Jackson Victory Hailed As Big Step Backward For Women, Big Step Forward For Democrats

AUGUSTA, ME. Democrats across Maine celebrated Tuesday night after Troy Jackson defeated Senator Susan Collins, ending three decades of a woman representing the state in the Senate seat and replacing her with a logger from Allagash.

"This is a proud day for women," said state party chair Linda Porter while pinning a Jackson button to her blazer. "We fought very hard for women to have a seat at the table. Now that they've had it for a while, it's only fair to give it back."

Party strategists described the result as a carefully planned step backward that would eventually lead somewhere. Several volunteers said they had marched for women's representation in the past and felt this election was a good time to rest their feet.

At a victory party in Augusta, supporters waved signs reading "Believe Women" until a staffer quietly collected them and handed out new ones reading "Believe Troy." Nobody noticed the change. One attendee from Brunswick said she had always wanted to see a woman in the Senate and was glad Maine had gotten that out of its system.

Jackson thanked voters in a brief speech and promised to fight for working families, including working families headed by women, who he said would be welcome to call his office and speak with a man about it.

Collins conceded graciously and left the stage, which party officials praised as the most bipartisan thing she had done all year.

In a gesture of goodwill, Democratic leaders announced Wednesday that they would honor the outgoing senator's service with the newly established Troy Jackson Scholarship for Young Women in Public Life. The award will be presented annually at a ceremony emceed by Jackson.