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[POLITICS] · United States · 22 sources

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Maine Senate Candidate Troy Jackson Linked to Second Cousin Partner

Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, was selected in late July 2026 after Graham Platner withdrew amid sexual‑assault allegations and a controversial Nazi‑tattoo. Jackson, a former state Senate president and fifth‑generation logger from Allagash, will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Reporting by The Maine Wire and other outlets confirms that Jackson’s longtime partner, Lana Pelletier, is his second cousin. The couple share great‑grandparents Thomas Pelletier and Edith Thibodeau, have two adult sons, and have never been legally married; Maine does not recognize common‑law unions. The relationship raises questions about whether Jackson must disclose Pelletier’s finances under Senate financial‑disclosure rules.

Republican groups have pledged more than $42 million to defeat Jackson, according to the Senate Leadership Fund. In addition, Jackson’s campaign recently changed its treasurer, removing Peter Sarasohn—who also serves as treasurer of a Michigan super‑PAC—from the filing and naming former state senator Beth Edmonds as the new treasurer.

Entities

Allagash, Maine · Graham Platner · Lana Pelletier · Maine Democratic Party · Peter Sarasohn · Susan Collins · Troy Jackson

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about 1 month ago