Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine's midterm Senate election, ending the incumbent's nearly 30-year tenure in the U.S. Senate. The victory for Jackson, who was a last-minute replacement candidate, delivers a critical win for Democrats in one of the cycle's most closely watched races and deals a blow to Republicans seeking to maintain their slim majority.
Jackson secured 52.7% of the vote compared to Collins' 47.2%, with approximately two-thirds of ballots tallied. This outcome represents a notable reversal for Jackson, who had previously finished third in the Democratic primary for governor. He was selected to run for the Senate after the campaign of the original nominee, Graham Platner, collapsed.
Collins, 73, will depart Congress as the longest-serving female Republican senator in history. She expressed, "It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate. I’m proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years." Collins, known for her ability to win in the historically blue-leaning state, was the last remaining congressional Republican from New England.
Former President Donald Trump played a notable role in the race. Collins had often highlighted her independence from Trump and her record of bipartisanship as key to her effectiveness. She described herself as "not exactly [Trump’s] favorite senator" and had indicated a preference for the president to avoid campaigning in Maine on her behalf. Throughout her campaign, Collins sought to distance herself from Trump's policies, including the war in Iran, the trade dispute with Canada, and the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."
Jackson, a logger and former Republican, campaigned on the argument that Collins' voting record, including her support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, had enabled Trump's agenda. Kavanaugh's confirmation vote in 2018, particularly his stance on issues like Roe v. Wade, became a focal point for Democratic attacks.
Jackson replaced Platner on the ballot in July. Platner withdrew his candidacy after a former girlfriend publicly accused him of rape in 2021. The Maine Democratic Party swiftly rallied around Jackson, with a majority of delegates endorsing him by late July. Jackson had been a third-place finisher in the gubernatorial primary just months before his selection for the Senate race.
Notable endorsements for Jackson included progressive figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). On Collins' side, former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.) campaigned with her in the final weeks, praising her as "the soul of the Senate."
The Maine Senate race was reportedly the most expensive per capita, with an estimated $200 million spent on campaign advertising. AdImpact data indicated that Republicans spent approximately $96.99 per voting-age resident, while Democrats spent $69.52.