Maine Democrats pick Troy Jackson as their Senate nominee at an unusual party convention | CNN Politics

Maine Democrats picked Troy Jackson as their new Senate nominee on Saturday, the culmination of a brief and unusual contest that sets the stage for a 101-day sprint to try and defeat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in one of the country’s most important Senate races. In a nearly unanimous vote, 566 delegates at a party convention in Bangor picked Jackson, the former state Senate president, as the nominee to replace Graham Platner after he dropped out earlier this month following an allegation of rape. Jackson faced little opposition at the convention after filling most delegate slots at county meetings with his supporters and forcing his most serious opponents to drop out. After his overwhelming nomination, Jackson strode onto the stage to enthusiastic applause and booming strains of “Northern Attitude” by Noah Kahan, who grew up in nearby Vermont. In his acceptance speech, he zeroed in on a doubled-edged challenge: uniting Democrats and defeating Collins. “There is a place in this campaign for all of you. There is work for you in this movement. And I will spend every day now through November earning that trust, because today we turn the page,” Jackson said. “Today, this