Former Vice President Kamala Harris compared Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson’s last-minute campaign in Maine to her own abbreviated 2024 presidential bid as she endorsed the former logger in his race to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
Jackson officially secured the Democratic nomination Saturday, and he now has less than 100 days to mount a general election campaign against the longtime Republican incumbent after replacing former nominee Graham Platner on the ballot.
“I know what it is like to step up to the plate with a short runway to Election Day. Troy will have just 101 days between his nomination for Senate and when voters in Maine will cast their ballots,” Harris said in an endorsement email Monday.
Harris drew the comparison to her own path to the Democratic presidential nomination in August 2024, when she launched her campaign with just months before Election Day after former President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Jackson became the party’s nominee after Platner suspended his campaign due to allegations of rape and sexual assault, which he has denied.
The former president of the Maine Senate hit the ground running, raising $1 million in the two weeks after announcing he would seek to replace Platner on the ballot. He officially claimed the nomination Saturday after defeating pharmaceutical executive Saundra Pelletier by a 566-5 vote at the state Democratic convention, where delegates from all 16 Maine counties selected the replacement nominee.
Two days later, Jackson announced he had doubled that total, saying his campaign had now raised $2 million since entering the race.
Despite the early fundraising momentum, Jackson faces a steep financial disadvantage against Collins, who has raised more than $16 million this cycle and reported having roughly $11 million cash on hand as of June 30.
TROY JACKSON BOASTS $2 MILLION FUNDRAISING HAUL IN TWO DAYS SINCE SELECTION
Jackson’s campaign acknowledged the fundraising gap Monday but argued the race is gaining momentum.
“Troy is harnessing historic energy across the state to deliver the change Mainers have been demanding over Collins’ three-decade career in Washington,” the campaign said in a statement.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
