By Basant El-Faramawy
Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, NBC News projects, padding Democrats’ Senate majority in the 2026 midterm elections.
Collins targeted in Trump-era politics
Collins was a top Democratic target as the only Republican representing a state that President Donald Trump lost in 2024, though she had won re-election in Democratic-leaning Maine for decades. Jackson and his allies worked to tie Collins to Trump, who has never won Maine, amid the president’s sinking approval ratings.
Late entry after primary upheaval
Jackson became the Democratic nominee in late July after Graham Platner dropped out of the race amid a sexual assault allegation, which Platner denied. Jackson had called on Platner to step aside when the allegation surfaced.
Contrasting records and arguments
During debates, Jackson said Collins votes with Trump 96% of the time and fights for the billionaire class, a figure Collins challenged. Collins emphasized her role as chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, citing $1.5 billion secured for 672 projects across Maine over five years.
Jackson argued that Collins’ seniority had not served Mainers, saying she could have used her influence to block Trump’s tariffs and policy toward Iran. He also criticized her vote to advance Trump’s tax and spending package, known as the “big, beautiful bill,” though Collins ultimately voted against final passage over Medicaid cuts.
Working-class pitch and progressive platform
Jackson highlighted his background as a former logger from northern Maine and noted he was the first challenger from Collins’ home county, Aroostook, to take her on. Republicans portrayed him as a career politician who raised taxes. Jackson ran on progressive positions including “Medicare for All” and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and campaigned with Sen. Bernie Sanders in the race’s final weeks.
Political evolution and Collins’ independent brand
Jackson’s political career began with a 1998 logger blockade at the northern border. He ran unsuccessfully for the state House as a Republican in 2000, won as an independent in 2002, later became a Democrat, and served as state Senate president from 2018 to 2024. He has evolved on issues such as abortion. Collins built a unique brand, winning re-election in 2020 by 9 points while Trump lost the state by 9 points. She was one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial.
Despite Trump’s endorsement and Collins’ criticism of his trade war with Canada, she could not overcome the strong anti-Trump sentiment that favored Democrats this cycle.
