Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins, ending her nearly three-decade tenure in the Maine Senate. The Associated Press, CNN, and NBC called the race for Jackson around midnight, with him leading 52 percent to Collins' 47 percent with 67 percent of the vote counted.
Collins, a five-term Republican, suffered one of the most significant defeats of her political career. Her loss marks the end of her nearly 30-year presence in the Senate and dashes her hopes of becoming the longest-serving senator in Maine's history. She conceded the race shortly after it was called.
Jackson's victory is a key gain for Democrats, who were seeking to flip Republican-held seats. Going into the election, Republicans held a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take control, given the Vice President's tie-breaking vote. The race in Maine was seen as a crucial early indicator of the night's results, especially as it is a state that former Vice President Kamala Harris carried in 2024.
Despite substantial ad spending by Republican super PACs, totaling approximately $126 million in a bid to re-elect Collins, the incumbent was unable to secure another term. The race turned contentious in its final days, with a Republican super PAC airing a radio advertisement that Collins herself called for to be taken down.
Jackson, the son of a logging family from northern Maine, stepped into the race after the initial Democratic primary winner, Graham Platner, withdrew. Jackson was selected by delegates in July, giving him a little over three months to campaign against Collins. He had recently lost the Democratic primary for governor.
Money played a significant role in the campaign, with Jackson raising $26.9 million in less than three months, while Collins raised $22.5 million over the full election cycle, according to federal filings through October 14. Final polls leading up to Election Day showed a tight contest, with some indicating a dead heat and others placing either candidate slightly ahead within the margin of error.
Collins, who served as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, often highlighted her influence in bringing federal dollars to Maine. She had a history of outperforming polls, having won her previous election by more than eight points after trailing in surveys for much of the campaign. However, former President Donald Trump's unpopularity in Maine, where a majority of likely voters disapproved of his job performance, may have contributed to the outcome. The election results in Maine are seen as setting a tone for the final years of Trump's presidency and the approaching presidential election cycle.