← Latest briefing

Politics

Abortion rights group endorses Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race

Reproductive Freedom for All backs the former Maine Senate president in his challenge to five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins.

The short version

  • Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed Democratic candidate Troy Jackson in his campaign to unseat five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine.
  • The endorsement aims to spotlight reproductive rights in a key race that could influence control of the U.S. Senate.
  • Jackson, who previously held anti-abortion positions early in his career, now holds a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood and has expressed regret for his earlier stance.
  • Collins faces voter scrutiny over her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a decision she stated in June she does not regret.

Key facts

  • Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine's U.S. Senate election against Republican incumbent Susan Collins.[The Guardian]
  • Susan Collins voted in 2018 to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later joined the majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022.[The Guardian]
  • Troy Jackson previously held anti-abortion positions but has maintained a 100% voting score from Planned Parenthood since 2017.[The Guardian]
  • Planned Parenthood's Super PAC announced plans to spend over $600,000 on advertisements targeting Collins's record on abortion.[The Guardian]
  • Jackson became the Democratic nominee following a July convention held after former candidate Graham Platner withdrew over sexual assault allegations, which Platner denied.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain how significantly Collins's vote to confirm Kavanaugh will impact Maine voters relative to economic concerns and other midterm issues.[The Guardian]

Sources