With a deadline to nominate a new Democratic Senate candidate set for a week from today, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has reportedly taken an early lead.

That’s according to a Politico analysis of the race so far, which found that out of the 319 delegate slots chosen yesterday (Saturday), a vast majority of the candidates were aligned with Jackson. 500 open delegate slots will be filled in total to decide the next nominee.

“I’m asking for your vote, but I’m also asking for more than that,” Jackson told over 100 supporters at a rally the night before on Portland’s Eastern Prom. “I’m asking you to organize. I’m asking you to talk to your neighbors. I’m asking you to show up at your county meetings, make the calls, send the texts and bring even more people into this movement.”

Jackson had previously attempted to run for governor and was backed by former Senate candidate Graham Platner, who’s exit from the race over rape allegations earlier this month prompted a swift re-nomination process (Platner has denied the allegations).

Jackson isn’t the only gubernatorial candidate looking to get back into the races after losing to Hannah Pingree this past June, with former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows also vying for the nomination.

While Jackson has a lead at the moment however, chosen delegates are not formally pledged and can still change their votes at next week’s convention.

To read the original Politico article, click here.