Jackson, who finished third in last month’s gubernatorial primary, is seen as the progressive candidate most acceptable to Platner’s base of support.
The Maine Democratic Party said in a statement Monday that in the event Platner drops out, the selection process will be “open, transparent, and inclusive” and not “selected by an individual campaign.” Under Maine law, if Platner drops out by July 13, the state party chooses the replacement. It’s not currently clear how the party would go about doing that.
Jackson floated a run on Monday after a Politico report detailing allegations from a woman who previously dated Platner said he sexually assaulted her while severely intoxicated five years ago.
Jackson, a former state senator, said he was “very, very interested” in replacing Platner, arguing that “I am the best person” to do so, according to Bangor Daily News.
“There is no place in our politics for sexual violence. Not in our party, not in any party,” Jackson wrote in a post to X. “This is not what we stand for. Not as Democrats, not as Mainers, not as human beings. For too long, women who survive sexual violence have been told to stay quiet, to protect the men who hurt them, to think about the campaign, the party, the cause. We cannot ask women to trust us with their futures while looking the other way when one of our own hurts them. That ends here.”
Jackson was backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for his gubernatorial bid. The Vermont senator wrote Tuesday in a statement that he has spoken with Platner, urging him to drop out of the race.
Jackson allies have started a “draft Troy” movement, as Democrats have until July 13 to replace Platner on the ballot.
Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) has also been floated for a possible bid, but he previously ruled out running for the post, the Washington Examiner reported last month.
Platner had already lost the endorsements of some of his biggest supporters, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), all calling for him to drop out of the race. The Maine Democratic Party echoed these sentiments.
RO KHANNA AND RUBEN GALLEGO PULL PLATNER ENDORSEMENTS AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS
Platner hasn’t withdrawn, but he posted a video 11 minutes after the Politico story was released, saying he was taking time to “reflect” on his campaign’s “best path forward.”
“We are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward for the state that I love, the people that I love, the movement I belong to, and the goal of defeating Susan Collins,” Platner said in the video.
