Democrat Troy Jackson Defeats Incumbent Susan Collins in Maine Senate Race

Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine, ending her nearly 30-year tenure in the United States Senate.

Collins conceded the race early Wednesday morning after Jackson established an insurmountable lead. Jackson, 58, a former Maine Senate president and former logger from Allagash in northern Maine, had entered the contest in late July. He replaced primary winner Graham Platner, who withdrew following accusations of sexual assault and domestic abuse, alongside controversy surrounding a military tattoo resembling Nazi insignia.

Collins, 73, was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and was the only congressional Republican remaining from New England. Her reelection campaign emphasized her seniority as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, citing $1.5 billion secured for 672 state projects over the past five years. Jackson focused his campaign on working-class economic concerns, rising costs of living, housing, and healthcare, while linking Collins to President Donald Trump.

While Collins pointed to past breaks with the administration, including her vote to convict Trump following January 6 and opposition to Canadian tariffs, Jackson attacked her confirmation vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and cited analyses showing high voting alignment with the president. Jackson raised $20.4 million in the quarter ending in September compared with $5.2 million raised by Collins, even as pro-Collins groups spent $85.3 million on advertising against $53.9 million from pro-Jackson groups.