Democratic senators are still backing Maine Senate nominee Troy Jackson, who replaced former candidate Graham Platner on the ballot, after the latest allegations threaten to yet again shake up the race for U.S. Senate in the Pine Tree State.
, following a series of scandals culminating in sexual misconduct claims, was forced to drop out ahead of the Democratic primary to take on Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, earlier this summer. But now, a bombshell report claims Platner’s replacement fathered two children with his second cousin.
The recent report wasnt enough to turn lawmakers against Jackson, with most stressing the necessity for Democrats to win swing state races in order to win back a majority in the upper chamber â not an easy feat in Maine where Collins, a moderate, has represented the state in the Senate since 1997.
Maine’s other senator, independent Angus King, said: “I have no idea what youre talking about and Im not going to comment on it anyway.”
Every senator that Fox News Digital spoke with on the issue this week denied having knowledge of the report.
“I don’t know anything about that, but what I do know is that we have got to elect Democrats up and down the ballot,” Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., told Fox News Digital.
“I havent heard of these reports,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., echoed. “Troy Jackson is somebody who’s obviously in this fight for working people.”
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., ignored the crux of the question. “I think it’s super important that we win that seat so that we can put an end to the wild cost increases and rampant corruption that the Senate right now is indulging,” he said.
The Maine Wire editor Steven Robinson first reported last week that Jackson , Lana Pelletier. In posting the genealogical findings, the independent journalist claimed Pelletier’s father is a cousin of Jackson’s mother.
The report made waves after Jackson received 94% of the 601 delegate votes in the process this summer to replace Platner, who dropped out of the race after a rape allegation finally forced his Democrat allies to turn against him. Platner denied the claim, among others made against him, but ultimately it was the nail in the coffin that resulted in him ending his bid for U.S. Senate before the deadline for Democrats to get a new candidate on the Maine primary ballot.
Without directly denying the report, Jackson’s campaign said in a previous statement to Fox News Digital that it was an attack comping from the Collins camp.
“Susan Collins will do anything to distract from the fact that she votes with Trump 96% of the time and has sold out working people in Maine. Personal attacks on Troy’s family are shameful and desperate,” the statement read.
Jackson’s campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for additional comment on the reporting.
MAINE DEM IN HOT SEAT FOR CHAMPIONING POPULAR VOTE DESPITE CLINCHING SENATE BID WITHOUT IT
“Havent seen it,” Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said when asked on Capitol Hill about the reports.
Ossoff initially avoided saying whether he’d back Jackson. Instead, he pointed to <a href="https://foxnews.com/politics/2026-midterms-state-of-play-key-races-unf
