Troy Jackson, a Sanders-endorsed candidate for Maine governor, has dramatically reversed his position on abortion rights since his days as a state legislator, when he earned a perfect 100% rating from Maine Right to Life.
As a legislator, Jackson voted for personhood measures in 2011 that would have granted legal status to fertilized eggs and supported legislation requiring counseling and waiting periods for women seeking abortions.
Today, Jackson is running as an abortion rights champion, campaigning alongside Bernie Sanders and earning endorsements from Planned Parenthood.
Jackson's shift coincided with the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs decision, which eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion. Maine subsequently passed expansive abortion access protections, which Jackson appeared to support.
However, as recently as October 2022 — four months after Dobbs and before his May 2023 gubernatorial campaign launch — Jackson told local reporters he was still "struggling" with the abortion issue. He has not offered a detailed explanation for his changed position.
In 2014, EMILY's List, a major pro-abortion rights group, launched a six-figure television campaign against Jackson because of his anti-abortion voting record. The political landscape has since shifted dramatically, with abortion rights becoming a galvanizing issue for Democratic voters.
Sanders, who has championed abortion rights for decades, endorsed Jackson while emphasizing his credentials as a working-class advocate and longtime progressive fighter. Sanders cited Jackson's labor roots as a logger and his consistent support for workers' rights, healthcare access and economic fairness. Sanders did not mention Jackson's abortion position reversal in his endorsement.
Notably, abortion access is not listed as a top priority on Jackson's official campaign website, despite his amplified abortion rights rhetoric on social media and in campaign materials.
Maine's current abortion law is relatively permissive by national standards, allowing abortion throughout pregnancy with some protections after viability around 24 to 26 weeks. Licensed physicians can approve late-term procedures.
Political evolution is not inherently problematic, but such shifts typically come with explanation and accountability. Jackson has not directly addressed the contradiction between his legislative record and current positions. Voters deserve clarity about whether Jackson is a genuine convert to abortion rights or a pragmatic politician adapting to electoral realities.
