A Republican group, the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), announced on Saturday, July 25th, 2026, that it will spend at least $42 million against Troy Jackson, the new Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine. Jackson, a former logger and state senate president, was selected by the Maine Democratic Party to replace former nominee Graham Platner, who dropped out after his ex-girlfriend accused him of rape.

SLF launched a 30-second advertisement claiming Jackson is "worse" than Platner, who had been involved in controversy. The ad references reports from CNN and The Hill and cites a Bangor Daily News report that Jackson owed $4,600 in back state taxes during his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign earlier this year.

Chris Gustafson, SLF Communications Director, told the Daily Caller News Foundation (DCNF), “Chuck Schumer forcefully removed Graham Platner from the ballot against the will of Maine voters, only to replace him with a deranged and controversy-plagued political insider. Mainers value steady leadership that yields real results for the Pine Tree State, making Susan Collins the clear choice once again this November.”

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) also criticized Jackson, with Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell stating, “Troy Jackson lost his bid to be Governor and he will lose his bid to be Senator. Jackson is a Democrat socialist who has only made life harder in Maine, while Susan Collins has secured $1.5 billion in funding to benefit Mainers in all 16 counties.”

According to the Maine Morning Star, the longtime GOP Senator Susan Collins ended the second quarter of 2026 with $11 million on hand. Platner had reported $1.7 million in cash a little more than a week before exiting the race.

The SLF, affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, describes itself as "the only outside organization solely dedicated to protecting and expanding the Republican Senate Majority."

Sources