ByGRACE GILSON/JTA

JULY 25, 2026 03:49

Over his twenty-year tenure as a Maine state legislator, Troy Jackson built his reputation on labor rights and economic matters.

Now pursuing a US Senate seat after years as a logger and state Senate president, Jackson has started outlining views on a fresh topic: Israel.

Addressing one of the Democratic Party's most contentious subjects, Jackson has adopted the word genocide for Israel's Gaza operations and urged a halt to American military support for Israel.

"This is unconscionable. Anybody with eyes and a heart knows the Israeli government is committing genocide in Gaza. It has to end, and we as Americans have the power to end it," Jackson stated in an X post on July 9 after reports of a Palestinian aid worker killed in strikes. "When I'm in the US Senate, I'll never vote in favor of US taxpayer-funded military aid to Israel."

One week later Jackson also targeted AIPAC, the pro-Israel group often criticized by progressives.

"I pledge to lead for Maine voters by rejecting attempts to buy influence through unlimited personal wealth and dark money," Jackson posted on X. "That means rejecting all money from corporate PACs, AIPAC, and lobbyists from Big Oil and Big Pharma."

Jackson's new focus has created discomfort for some Maine Jews. They fear his use of genocide signals a broader trend in Democratic contests that many Jews find off-putting. Other local Jews remain cautious yet view the veteran Democrat as a practical option for the state and favor him over Platner.

Jackson expected to clinch Democratic nomination

Jackson's strong statements on Israel arrive as he appears set to capture the Democratic nomination on Saturday for a contest against Republican Sen. Susan Collins that may decide Senate control.

His Israel remarks echo changes in the race after Graham Platner's campaign ended earlier this month. Platner, a vocal Israel critic, exited following a denied sexual assault claim.

Afterward several replacement Democratic candidates who later withdrew, such as Shenna Bellows and Jordan Wood, also began using genocide for the first time.

Jackson's campaign offered no reply to a Jewish Telegraphic Agency query on his Israel outlook.

Some Maine Jews question whether Jackson's Israel emphasis stems from firm belief or a bid to attract Platner's backers.

"I do think that his rhetoric on Israel has been kind of like a 'pick me' appeal to the perception of what the Platner base is feeling about the whole thing," said Brian Kresge, president of Congregation Beth Israel in Bangor, who generally supports Democrats. "I don't know whether it's a closely held position because it's not something he said much about during the gubernatorial race (Jackson came in third place in the governor's race). It's not something I've ever heard him talk about in his other forays in politics."

Rabbi Bill Siemers of Beth Israel, Maine's oldest active synagogue, said he found "no evidence" in Jackson's "social media or in his talks that this was an issue for him before very recently, and it's clear to me and to others that he brought this up so he could be the Senate nominee."

"Now we know where we are. We know where we stand, that this, at least in the upper levels of the Maine Democratic Party, this is a requirement, and that's not good," Siemers said about the genocide label.

"I don't think Jews want to have to go to the polls and vote on the basis of that, but they will," he added.

Jackson's Gaza comments won support from Our Revolution, the progressive group started by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Jackson earned backing from Sanders, Our Revolution, left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, California Rep. Ro Khanna and Maine's Democratic Socialists of America chapter.

"Troy Jackson doesn't do word salad. He calls a genocide a genocide and says he'll never vote for taxpayer-funded military aid to fund it," the group posted on Facebook earlier this month. "That's what Maine voters delivered a historic win for on June 9; what other contender in Maine will actually say it?"

Jackson's background and political path

Jackson, 58, is a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine who entered politics in 1998 by heading a logging blockade along the Maine-Canada border to protest firms hiring low-wage foreign workers. In 2000 he made an unsuccessful Republican run for state House before winning a seat two years later as an independent.

He won re-election in 2004 as a Democrat, beginning a long state political career with firm union connections and progressive stances. Jackson once opposed same-sex marriage and abortion but later changed those views.

In 2024 at the Maine State Democratic Convention, Jackson, serving as chairman, reportedly tried to quiet pro-Palestinian protesters who labeled Maine Rep. Jared Golden a "war criminal" during a video honoring the Jewish congressman.

"I believe in the ability of people to demonstrate and protest," Jackson said during the disruption. "There is a time for that."

Earlier this year Jackson placed third in the state's Democratic primary for governor. In that bid he vowed not to accept "dark money" but did not specifically rule out AIPAC, which usually spends in federal contests.

During Platner's run Jackson campaigned with him and backed his candidacy until the assault allegation surfaced. After the claim Jackson joined other progressive figures in urging Platner to exit.

Ahead of Saturday's nominating convention Kresge noted a "palpable sense of relief" among local Jews that Platner, whose Nazi-linked tattoo had caused alarm among Jewish Mainers, was no longer in the race.

"Troy Jackson may sound alike on a lot of these issues, but he's not burdened by - well, he is burdened by some accusations and stuff - but he's not burdened by a Reddit history," Kresge said. "He has an actual political resume to run on."

While some Jewish Mainers questioned Jackson's recent Israel rhetoric, others said his lengthy local government record provided reassurance.

"I don't know Troy Jackson, but I think having a resume to fall back on, and having been in the position where he's had to make compromises and understand the difference between spouting a popular slogan versus getting things done, I think is a small measure of comfort," said Matt Tzuker, a Jewish resident of Portland.

Maine State Rep. Laurie Osher, who is Jewish and plans to support Jackson, said she hoped he would sustain the momentum Platner built.

"He's got my vote because I have worked with him," Osher said. "For every moment that I found him doing something I didn't think was great, he was also open to me telling him why I didn't think it was great, and I saw him do better."