Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine conceded the race for a sixth term to Democrat Troy Jackson early Wednesday, ending a 30-year tenure and handing Democrats a key flip in their bid for control of the chamber. '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 an election night party in Portland.
Jackson, a former Maine Senate president and fifth-generation logger, took over as the Democratic nominee in July after primary winner Graham Platner dropped out following an allegation of sexual assault that he denied. Jackson had roughly 100 days to barnstorm the state against one of the Senate's most influential members.
The race was one of the most closely watched in the country. Republican groups spent heavily, donating $76m compared with $40m by Democrats, while Jackson's campaign raised $26.9m, slightly more than Collins's $25.2m through mid-October.
Collins, 73, touted her longevity in the Senate and her role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, saying those aspects of her service remained critically important for Mainers. 'It has been 92 years since a Maine senator was chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the most powerful committee in the Senate,' she told reporters, adding it was a 'once-in-a-century opportunity.' She distanced herself from President Donald Trump, saying during a debate that she was 'not exactly his favorite senator,' and voted to convict the president after his 2021 impeachment over his role in the January 6 Capitol riot. In a statement conceding the race, Collins said: 'It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate.'
Jackson, 58, campaigned on workers' rights and fighting the high costs of housing and healthcare, framing Collins as a Trump ally. He criticized her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who helped overturn constitutional protections for abortion. 'Sen. Collins is like an arsonist who helps set the fire and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,' Jackson said during the campaign. Collins, who supports abortion rights, has said she did not regret her vote. Jackson previously served as independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign leader in Maine, and Sanders joined Jackson for rallies in October.
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Campaign funding in Maine Senate race
US$ million
Fundraising totals through mid-October. Source: Al Jazeera
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Analysis
Why This Matters
Jackson's win flips a Republican-held seat, improving Democrats' chances of controlling the Senate for the remainder of Donald Trump's presidency.
It marks the end of an era for Susan Collins, the sole remaining Republican in Congress from New England and a powerful Appropriations chair.
The result in a state Trump lost twice suggests the limits of his pull in moderate, northeastern states.
Background
Susan Collins was first elected to the Senate in 1996, succeeding her former boss William Cohen. She built a reputation as a moderate willing to cross party lines, voting to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial and opposing her own party's signature tax bill. Democrats saw an opening this year with Trump's unpopularity in Maine. Their campaign was nearly derailed by a chaotic primary that produced a nominee who dropped out over an allegation of sexual assault, forcing the party to turn to Jackson in July.
Key Perspectives
Troy Jackson: Cast his victory as a win for working families struggling with the economy, vowing to fight for them in Washington.
Susan Collins: Expressed pride in her 30 years of service, highlighting her role as Appropriations chair and her independence from Trump.
What to Watch
The final vote tally and whether the ranked-choice count affects the margin.
How Jackson's arrival reshapes the Senate's dynamics, particularly on budget and appropriations.
The impact of the result on the midterm narrative and control of the Senate.
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 11 supported.
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Reports differTroy Jackson defeated Susan Collins and flipped the Maine Senate seat for Democrats.LAist: “The Associated Press has not yet called the race.”
SupportedJackson told supporters at an election-night party in Portland, “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.”LAist: ““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 the crowd at an election night party in Portland.”
SupportedCollins conceded the race for a sixth term early Wednesday.LAist: “Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson early Wednesday, ending her race for a sixth term.”
SupportedCollins’s Senate tenure lasted 30 years.LAist: ““I’m proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years,” Collins said in a statement after calling Jackson to concede.”
SupportedIn her concession statement, Collins said, “It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate.”LAist: ““It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate. I’m proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years,” Collins said in a statement after calling Jackson to concede.”
SupportedPlatner dropped out after facing an allegation of sexual assault that he denied.LAist: “Platner overcame a wave of controversies, including the revelation of a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol, to win the nomination, only to drop out in July after facing an allegation of sexual assault that he denied.”
SupportedRepublican groups donated $76 million compared with $40 million by Democrats; Jackson raised $26.9 million and Collins $25.2 million through mid-October.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Republican groups spent heavily on the race, donating $76m compared with $40m by Democrats. Jackson’s campaign raised $26.9m, slightly more than the $25.2m for Collins through mid-October.”
SupportedCollins said it had been 92 years since a Maine senator chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee and called it a “once-in-a-century opportunity.”LAist: ““It has been 92 years since a Maine senator was chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the most powerful committee in the Senate,” Collins told reporters. “When I took over last year, I realized I had a once-in-a-century opportunity to help the state of Maine and pursue national priorities as well.””
SupportedCollins said during a debate that she was “not exactly his favorite senator,” referring to Trump.LAist: “She tried to distance herself from Trump, saying during a debate that she is “not exactly his favorite senator.””
SupportedJackson said Collins was “like an arsonist who helps set the fire and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out.”LAist: ““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,” he said.”
SupportedCollins was 73.LAist: “Collins, 73, was first elected in 1996 and is one of the most well-known figures in Maine politics.”
SupportedJackson was 58.LAist: “Jackson, 58, initially ran for the Democratic nomination for governor and lost.”