Democrat Troy Jackson defeated five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine, giving Democrats a flipped seat and expanding their Senate majority. Collins, first elected in 1996, had survived as a moderate Republican in a state that hasn’t backed a Republican presidential candidate since 1988. Jackson, a former state Senate president and fifth-generation logger, emphasized his blue-collar roots and campaigned on policies like universal healthcare. He was selected as the Democratic nominee in July after the previous candidate withdrew following rape allegations, which he denied. The race was impacted by economic headwinds, including rising fuel prices due to the Iran conflict and the effects of Trump’s trade war on industries like lobstering and logging.
While Collins campaigned on securing federal investments for Maine’s infrastructure, analysis by Congressional Quarterly Roll Call found her voting record aligned with former President Trump 90 percent of the time in both his terms. Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman argued Collins failed to oppose what he termed a “brutal, irresponsible, greedy and corrupt regime,” citing her vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the subsequent overturning of Roe v. Wade as key differences from 2020. Despite this, some Democratic voters in Lewiston supported Collins, praising her advocacy for shipbuilding contracts at Bath Iron Works. However, a shipbuilder at the same yard disputed Collins’s record, stating she hadn’t secured additional work and supporting Jackson due to his commitment to organized labor.
Reports indicate Jackson’s path to victory was unusual, as he initially ran for governor before being chosen as the Senate nominee. The overturning of Roe v. Wade appears to have been a significant factor, and economic conditions played a role in overcoming his late entry into the race. The outcome gives Democrats a seventh flipped seat and expands their new Senate majority, though the final balance of power remains to be determined.
Our reading is that despite Collins’s attempts to present herself as independent, Jackson successfully framed her as too closely aligned with a polarizing figure and policies that negatively impacted Maine’s economy. The overturning of Roe v. Wade appears to have been a decisive issue, amplifying concerns about Collins’s conservative leanings. While Collins focused on securing federal investment, Jackson’s emphasis on economic issues and organized labor resonated with voters facing hardship.
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