Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson solidified his lead in the abbreviated contest to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins. On Saturday, Jackson-aligned delegates captured more than 90% of the 319 slots available across 16 counties, including all 149 in Cumberland County, the state's most populous. The 500 delegates selected this weekend will join 101 automatic delegates to form a 601-member convention voting next Saturday in Bangor.

A fifth-generation logger and former Republican turned Democrat, Jackson runs on a progressive populist platform backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Our Revolution. He supports Medicare-for-all, taxing billionaires, abolishing ICE, and opposes military aid to Israel. Rivals Nirav Shah, Shenna Bellows, and Jordan Wood secured only a handful of delegates.

Platner, a combat veteran and oyster farmer, dropped out this month amid a rape allegation he denied. Jackson, who previously campaigned with Platner, quickly called for his exit but now argues the movement transcends any individual. The race is among a dozen nationwide that will determine if Democrats can flip the GOP's 53-47 Senate majority.