Troy Jackson Ousts Susan Collins in Maine Senate Race

Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican incumbent Susan Collins in the November 3, 2026, U.S. Senate election in Maine, ending Collins' 30-year tenure. Preliminary returns showed Jackson leading approximately 52% to 47%. The victory helped the Democratic Party seize control of the Senate from a previous Republican majority of 53-45.

Jackson, a former Maine Senate president and fifth-generation logger, entered the race in July after original nominee Graham Platner withdrew amid sexual assault allegations. He campaigned on a progressive platform focusing on universal healthcare, housing costs, and working-class issues. He specifically targeted Collins' vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh and her perceived alignment with President Donald Trump.

Collins, the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, emphasized her seniority and her ability to secure federal funding for over 670 projects in Maine. However, her campaign struggled against local economic fallout from a trade war initiated by Donald Trump. Tariffs on Canadian imports increased energy prices and reduced tourism, leading Governor Janet Mills to report a 20 percent drop in forest product exports. While Collins lobbied for specific exemptions, Jackson argued these efforts were insufficient.

Following her defeat, Collins attributed the loss to a "Trump tsunami," arguing that nationwide anti-Trump sentiment swept away incumbents regardless of their individual records. She noted that voters ignored her breaks with the president, including her vote to convict him in his second impeachment trial. Her departure leaves New England potentially without a single Republican representative in Congress, pending the outcome of a separate race in Maine's 2nd Congressional District.