BANGOR, Maine — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders urged a crowd of more than 600 people to vote for Troy Jackson to help Democrats regain control of the U.S. Senate, signalling the seriousness progressive leaders taking Maine’s pivotal senatorial election.
“We cannot allow the United States Senate to remain under Republican control,” the Vermont independent said. “If you want to hold Donald Trump and his disastrous policies accountable, the only way we do that is by electing a Democratic Senate.”
The Bangor rally was the first of three planned appearances with Democratic nominee Troy Jackson this weekend. Get-out-the-vote events are scheduled for Lewiston and Biddeford on Sunday. It came a day after a new poll showed a close race and two days after the candidates’ second debate. The contest could help decide control of the U.S. Senate.
Jackson, the former Maine Senate president, focused his remarks on the central message that the government should work for the people, not wealthy donors and corporations. He pointed to his time in the Maine Legislature as an example of his commitment to the people of Maine, and pledged to fight for progressive policies like Medicare for All.
“We’re not from the left, we’re not from the right. We’re from the bottom, and we’re rising,” Jackson said. “I’ve had the honor of having some power in me for 20 years, and I’ve tried to remember one thing: It was never mine. You gave it to me.”
Saturday’s rally was Sanders’ first public appearance in Maine since he rallied in Bar Harbor in June with Graham Platner, whom he had backed for the Senate, and Jackson, who was then running for governor. Platner withdrew in July after an ex-girlfriend accused him of rape, and Jackson replaced him on the ballot. Sanders told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in August that he would endorse Jackson if asked.
Jackson was political director of Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign in Maine and backed him over Hillary Clinton as a superdelegate. Sanders was among the first prominent endorsers of Jackson’s gubernatorial campaign, which ended with a third-place finish in the June primary. The rally also followed former President Barack Obama’s endorsement of Jackson on Thursday.
A Washington Post-Schar School poll released Friday showed Jackson leading Collins, 50% to 46%, among likely voters, a lead within the margin of error . The survey of about 800 likely voters was conducted Sept. 30 to Oct. 5, before the candidates’ debates. In it, 58% said Collins has been too supportive of President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Collins has long relied on ticket-splitting Democrats to win, and polls have shown her trailing before. She was behind in every 2020 poll before defeating former House Speaker Sara Gideon by nearly 9 points. A Bangor Daily News analysis last month found she likely needs at least 1 in 10 voters who backed Kamala Harris in 2024.
The second debate, hosted by WMTW on Thursday, turned personal. Collins said high earners should pay more into Social Security but did not say whether she would raise or eliminate the cap on taxable income. Jackson accused Collins and her husband of profiting from the Iran war, prompting Collins to demand an apology. Reporting on the couple’s stock holdings did not show them profiting from the war.
Jackson and Collins are scheduled to debate again Tuesday, with WABI and WAGM hosting, and Thursday, with News Center Maine, the Portland Press Herald and Maine Public hosting. The final debate will be held before a live audience at the Gracie Theater in Bangor.
