Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson has two children with his second cousin, Lana Pelletier, according to genealogical records first reported by journalist Steve Robinson. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, became the Democratic nominee after the party's previous candidate, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race amid rape allegations, forcing Democrats to find a replacement in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate contests.
Jackson now faces incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in a November matchup that both parties view as critical to the battle for Senate control. Neither Jackson's campaign nor Pelletier has publicly addressed the genealogical reporting.
According to public records, Jackson and Pelletier share the same great-grandparents, Thomas Pelletier and Edith Thibodeau. Their daughter Albertine Pelletier was Jackson's grandmother, while their son Louis Pelletier Sr. was Pelletier's grandfather, making the couple second cousins. Jackson and Pelletier have been together since high school and are parents to two adult sons.
The relationship is legal under Maine law. State statutes prohibit marriages between first cousins without additional requirements, but place no restrictions on second cousins marrying or having children.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive outlets and Democratic operatives argue that Jackson's family situation is a private matter with no bearing on his qualifications for federal office. Supporters note that the relationship has been open throughout his political career, with Jackson referring to Pelletier as his partner in public settings.
Genetic experts consulted by major medical publications have stated that second-cousin relationships present no meaningful increase in the risk of inherited disorders compared with the general population. Some Democratic commentators have characterized the reporting as a politically motivated attack designed to distract from Jackson's working-class biography and labor advocacy record.
Jackson has built his political identity around his upbringing in Maine's rural St. John Valley, frequently describing himself as a fifth-generation logger from Allagash before rising through organized labor to become president of the Maine Senate. Allies argue this background makes him better positioned than most to represent working-class Mainers in Washington.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican strategists and Collins campaign allies have taken a different view, arguing that voters deserve full transparency about a candidate's personal life when evaluating someone for one of the nation's highest offices. Critics note that some older official biographies referred to Pelletier as Jackson's wife, which would suggest either a legal marriage or a mischaracterization worth clarifying.
National Republican groups have signaled interest in using the revelation in upcoming advertising, though no formal campaign has been launched as of publication. Conservative commentators have framed the story as part of a pattern of what they describe as insufficient honesty from Democratic candidates about their personal circumstances.
Collins herself has not commented publicly on Jackson's family situation, maintaining focus on policy contrasts between the two candidates.
What the Numbers Show
Jackson became Maine's Democratic Senate nominee on August 9, 2024, after Platner withdrew. Collins has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997 and won her last election in 2020 with 51 percent of the vote.
Maine is one of seven Senate seats rated as a toss-up or lean-Republican by major nonpartisan handicappers for the current cycle. Control of the Senate may hinge on outcomes in states like Maine, Montana, Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.
Second-cousin marriage restrictions vary by state. As of 2024, approximately half of U.S. states permit second-cousin marriages, while others maintain varying degrees of restriction.
The Bottom Line
The revelation introduces a new element into an already competitive Senate race that could influence how some moderate Maine voters view Jackson's candidacy. Whether it shifts electoral outcomes remains uncertain; polling in the state has shown Collins with narrow leads but also significant numbers of undecided voters.
Democrats are expected to argue that personal relationships, so long as they are legal, should not disqualify candidates from office. Republicans may attempt to make the story about transparency and honesty rather than the relationship itself.
The race is likely to remain one of the most closely watched Senate contests of 2024, with national party committees prepared to invest heavily in both states.