Scrutiny on Relationship in Maine Senate Race

Lana Pelletier, longtime partner of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, is reportedly his second cousin. This revelation has brought their relationship into focus during one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. The claim first surfaced on July 30 in The Maine Wire, indicating that genealogical records show Pelletier and Jackson share the same great-grandparents. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) later shared parts of this report. However, neither birth, marriage, nor genealogical records were published in support of these claims, so Newsweek has not independently verified the family connection.

Newsweek has contacted Jackson’s campaign and The Maine Wire for further comment and to request copies of the records underlying the report.

Who Is Troy Jackson?

Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, northern Maine, and former president of the Maine Senate. His official campaign presents him as a “lifelong fighter for workers’ rights” and the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. Jackson stepped into the 2026 Senate race as the replacement Democratic nominee after securing victory at the party’s July 25 nominating convention. He faces Republican Senator Susan Collins in the general election scheduled for November 3.

Who Is Lana Pelletier?

Lana Pelletier has been Jackson’s partner for decades, with the couple having two adult sons, Chace and Camden, as reported by The Maine Wire. They were described as high-school sweethearts who attended Fort Kent High School together. Jackson named Pelletier as an immediate family member in a 2019 financial disclosure filed with the Maine Ethics Commission, which mandates lawmakers to disclose certain income received by a spouse or domestic partner and dependent children.

In a written testimony presented to the Maine Legislature in April 2023, Pelletier identified herself as a social worker and resident of Allagash, the same community as Jackson. She disclosed starting smoking at 15 but quitting in her 20s when she became a mother. Her testimony supported a proposal for a flavored tobacco products ban, as she noted witnessing “how addiction can tear families apart and ruin lives.” While some public materials previously referred to Pelletier as Jackson’s wife, The Maine Wire was unable to find a marriage license for them.

What Do the Genealogical Records Say?

According to The Maine Wire, Jackson and Pelletier share the same great-grandparents, Thomas Pelletier and Edith Thibodeau Pelletier. The report states their daughter, Albertine Pelletier O’Leary, was Jackson’s grandmother, while their son, Louis A. Pelletier Sr., was Pelletier’s grandfather. This lineage implies Jackson’s mother and Pelletier’s father were first cousins, making Jackson and Pelletier second cousins.

The report mentioned “genealogical records” and local sources but did not publish or link the original records supporting the family tree. Maine law does not prohibit marriage between second cousins. The law forbids marriage among closer relatives, such as parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. First cousins in Maine can marry but must provide a physician’s certificate after receiving genetic counseling.

How Close Is Maine Electoral Race?

The Senate contest in Maine is tight. The RealClearPolitics poll averages show Jackson at 48.6 percent and Collins at 47.3 percent, giving Jackson a narrow 1.3-point lead. This campaign attracts attention due to the potential impact on U.S. Senate control, hinging on a few competitive races. Jackson’s campaign emphasizes his logging background, support for organized labor, and the critique that Washington benefits wealthy individuals and large corporations over working families.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Tony Phillips.