Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson punched a man and shoved his girlfriend in 1988, police records show.
On Wednesday, the Bangor Daily News publicized a police report that claims Mr. Jackson’s current partner, Lana Pelletier, said he “pushed her around” after assaulting a man.
Mr. Jackson and Ms. Pelletier, who attended the same high school, remain together and have two children.
The March 1988 report cites an anonymous victim who said Mr. Jackson visited a home in Fort Kent, Maine, and was refused entry by an occupant after knocking on the door.
The victim, who was inside the home, said Mr. Jackson then “kicked the door in” before hitting him, causing a cut to his face. Mr. Jackson told the victim to “stay away from Lana Pelletier or else,” he claimed.
The report refers to Ms. Pelletier as Mr. Jackson’s ex-girlfriend.
It claims Ms. Pelletier told a police officer that, because Mr. Jackson pushed her after the incident, she was going to court to obtain “cease harassment papers.”
The Bangor Daily News clarifies there is no record of Ms. Pelletier’s going to court to do so.
The outlet cites a news report from the time saying Mr. Jackson was charged with assault and paid a fine.
Mr. Jackson, now 58, says he’s a changed man.
“Nearly [40] years ago, when I was 19 years old, I got into a fight with another man. I took responsibility for it then, and I take responsibility for it now,” Mr. Jackson said in a statement to the Bangor newspaper.
“But let me be clear: I have never been violent with my partner Lana, or any other woman. This happened nearly four decades ago, and I assure Mainers this incident in no way reflects the man I am today,” he added.
Ms. Pelletier denies having ever claimed Mr. Jackson assaulted her.
“I do not remember making the statements attributed to me, and they are not accurate. This is the first time I have seen this report from 40 years ago,” Ms. Pelletier said in a statement to the Daily News provided by the Jackson campaign.
“Troy and I have built a life and family together, and I know the person he has been through the decades since, both as a caring partner and father,” she said.
The Maine Wire first reported that Ms. Pelletier and Mr. Jackson are second cousins.
Democrats need to net four additional seats to gain control of the Senate.
Maine Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican up for reelection in a state that Democrats won in the 2024 presidential election, making the Pine Tree State a promising pickup opportunity.
Democrats’ efforts have been complicated by a series of unwelcome scandals.
Mr. Jackson was propelled into the Senate race in July after the previous Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, 41, left the race due to a rape allegation.
Mr. Platner also faced scrutiny for hot-button online posts and for having had a tattoo that resembled a Nazi-linked symbol.
Having placed third in the 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Mr. Jackson won the support of a majority of delegates in a snap convention to replace Mr. Platner.
Mr. Jackson’s political career began in 1998 as a leader of a blockade of the northern border to prevent Canadian loggers from competing with Americans.
First elected to the state’s Legislature as an independent, Mr. Jackson later switched to the Democratic Party.
He was a prominent Maine supporter of Vermont independent Sen. Bernard Sanders’ presidential campaigns and led Democrats in the state Senate from 2016 to 2024.
