
Hit Pause with Star Price
Can Troy Jackson Really Beat Susan Collins?
Graham Platner is out. Troy Jackson is in. And suddenly the Maine Senate race is a very different fight. Can Jackson take the energy of the movement that grew around Platner and turn it into a winning coalition against Republican Senator Susan Collins? Joining us is Maine Monitor political journalist Josh Keefe, who explains what changed when Jackson became the Democratic nominee — from the appeal of his working-class roots to the challenge of winning over independents and Republicans. We also hear from six Maine voters who supported Platner about whether they're ready to get behind Jackson. We look at Collins' record, her vote for Brett Kavanaugh, her relationship with Donald Trump, and the challenge Democrats face in a state where ticket-splitting has helped Collins win in the past. This is the first of three big episodes taking us inside three critical Senate races in three very different states. First up: Maine. Next: Texas. Then Michigan. Subscribe to Hit Pause for more reporting and conversations that make sense of the chaos. On YouTube: https://youtu.be/nNlm6gScIh8 On Substack: https://starprice.substack.com/ CHAPTERS: 00:00 Can Democrats Finally Win Maine? 01:23 What Happens After Graham Platner? 03:31 Can Jackson Build a New Movement? 05:15 Can Troy Jackson Replace Platner's Charisma? 08:21 The Advantage of Being From Northern Maine 09:23 Can Jackson Win Republicans? 11:34 Susan Collins' Biggest Vulnerabilities 15:46 How Much Power Does Collins Really Have? 18:08 Can Jackson Unify Democrats? 20:05 Is the Race Really This Close? 21:12 What Should Jackson Do Next? 23:17 What's Next for Graham Platner? 23:59 What Does Collins Want to Do With Her Power?


