Troy Jackson, Maine Democratic Senate pick, fathered kids with cousin

Key Points:

• Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, who replaced Graham Platner on the ballot, is reported to have fathered two children with his second cousin and high school sweetheart, Lana Pelletier, a relationship noted as legal and not uncommon in rural northern Maine.
• The revelation sparked criticism and mockery from conservatives on social media, with figures like Rep. Nancy Mace and former White House press secretary Sean Spicer highlighting the relationship to question the Democratic Party's candidate choices.
• Jackson's campaign condemned the personal attacks as distractions from incumbent Sen. Susan Collins' voting record, emphasizing that the focus should remain on political issues rather than family matters.
• Jackson, a former state senator and recent Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate, was selected as the U.S. Senate nominee after Platner withdrew amid a rape allegation; he will face Collins in the November general election as Republicans seek to maintain their Senate majority.
• The controversy underscores the intense scrutiny and partisan tensions surrounding the Maine Senate race, with Democrats defending Jackson amid ongoing criticism from Republican opponents and conservative commentators.