Democrat Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins in Maine Senate race

Democrat Troy Jackson has won Maine's U.S. Senate seat, defeating Republican incumbent Susan Collins after a compressed campaign that began in July. Jackson, 58, a fifth-generation logger and former president of the Maine state Senate, entered the race late after the original Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew following controversies. He secured the nomination through a special Democratic convention and spent roughly 100 days campaigning on economic issues, workers' rights, and the cost of living—themes that resonated with voters amid President Donald Trump's unpopularity in the state.

Collins, 73, had represented Maine for nearly 30 years since her election in 1996. She was the only Republican senator from New England and the sole GOP lawmaker from a state that has voted Democratic in presidential elections since 1992. Throughout her tenure, Collins cultivated a reputation as a moderate, at times distancing herself from Trump by voting to convict him in his second impeachment trial and opposing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. However, she also supported key Trump initiatives, including Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination and Robert Kennedy Jr.'s appointment as Health Secretary. Collins argued her role leading the Senate Appropriations Committee allowed her to secure federal funding and programmes for Maine.

Jackson's victory shifts the balance of power in the Senate, expanding the Democratic majority following gains in other competitive states including Texas and South Carolina. Democrats have secured control of both chambers of Congress for the final two years of Trump's presidency. In campaign debates, Jackson tied Collins to Trump's record, arguing that as a perceived swing vote, she could have wielded more influence to oppose the president's agenda. Collins countered that her legislative positions, particularly on appropriations, had benefited her state. Jackson, who previously served nearly 20 years in the Maine House and lost a gubernatorial primary earlier this year, had campaigned as a working-class candidate supporting progressive policies including the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.