Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated Republican incumbent Susan Collins in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, according to the Associated Press. The result ends Collins’ nearly 30-year tenure in Congress and makes Jackson the first Democrat to represent Maine in the Senate since 1995.
Democrats had viewed Maine as one of their strongest opportunities to flip a Republican-held seat. Collins, the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate, had repeatedly won in a state that has consistently voted for Democrats at the state level.
Jackson entered the contest in August, replacing Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee after Platner suspended his campaign following an allegation of rape, which he denies. Jackson campaigned on a progressive populist platform, emphasizing his working-class background and ties to the labor movement.
He also sought to connect Collins to Trump administration policies that he argued were adding to economic pressures in Maine, including higher oil and gas prices linked to the Iran war and the effects of trade tensions with Canada. Polls showed the candidates in a virtual tie in the final stretch of the campaign.
The race drew more than a quarter of a billion dollars in advertising from groups aligned with both parties, according to AdImpact data. Collins presented herself as an independent voice and highlighted her work as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, while Democrats criticized parts of her record, including her 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Collins has said she does not regret that vote and supports abortion protections. She also argued during an October debate that Maine benefits from having a moderate senator willing to work across party lines. Jackson disputed her claim that her position brought a net benefit to the state, pointing to costs he associated with health care, the Iran war and tariffs.
Sources: NPR News.