Maine Democrats began rushed process to replace scandal-plagued nominee Graham Platner on Saturday, with progressive logger Troy Jackson dominating county conventions across eight counties. Jackson, a former state Senate president from Allagash, captured an overwhelming majority of the 319 delegate slots selected out of 500 total.

Jackson's union-backed operation outmaneuvered rivals Nirav Shah and Shenna Bellows, securing a clean sweep in Cumberland County, the state's largest. The delegate selection, created in just two weeks after Platner dropped out following a sexual assault allegation, saw high turnout and some organizational confusion. Bernie Sanders previously endorsed Jackson's gubernatorial run.

With 601 total delegates set to choose the nominee next weekend, Jackson holds a commanding lead heading into Sunday's remaining county caucuses. The winner will face Republican Sen. Susan Collins in what Jackson called "probably the biggest race in the whole country." Collins is the only Republican incumbent running in a state Trump lost in 2024.

Some voters criticized the expedited process for favoring coordinated campaign slates over independent delegates. However, Jackson's retail politics — including personal calls to potential delegates — proved effective. The makeshift caucuses, while messy, demonstrated Jackson's organizational strength for the general election battle ahead.