Former Vice President Kamala Harris has endorsed Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, drawing immediate comparisons between Jackson’s last-minute nomination and Harris’ own abbreviated campaign for president in 2024.
Harris announced the endorsement in a fundraising email sent to supporters, emphasizing the limited amount of time Jackson has to build a statewide campaign before the November general election.
Jackson now has fewer than 100 days to mount a statewide campaign after Maine Democrats selected him as their replacement nominee during a special party convention.
The former Maine Senate president entered the race after Democratic primary winner Graham Platner withdrew amid sexual assault allegations. Jackson is now seeking to unseat longtime Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
Harris’ endorsement highlighted the urgency surrounding Jackson’s campaign and encouraged Democratic supporters to contribute financially as he attempts to close a significant fundraising gap.
Jackson’s campaign reported raising approximately $2 million after securing the nomination. Collins, however, entered the general election campaign with a war chest exceeding $16 million.
Republicans were quick to mock the endorsement, pointing to similarities between Harris and Jackson’s paths to their respective nominations.
Neither candidate secured the nomination through a traditional, voter-led primary process. Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024 after President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign, while Jackson was chosen by party delegates after Platner withdrew from the Maine race.
The Collins campaign seized on that comparison, portraying the endorsement as one party-selected nominee supporting another.
Jackson now faces the challenge of rapidly assembling a statewide campaign, raising money and introducing himself to voters with fewer than 100 days remaining before Election Day.
Collins, meanwhile, is seeking another term after decades in the U.S. Senate and begins the general election campaign with a substantial fundraising advantage and statewide name recognition.
