Troy Jackson, the Democratic candidate seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Susan Collins, has built his Senate campaign around a pledge to curb "high-priced lobbyists and corporate greed". Yet state ethics filings reveal that his son, Chace Jackson, generated almost £200,000 in lobbying fees from the very Senate his father led.
Family ties and financial figures
Jackson, a fifth‑generation logger who describes himself as a "working‑class voice", chaired the Maine Senate from 2018 until 2024. In 2022 his 35‑year‑old son joined the Resurgam Group, a lobbying firm created by Jackson’s former chief of staff B.J. McCollister. By the end of 2024 the firm reported £182,500 in income from nine clients, among them London‑based spirits giant Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker.
Clients and policy focus
Resurgam’s roster that year also included auto‑parts supplier LKQ Corporation and the Maine Gun Safety Coalition, which pushes for bans on assault‑style weapons and "red flag" laws. The latter aligns with a notable shift in Troy Jackson’s own voting record: after years of NRA backing, he supported gun‑control measures in 2023 and 2024.
Chace Jackson also lobbied for LD 1695, legislation intended to permit direct shipments of spirits to Maine consumers. Diageo backed the bill, while the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America argued it would disadvantage local distillers. The Senate passed the measure under Troy Jackson’s leadership, but it later stalled in the House.
Campaign response and ethical context
Jackson’s campaign stresses that the money was paid to the lobbying firm, not directly to his son, and reiterates his commitment to "fixing our broken system" for working families. Ethics commentators note that while familial links to lobbying are common in state politics, the scale of the Jackson case has attracted particular scrutiny.
After Troy Jackson left the Legislature, Chace’s lobbying activity fell sharply – five clients in 2023 and none recorded in 2026. In January 2024 Resurgam merged with Frame Strategies, with McCollister becoming president of the new entity. The merged firm lists Troy Jackson’s Senate campaign as a client.
Susan Collins has not commented on the lobbying disclosures. Jackson secured the Democratic nomination after the previous candidate withdrew following a sexual‑assault allegation. First reported by the source report.