Politics
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Former President Barack Obama has endorsed Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate.
That endorsement came hours ahead of the Democrat’s second debate with incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. It’s among nearly two dozen endorsements that Obama has rolled out in recent days for U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races, according to Politico. In 2020, Obama endorsed Collins’ Democratic challenger, Sara Gideon, who ultimately lost by several points.
In a 49-second video, released Thursday morning, Obama praised Jackson for his work in the Maine Senate to boost wages, lower prescription drug costs and provide free lunch to students.
“In this economy, we need a fighter like Troy,” the former two-term president said.
Jackson said in a Thursday statement that he’s “honored” to get Obama’s endorsement.
“Working people are sick and tired of a government that works for the wealthy and well-connected while they struggle to get by. They’re ready for change, and together, we’re going to bring that change to Washington,” the former Allagash logger said.
A Collins campaign spokesperson said Thursday that the endorsement shows that national Democrats are pushing heavily for control of the Maine Senate seat.
“The fact that Troy Jackson is endorsed by Obama, funded by Chuck Schumer, and campaigning with Bernie Sanders this weekend tells you how much the national Democratic machine wants to control Maine’s Senate seat,” Blake Kernan said while highlighting the senior senator’s work to boost Social Security benefits for retired public sector employees and to bring down insulin prices.
Jackson has generally been leading Collins in recent public polling since he became his party’s nominee after Graham Platner dropped out in July when an ex-girlfriend accused him of rape. In one poll last month, Collins had a 3-point edge over Jackson, her first lead over him in a public poll.
It will be an uphill battle for Democrats to unseat Collins, who officially announced her historic bid for a sixth term in February. The Republican has handily beaten back challengers, including in 2020 when she defied polls and expectations to secure a fifth term in the Senate. But Collins, who has been ranked the country’s most bipartisan senator and relied on cross-party appeal to carry her to victory, has seen her popularity slump since Trump’s first term in the White House.
If Collins is successful in winning a sixth term, she would be Maine’s longest-serving U.S. senator.