PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Troy Jackson, a former labor activist and logger, became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine and spoke to union members on Labor Day, urging them to vote in the upcoming elections to support initiatives like raising the minimum wage and expanding family medical leave. "Labor Day has never been just another holiday," Jackson stated at a Southern Maine Labor Council event in Portland. He is competing against incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race that Democrats consider crucial for gaining Senate control.
Candidates across various states participated in Labor Day events to rally support as the midterm elections approach. The first mail ballots were sent out in North Carolina on Friday, signaling the start of the final push before the Nov. 3 general election.
Doug Born, a union stagehand, expressed his support for Jackson, citing his working-class background. "I think he'd be the most working-class guy in the Senate. That appeals to me," Born said.
While Collins did not have events scheduled for Labor Day, she visited Bath Iron Works on Sept. 1 to meet with employees and emphasized her efforts to secure contracts and wage enhancements.
Former President Donald Trump is also increasing his campaign efforts for Republicans, planning to participate in a midterm convention in Dallas this week. Historically, the party in power tends to lose seats during midterm elections.
Trump has committed to campaigning for Republicans in various races as the election date approaches.
In Georgia, Sen. Jon Ossoff and gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms attended an AFL-CIO picnic, with Ossoff criticizing the economic conditions under the current administration. He stated, "We are dealing with the most absurd and obscene corruption in the modern history of our republic."
In Wisconsin, both major-party candidates in a competitive House district participated in a parade. Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley spoke at events celebrating labor in Milwaukee and Madison, advocating for the restoration of collective bargaining rights.
In Ohio, Senate nominee Sherrod Brown focused his campaign on labor issues, asserting that "the system's rigged" against working people. Meanwhile, an incident involving an armed assailant occurred at an event for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, resulting in injuries before the assailant was subdued by law enforcement.
Barrow reported from Hapeville, Georgia. Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti in Washington, Jacqueline GaNun in Lansing, Michigan, and Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this story.