Jackson wins Maine Senate seat after ousting 30-year incumbent Collins

Troy Jackson secured victory for the U.S. Senate seat in Maine on Wednesday.

The 58-year-old Democrat defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins, ending her 30-year tenure in Washington, D.C. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from rural Aroostook County, won the race by appealing to voters concerned with the cost of living and healthcare.

Jackson replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee in July after Platner withdrew from the contest. This change left Jackson with just over 100 days to build a campaign in a state where he lacked the name recognition of his opponent. He focused his efforts on economic issues, holding events at churches, union halls, and bars to connect with workers.

Collins, 73, entered the election as the only Republican in Congress from New England. She had previously survived challenges from Democrats, including a narrow win against Sara Gideon in 2020. Collins emphasized her experience and her role as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a position she held for the first time in 92 years.

Jackson positioned himself as a challenger to the status quo, criticizing Collins for her voting record on President Donald Trump’s legislation. He accused the incumbent of helping advance tax cut and budget bills before voting against their final passage.

“Sen. Collins is like an arsonist who helps set the fire and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,” Jackson said during the campaign.

Collins countered by highlighting her independence from the Republican Party. She voted to convict Trump in 2021 and supported efforts to limit presidential military authority in Venezuela. She also pointed out that she had not voted for Trump in 2016, a stance that distinguished her from many of her party colleagues.

Jackson addressed his temperament during the campaign after a debate where he told Collins to “shut up.” He maintained that his direct approach reflected his commitment to representing working families.

“For every family doing everything they can and wondering when somebody is going to do something for them, you have gotten me into this and you’re going to have someone who is fighting for you in Washington, D.C.,” Jackson told supporters at a party in Portland.

Collins conceded the race by phone before releasing a statement thanking Mainers for their support. She said she was proud of the work accomplished over the past three decades.

Jackson will take office in January, assuming the duties of the senior senator for Maine. The result marks a shift in the state’s congressional representation, adding a Democrat to the Senate who previously served nearly 20 years in the state legislature.