Democratic Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson responded to allegations that he fathered children with his second cousin.

Democrats Replace Graham Platner, Then A Family Revelation Hits Their New Nominee

"We can confirm that Troy Jackson and his longtime partner are second cousins," The Maine Wire stated earlier this week.

"They have two children together," it added.

"Troy Jackson is pushing back after reports revealed he fathered two children with his second cousin. The Maine Democratic Senate candidate, who replaced Graham Platner, called the allegations against his family 'shameful' and 'desperate,'" Fox News wrote.

"New reporting on 'newly uncovered family records' says the connection was confirmed through genealogy records and other public documents. The report found Jackson and his longtime partner, Lana Pelletier — with whom he has two adult sons — share the same great-grandparents, making them second cousins," it continued.

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"Susan Collins will do anything to distract from the fact that she votes with Trump 96% of the time and has sold out working people in Maine. Personal attacks on Troy's family are shameful and desperate," his campaign said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Fox News shared further:

The report pointed out that the relationship is not uncommon in northern rural Maine, where Jackson is from, and that it is not illegal, but many on social media reacted with shock and criticism.

"Can’t wait for Democrats to defend cousin marriage!," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., posted on X.

"If you thought Platner was a freak - meet Troy Jackson," former White House press secretary Sean Spicer posted on X.

"🚨 WTF?! Maine’s new Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson is in a ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP with his COUSIN, and has TWO CHILDREN with her. THIS is the guy the Democrat Party swapped Graham Platner out for🤣," conservative influencer Nick Sortor posted on X.

"The Democrats are having a REALLY tough time finding candidates who aren’t total freaks😂," Sortor added.

"Troy Jackson's 'partner' is his second cousin, according to genealogical records found in Maine. Which means his kids are also his third cousins. Who said Democrats were anti-family?" Drew Berkemeyer, a writer for the Daily Wire, posted on X.

In a post on X, Independent Women's Forum Senior Policy Analyst Inez Stepman wrote, "*Second* cousins seem like relevant information here. But it is funny that Dems keep selecting candidates who fit the vicious stereotypes they hold about rural or working-class people: beats women, hooks up with cousin, etc."

Meanwhile, Jackson launched his first ad in his campaign against Collins on Saturday.

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"I’m a fifth-generation logger and the son of a public school teacher. My dad worked 16-hour days, and it still wasn’t enough," Jackson wrote.

"Susan Collins didn’t stand up for working people then—and she certainly isn’t standing up for Mainers now," he added.

Watch below:

More from the New York Post:

While Jackson, a onetime logger and the former president of the Maine State Senate, has described Pelletier as his wife in the past, locals tell Robinson the couple has never been legally married.

Jackson grew up in the village of Allagash (population 237 as of the 2020 census) and attended nearby Fort Kent High School with Pelletier.

According to geneological records unearthed by Robinson, Jackson’s maternal grandmother — Albertine Pelletier O’Leary — and Pelletier’s paternal grandfather — Louis A. Pelletier Sr. — were siblings, making Jackson’s mother, Colleen McBreairty, and Pelletier’s father, Louis Jr., first cousins.

Since 1985, Maine law has prohibited marriages to an individual’s parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, or uncles.

The law initially banned first cousin marriage, but an amendment passed two years later allows such unions if the would-be betrothed present a certificate of genetic counseling signed by a phyisician certifying their potential children have an acceptably low risk of physical deformity or cognitive impairment.

 

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