We must not waste our votes in Maine Senate race | Letter

Westbrook resident urges voters to back Troy Jackson after Graham Platner withdraws

WESTBROOK, Maine – A letter to the editor from Claudia Ridlon of Westbrook appeared in the Press Herald on August 24, urging Maine voters to shift their support from former Senate candidate Graham Platner to his new ally, state Sen. Troy Jackson. Ridlon’s message followed a similar letter from Jenifer Duryea, who had written in support of Platner on Sunday, Aug. 23.

Ridlon, who lives in Westbrook, said she could not stand by while “one vote in November for a candidate who is no longer running” might cost the state and the country a decisive election. She noted that Platner, who had been a favorite in the 2026 Maine Senate race, has since withdrawn from the race and endorsed Jackson in his place.

“We cannot afford to lose our state and our country because Duryea and, I’m sure, other voters are upset that a preferred candidate (Platner was mine too) is no longer on the ballot,” Ridlon wrote. “Graham has gone on to support Troy Jackson in his place — so, Jackson needs our support too.”

The letter comes amid a crowded field for the open Senate seat in the state’s 2026 election. The withdrawal of Platner has reshaped the race, with Jackson now a frontrunner among the remaining candidates. Residents in Westbrook and across the state are being asked to reconsider their choices as the November ballot approaches.

Ridlon’s appeal echoes calls from other community members to avoid wasting a vote on a candidate who has dropped out, and to instead support the next most viable option. Whether voters heed her advice remains to be seen, but her letter underscores the importance of staying informed about candidate status as the election nears.