Maine Senate Contest Between Collins and Jackson is Tight, Poll Finds

WHO:

PBS - Republican Sen. Susan Collins, a five-term senator, is running against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former logger, former state legislator, and former Maine Senate president.

PBS - Voters interviewed included Collins supporter Linda Post of Owls Head, Jackson supporter Nick Papin of Kittery, Shelly Ekholm, Karsten Rees, and Bill Amabile.

PBS - Collins said she opposed Trump’s reelection, voted against Pete Hegseth’s confirmation, and voted against the “Big Beautiful Bill”; she defended her 2018 vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Fox News - Susan Collins and Troy Jackson were tied at 49% in the Maine Senate race.

Fox News - Trump’s job approval in Maine was 25 points underwater.

WHAT:

PBS - The Senate race was rated a toss-up and described as potentially decisive for control of the U.S. Senate.

PBS - Collins said she had brought about $1.5 billion to Maine, including funding for 45 fire stations. Brownville received $2.8 million, including funds to replace its aging fire station.

PBS - More than $200 million had been spent by campaigns and outside groups, described as the largest amount per voting population of any state.

PBS - Jackson’s campaign included pledges such as Medicare for all and changing campaign-finance laws. He said he would support eliminating the filibuster, arguing that a Senate majority should not be blocked by a handful of people.

PBS - Jackson told Collins to “shut up” during a debate exchange and later defended the remark.

PBS - Collins called allegations in a ProPublica report about possible FBI scrutiny and corruption-related concerns “completely false” and “very offensive.”

PBS - Jackson alleged that heating oil cost $6 a gallon amid the war in Iran. Post said Collins’s office helped restore her father’s LIHEAP heating assistance after a glitch interrupted it.

PBS - Democrat Graham Platner dropped out after scandals, including a rape allegation he firmly denied. Jackson was selected by delegates at a convention, rather than by voters at large.

PBS - Papin said he voted for Joe Biden and Collins in 2020, but now supports Jackson. Maine split its top races that year.

PBS - Collins said she maintains relationships with a president’s Cabinet to get things done; Jackson criticized her for not taking a strong enough stand against Trump.

WHERE:

PBS - The race is in Maine. Reporting included Brownville, Kennebunk, Kittery, and Owls Head.

WHY:

PBS - Collins’s supporters cited her experience, federal funding, and assistance to constituents; Jackson’s supporters cited opposition to Trump and a desire for a senator who votes more consistently with Maine interests.

HOW:

PBS - Collins’s campaign emphasized federal funding and constituent service, while Jackson’s campaign focused on progressive proposals and criticism of Collins’s record.

PBS - The contest was described as closely divided, with voters weighing Collins’s experience against Jackson’s candidacy and their views of Collins’s relationship with Trump.

(UPDATED October 23, 2026 02:20 UTC)

Maine’s closely divided Senate race pits five-term Republican Susan Collins against Democrat Troy Jackson, with the contest rated a toss-up that could help decide control of the Senate. One poll put both candidates at 49 percent, while President Trump’s approval in the state was 25 points underwater. Collins is emphasizing experience, federal funding and constituent service, saying she brought Maine about $1.5 billion, including money for 45 fire stations. She says she opposed Trump’s reelection and voted against Pete Hegseth’s confirmation and the “Big Beautiful Bill,” but defended her vote for Brett Kavanaugh. Jackson is campaigning on progressive proposals, including Medicare for all, and says Collins has not sufficiently challenged Trump. He also supports eliminating the filibuster. More than $200 million has been spent on the race, an unusually high amount relative to Maine’s voting population.