Supporters of Graham Platner, the suspended Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, announced a write-in campaign to rank his name first on ranked-choice ballots in November, with Democratic nominee Troy Jackson as the second choice. The strategy aims to consolidate votes against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who is seeking a sixth term.
Platner suspended his campaign in July following sexual assault allegations, which he has denied. His supporters claim he endorsed the write-in effort in a private Facebook group announcement, though Platner has not publicly confirmed his participation. The group’s organizer, Scott Talkoot, stated Platner’s mission was to direct supporters to write in his name as the top choice while ranking Jackson second to maximize progressive votes against Collins.
The campaign must meet a Tuesday 5 p.m. deadline for Platner to register as a write-in candidate, though Jackson’s team has indicated he does not intend to pursue that path. Talkoot added that organizers planned to contact Platner again to persuade him to register formally, but emphasized the effort would proceed regardless.
Jackson’s Response
Troy Jackson, Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee, expressed regret over Platner’s exit, stating in an interview that he wished the allegations had not occurred. Jackson, a progressive ally of Platner’s, had previously run in Maine’s gubernatorial primary and was endorsed by Platner in that race. Jackson acknowledged he had initially called for Platner to withdraw from the Senate race after the allegations surfaced.
Jackson framed his candidacy as a continuation of Platner’s progressive platform, saying he did not want supporters of the movement to feel "broken and hopeless." He reiterated that the allegations against Platner were serious and credible, warranting accountability. Jackson’s campaign did not respond to requests for further comment.
Ranked-Choice Voting Mechanics
Maine uses a ranked-choice voting system, where voters can list candidates in order of preference. If no candidate secures a majority in the first round, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated, and votes are redistributed based on voters’ second choices. The Platner write-in effort seeks to leverage this system by ensuring his supporters’ ballots prioritize him first, with Jackson as a fallback to consolidate votes against Collins.
The grassroots campaign reflects tensions within Maine’s Democratic Party over strategy and representation. Platner’s supporters argue his abrupt withdrawal was influenced by political pressure, while Jackson’s backers view his nomination as a necessary step to unify the party. The write-in effort underscores the unpredictability of ranked-choice voting in shaping electoral outcomes.
Platner’s campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Collins’ campaign has not publicly addressed the write-in bid.