Senator Susan Collins faces tight race against Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine
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Incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins is in a close contest with Democrat Troy Jackson for a Maine Senate seat that could influence control of the U.S. Senate.
Incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins is locked in a close contest with Democrat Troy Jackson for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, a race that could affect the balance of power in the 100-member Senate. Collins, first elected in 1996, has long been described as an independent-minded moderate and is the only Republican incumbent seeking re-election in a state that leans Democratic in presidential contests.
Jackson, a former logger and state Senate president, has criticized Collins for supporting President Donald Trump’s agenda, while Collins points to her seniority on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the nearly $1.5 billion in earmarks she says she has secured for projects such as a wastewater treatment plant in North Windham, a dock in Bucksport and an emergency center in Farmington.
“This has required hard work, knowledge and seniority. The question for voters in this campaign is who can do more for Maine,” Collins said during an October 15 debate.
Collins also highlights tariff exemptions for Maine’s blueberry, potato and apple growers and a release of home-heating oil reserves that she says helped lower fuel costs. She cites a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals and funding for body-worn cameras and de-escalation training for federal immigration agents as additional achievements.
Jackson counters that these measures do not offset the broader economic impact of Trump’s trade policies and the war with Iran, which he says have driven up oil prices and strained Maine households.
“I can’t believe that the most powerful U.S. senator in the world would stand there and say, ‘Well, I got this and this and that off the list,’ instead of the fact that there shouldn’t be a list,” Jackson said at a campaign event.
Both campaigns are targeting a shrinking pool of independent voters. A local analysis firm estimates that about $199 million will be spent on advertising in the race, roughly $170 per adult resident. Volunteers note that fewer persuadable voters remain compared with previous elections.
“There’s just a lot less of that persuadable middle than we historically see,” said volunteer Austin Coco.
The outcome will be watched closely as Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to take control of the chamber in the November 3 midterm elections.