Leading Contender To Replace Platner Just Hit With His Own Allegations: ‘It Was Very Messy’

The race is on to find a replacement for scandal-plagued ex-U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner in Maine.

And so far, it looks like former state Sen. Troy Jackson is leading a motley crew of contenders.

But while nothing on the scale of what Platner has been accused of has surfaced, there is a concerning new claim that signals what the would-be U.S. senator might be like if he makes it to Capitol Hill. 

According to The Hill:

He’s been accused of verbally berating Rachel Talbot Ross, who served as House Speaker, during his time as Senate President. The two were reportedly arguing over how to advance a red-flag law, which would allow the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose a significant danger to themselves or others.

“It was so difficult to maneuver because none of them would even speak to each other,” a top Democratic operative in Maine said to The Washington Post. 

“On paper, we had these great majorities, but it was inept. It was very messy,” the person added. 

The allegations soon spread via social media:

He 👏 screamed 👏 in 👏 a 👏 black 👏 woman’s 👏 face.

And liberals are fine with that.

— The Daily Trump 🇮🇱 🇺🇸 (@TrumpCircuit) July 20, 2026

Sources told us they saw him
pound on desks, storm out of rooms and shout at members of his own party

One ex-colleague said she resorted to recording meetings out of concerns his behavior could escalate: “It felt like he was using his body and his voice to make people fearful”

— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) July 21, 2026

Now do Amy klobuchar

— The 361st Vote (@bksacks) July 21, 2026

Politico provided additional indicators that Democrats aren’t completely sold on Jackson’s qualifications:

But even some Jackson supporters were quick to acknowledge his weaknesses in contrast to Platner, a gifted public speaker whose candidacy thrilled and galvanized the Democratic base before a series of scandals forced him out of the race. Platner suspended his campaign two weeks ago following a POLITICO report that a woman he dated said he forced her to have sex with him, an allegation Platner denies.

Many Jackson supporters said that the logger, who finished third in a crowded gubernatorial primary last month even as Platner cruised to a primary victory, lacks his onetime ally’s magnetism. James Gale, a Jackson supporter and middle school teacher from Bowdoinham, Maine, said he felt Jackson “didn’t compare to most of the others in terms of presentation” during his run for governor but has improved since joining the Senate race.

“I thought, geez, I know that he’s a very popular progressive candidate. I really need him to step up his game,” Gale said. “He was campaigning alongside Graham Platner, and I think Graham Platner was the one drawing the audiences.”

Speaking to reporters in Sanford, Maine, on Sunday, Jackson appeared to recognize the dampened support among some Democrats.

“People should have an open mind,” he said. “I would want to do the same thing. If they haven’t heard a lot about me yet, or still have some questions, I mean, I’m trying to answer them for people.”

Here’s some additional commentary: