Troy Jackson, Bernie Sanders bring ‘Solidarity Forever’ tour to Lewiston
Troy Jackson, Bernie Sanders rally in Lewiston energizes Democrats ahead of November midterms
In a late‑afternoon gathering at Lewiston’s Agora Palace Events Center, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders for the second stop on their “Solidarity Forever” tour. The rally, held on Sunday, October 11, 2026, drew hundreds of Mainers who rallied behind a platform of Medicare for all, workers’ rights and opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies.
Jackson, who is campaigning to replace incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, used the event to attack Collins’ voting record and to highlight what he calls “30 years of shortfalls” in Washington. “Senator Collins has had 30 years in Washington. She tells us that she’s one of the most powerful people in the U.S. Senate. So I think that Maine has the right to ask, ‘Well, what the hell did you do with that time?’” he told the crowd. He pointed to Collins’ support for Trump‑aligned trade policies that he says raise the cost of everything from groceries to construction materials. “Trump, and the cabinet that Collins voted for, start a trade war that makes everything cost more: groceries, clothes, cars, lumber, even the equipment that Maine workers need to do their jobs is more expensive,” Jackson added.
Sanders echoed the call for a Medicare for All system. “Now Troy believes, and I believe not only that healthcare is a human right, but that we have got to move toward a Medicare for All system,” he said. The senator also slammed Trump, calling him “the most dangerous president in the history of the United States.” Sanders added that he and Jackson share a goal of ending U.S. aid to Israel, a point he emphasized to a portion of the audience that had asked for more commentary on the war in Gaza.
The crowd, many of whom carried signs with Jackson’s name in bold navy lettering, also booed when Collins was mentioned. Several attendees wore stickers mocking her claim that she had exempted road salt from tariffs. In a light‑hearted moment, Jackson joked, “Well, senator, we can’t eat road salt,” a reference to a line he delivered in a debate with Collins earlier in the week.
Lewiston officials also took the stage. Mayor Carl Sheline urged voters to support the entire Democratic slate. “Donald Trump will go down as the worst president ever. We’re sending Troy to help restore sanity to our country. But Troy can’t do it alone. As we vote for Troy, we need to vote for Democrats up and down the ticket,” Sheline said. The mayor was joined by a nurse who was recently fired from Central Maine Medical Center amid a unionization effort, City Councilor Safiya Khalid, and David Sullivan, vice president of the IAM Union that represents workers at Bath Iron Works.
Local supporters expressed a mix of enthusiasm and frustration. Newcastle resident Joan Schwartz told reporters that she feels “terrified for democracy” but believes Jackson’s platform meets Mainers’ needs for social and economic justice. “It really speaks to the hunger that Mainers have for social justice, economic justice, addressing healthcare issues, addressing housing issues, childcare issues. Troy stands for all the things that I believe Mainers really want,” she said. Lewiston resident Greg Tangen shared a similar sentiment, adding that he wished Jackson had spoken more about the Gaza conflict.
The tour will continue with a final stop in Biddeford later on Sunday evening, after a Saturday rally in Bangor. With the midterm elections a little more than three weeks away, Jackson’s tour is part of an effort to consolidate Democratic support in Maine and to challenge Senator Collins’ hold on the state’s lone Senate seat. Whether the momentum generated in Lewiston will translate into votes remains to be seen as the campaign season heats up.
