Former Maine state Sen. Troy Jackson emerged as the front-runner for the Maine Democratic Senate nomination on Sunday after securing the backing of a majority of state delegates ahead of next weekend’s state convention. His two main opponents, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and former public health official Nirav Shah, both ended their campaigns on Sunday, further solidifying Jackson’s status as the likely nominee.

“While they are not legally bound to support him, nearly two-thirds of the 601 delegates have committed to voting for Jackson at the statewide convention,” Politico reported on Sunday afternoon. Bellows announced her exit from the race just minutes before voting began early Sunday morning, saying, “The most important thing we can do in this moment is to unite to defeat Susan Collins.”