Maine Democratic Senate Nominee Slams Second-Cousin Stories
Troy Jackson has two children with his relative.
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, who sired two children with his second cousin, is seeing red over the public discussion of his relationship.
“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 Jackson campaign said Friday.
The more-than-kissing-cousins story erupted last week, days after Mr. Jackson captured the nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins. The Democrats’ previous candidate, Graham Platner, quit the race nearly a month ago after a rape allegation surfaced.
Mr. Jackson, a self-described “fifth-generation logger,” has had a 26-year career in Maine politics, including a stint as president of the Maine Senate. His views have shifted from anti-abortion and anti-gun-control to pro-abortion and in favor of gun restrictions. He ran unsuccessfully for the gubernatorial nomination, coming in third during the primary.
For his Senate bid, Mr. Jackson has added some new planks: “End the genocide in Gaza. No U.S. tax dollars to Israel’s military,” and “Dismantle and abolish ICE” (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
But it’s his personal life that’s drawn the latest public criticism.
“If you thought Platner was a freak — meet Troy Jackson,” Sean Spicer, former White House press secretary under President Trump, wrote on X.
Mr. Jackson and his partner, Lana Pelletier, were high-school sweethearts in their hometown of Allagash, population 237 in 2020. The couple “has been together for Jackson’s entire political career,” the Maine Wire reports.
They have “common great-grandparents,” Thomas Pelletier and Edith Thibodeau Pelletier, the outlet said, which makes Troy Jackson and Lana Pelletier second cousins.
Maine law does not prohibit marriage between second cousins, though first cousins are required to undergo genetic counseling if they wish to wed.
The campaign did not respond to The Washington Star’s comment request.
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