackson endorses an increased lodging tax on out-of-state visitors.[92] He also proposes a dedicated luxury tax surcharge on vacation homes valued at over $1 million.[93]
Relationship with Bernie Sanders and Graham Platner
During the 2016 presidential election, Jackson was a prominent supporter of Bernie Sanders's campaign, and cast his superdelegate vote for him at the Democratic National Convention.[33] On July 6, 2015, he introduced Sanders at a campaign rally before 8,000 supporters in Portland, Maine.[94] During the 2020 presidential election, Jackson again supported Sanders, and again addressed a Portland rally for him on September 1, 2019.[95] After the primaries, Jackson supported the Democratic ticket of former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Kamala Harris.[96] On May 21, 2025, Sanders endorsed Jackson's 2026 gubernatorial campaign, and on Labor Day he headlined a Portland campaign rally for Jackson and Platner, attended by 6,500 supporters.[97][98]
Jackson initially maintained a close political alliance with Platner. The two often appeared at rallies together and ran in a ranked-choice voting alliance during the 2026 primary cycle.[99][100][101] But after multiple scandals involving Platner, including allegations that he raped a former girlfriend, Jackson distanced himself from Platner.[102][51] Jackson said it would be "incredibly self-serving" if Platner did not end his Senate campaign but praised Platner for building a movement that "lasted past him".[103][104] He said he would not accept an endorsement from Platner[105] and that Platner had lied to him when Jackson had asked about Platner's past behavior.[106]
Worker rights
Jackson is an advocate for worker rights, especially for fellow loggers. In 2010, he wrote a bill that would have "prohibited the Maine Department of Conservation from employing foreign laborers at state-owned logging sites". It passed both the House of Representatives and the State Senate before being vetoed by Governor Paul LePage. LePage questioned the bill's constitutionality, while Jackson said that LePage was favoring large Canadian logging corporations over American workers.[107]
Electoral history
| Year | Office | Election | Democratic | Party | Votes | % | Republican | Party | Votes | % | Other | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Maine House of Representatives, 151st district | General | Marc Michaud | Democratic | 2,172 | 51.9% | Troy Jackson | Republican | 2,017 | 48.1% | ||||
| 2002 | Maine House of Representatives, 151st district | General | Marc Michaud | Democratic | 1,176 | 35.1% | Troy Jackson | Independent | 2,171 | 64.9% | ||||
| 2004 | Maine House of Representatives, 1st district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 3,486 | 73.6% | Paul Berube | Republican | 1,248 | 26.4% | ||||
| 2006 | Maine House of Representatives, 1st district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 2,826 | 100.0% | ||||||||
| 2008 | Maine Senate, 35th district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 11,188 | 62.9% | Daniel DeVeau | Republican | 6,593 | 37.1% | ||||
| 2010 | Maine Senate, 35th district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 7,525 | 55% | Daniel DeVeau | Republican | 5,620 | 41% | ||||
| 2012 | Maine Senate, 35th district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 8,521 | 49% | Peter Edgecomb | Republican | 8,016 | 46% | ||||
| 2016 | Maine Senate, 1st district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 9,589 | 50.3% | Timothy Guerrette | Republican | 9,018 | 47.3% | ||||
| 2018 | Maine Senate, 1st district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 8,793 | 59.3% | Michael Nadeau | Republican | 5,683 | 39.3% | ||||
| 2020 | Maine Senate, 1st district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 10,937 | 57.6% | Brian Schaefer | Republican | 7,485 | 39.4% | ||||
| 2022 | Maine Senate, 1st district | General | Troy Jackson | Democratic | 8,817 | 51.9% | Susan Y. Bernard | Republican | 7,974 | 47.0% |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Emily Cain | 19,906 | 71.0 | |
| Democratic | Troy Dale Jackson | 8,116 | 29.0 | |
| Total votes | 28,022 | 100.0 | ||
| 2026 Maine Democratic gubernatorial primary results[108] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | ||||||||
| Votes | % | Transfer | Votes | % | Transfer | Votes | % | Transfer | Votes | % | |||
| Democratic | Hannah Pingree | 50,552 | 23.3 | +4,808 | 55,360 | 26.0 | + 20,311 | 75,671 | 36.3 | + 36,079 | 111,750 | 56.2 | |
| Democratic | Nirav Shah | 58,606 | 26.8 | + 4,255 | 62,860 | 29.5 | +9,821 | 72,681 | 34.8 | + 14,269 | 86,950 | 43.8 | |
| Democratic | Troy Jackson | 45,959 | 21.1 | + 1,638 | 47,597 | 22.3 | + 12,413 | 60,010 | 28.8 | - 60,010 | Eliminated | ||
| Democratic | Shenna Bellows | 44,770 | 20.6 | + 2,279 | 47,049 | 22.1 | - 47,049 | Eliminated | |||||
| Democratic | Angus King III | 17,860 | 8.3 | - 17,860 | Eliminated | ||||||||
| Continuing ballots | 217,747 | 100.0 | 212,848 | 97.8 | 208,542 | 95.8 | 198,700 | 91.1 | |||||
| Exhausted ballots | – | + 4,881 | 4,881 | 2.2 | + 4,504 | 9,385 | 4.3 | + 9,662 | 19,047 | 8.9 | |||
| Total votes | 217,747 | 100.0 | 217,747 | 100.0 | 217,747 | 100.0 | 217,747 | 100.0 | |||||