Troy Jackson at a glance
Last updated: October 5, 2026.
Who is Troy Jackson?
Troy Jackson is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine in 2026. He's a fifth-generation logger from Allagash in Aroostook County, a longtime labor advocate, and the former President of the Maine Senate.
What office is he running for?
U.S. Senate, representing Maine. The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Who is he running against?
Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has held the seat for nearly thirty years, since being elected in 1996.
Where is Troy from?
Allagash, Maine, in Aroostook County, which is in Maine's North Woods. He grew up there, still lives there with his partner, Lana, and they have two grown sons.
What did he do before politics?
He worked as a logger. He spent years putting in 80-hour weeks in the woods running equipment, driving trucks, and cutting wood. He was the fifth generation in his family to work in the woods.
Why did he get into politics?
As a young logger, Troy took part in a labor fight against large landowners who were cutting wages, including leading a border blockade. Politicians promised to help, including then-first-term Senator Susan Collins, but the loggers were left on their own. Troy decided working people needed one of their own in the room, so he ran for the Maine Legislature.
How long did he serve in the Maine Legislature?
Twenty years. He was elected to the Maine House in 2002 and served until 2008, when he was elected to the Maine Senate, where he served until 2014. He was elected to the Maine Senate again in 2016, and served through being termed out in 2024. He represented his hometown in what was then House District 151 and Senate District 35, and, after redistricting changed the lines, Senate District 1.
Was he Maine Senate President?
Yes. He served six years as President of the Maine Senate, from 2018 to 2024.
What did he accomplish in the legislature?
Troy helped lower prescription drug prices, pass universal free school meals, protect union jobs, expand rural health care, deliver property tax relief, protect Maine's environment, and pass some of the strongest reproductive health protections in the country.
WORKERS' RIGHTS: He supported LD 1895 and LD 2266, requiring high labor standards, fair wages, and apprenticeship programs for clean energy and offshore wind projects. He championed legislation (LD 2273) for farmworker minimum wages and workplace protections, and has a 100% pro-labor voting score from the Maine AFL-CIO. He also helped pass LD 372 to enforce penalties on employers committing wage theft.
HEALTHCARE & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: He co-sponsored LD 1619, major legislation that expanded abortion access, protected providers from criminal penalties, and improved data privacy practices. He helped pass LD 1954, which requires state-regulated healthcare plans to cover contraception at no out-of-pocket cost.
GUN SAFETY: He supported LD 2238, which enacted a 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases in Maine.
TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY: He backed LD 2007, a bill to restore self-determination for the Wabanaki Nations, which was signed into law in 2024.
Has he won in tough districts?
Yes. In 2008, Troy defeated a Republican incumbent by 25 points (62%-37%) to flip Senate District 35. He held the seat in 2010, despite a national GOP wave that saw Republicans secure their first trifecta in Maine state government since 1963. He ran and won in a district three times in a row that was carried by both Donald Trump and Susan Collins.
What are his top priorities in the Senate?
Pass Medicare for All
Lower the cost of prescription drugs
Tax billionaires and make large corporations pay their fair share
Cut taxes for working people
Dismantle and abolish ICE
Pass a federal right to abortion
End the genocide in Gaza and stop U.S. funding for Israel's military
Protect the right to vote and to organize a union
Pass comprehensive civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people
Ban members of Congress from trading stocks
Overturn Citizens United and get dark money out of politics
Read more on his Priorities page.
Does he take corporate PAC money?
No. Troy's campaign for U.S. Senate does not accept money from corporate PACs, AIPAC, or Big Pharma and Big Oil lobbyists, and is funded by individual donors.
Is he a member of a union?
Yes, Troy Jackson has been a member of five different unions over the years, including IUPAT, IUOE, UAW, IAM & LiUNA. Now, he has been endorsed by more than 20 different unions in his campaign for U.S. Senate.
What is his education?
He earned an associate's degree from the University of Maine at Fort Kent in 2000.
How old is he?
Troy was born on June 26, 1968.
Which groups have endorsed him?
More than 100 organizations and elected and community leaders throughout Maine have endorsed Troy, including the AFL-CIO, Reproductive Freedom for All, End Citizens United, Democratic nominee for governor Hannah Pingree, and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah. See the full list on the Endorsements page.
How can I vote in Maine?
October 5: Early voting begins and absentee ballots begin to be sent to voters by the state of Maine.
October 29: Last day to early vote or request an absentee ballot.
November 3: This is Election Day. And it's the last day for your mail ballot to be received and counted. Make sure your ballot is received by 8:00 p.m. on November 3.
Check your Maine voter registration.
How can I contact the campaign?
General questions: info@jacksonformaine.com. Press: press@jacksonformaine.com.
Mail: Troy Jackson for Maine, P.O. Box 3003, Portland, ME 04104.
How can I support the campaign?
Donate through ActBlue here, sign up to volunteer or find organizing events on our Volunteer page, or find another event on our Events page.