Jackson Misses Own Deadline to Release Campaign Finance Report

Democrat Troy Jackson had not released his campaign finance report as of 1 p.m. on Oct. 14, a day after telling U.S. Sen. Susan Collins during a debate that he would hand it over the following morning, a spokesperson for Collins said, according to the Portland Press Herald.

The exchange came during an Oct. 13 debate, when Collins, 73, responded to criticism over her billionaire backers by pointing out that Jackson has not filed a single campaign finance report. Jackson, 58, a former logger and state Senate president, replied that he would produce the report the next morning and that no billionaires are funding his campaign.

Jackson is not violating campaign finance law. He became the Democratic nominee after oyster farmer Graham Platner left the race on July 25, after the prior reporting period closed on June 30. His first report to the Federal Election Commission is due at midnight on Oct. 15 and will be public at that point.

Jackson raised $5.3 million in July through the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue, ranking third among Democratic candidates on the platform that month despite being in the race only a few days, the Press Herald reported. Jackson's campaign did not respond to questions about his debate comments. The two candidates are scheduled to meet for a fourth and final debate on Oct. 15.

This story was first reported by The Portland Press Herald.