Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated five-term Republican senator Susan Collins in Maine, securing a major Senate seat gain for his party in the United States midterm elections held on Tuesday, 3 November 2026. The Associated Press called the race for Jackson, while Collins acknowledged defeat, bringing an end to nearly three decades representing Maine in Washington.
The result is a Democratic flip, not a defence of an existing Democratic seat. Collins was one of the Republican Party’s most prominent moderates and had repeatedly survived difficult elections in a state that has generally favoured Democratic presidential candidates.
Jackson, 58, is a former Maine Senate president and a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, a rural community near the Canadian border. He entered the contest unusually late after the previous Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew. Jackson had earlier sought his party’s nomination for governor before switching to the Senate race in July.
Despite having little more than three months to campaign, Jackson built his appeal around living costs, healthcare and workers’ rights. He argued that Collins had not done enough to challenge President Donald Trump’s policies. Collins countered that her seniority, committee leadership and ability to secure federal funding gave Maine an experienced and effective advocate.
Collins, 73, first won election to the Senate in 1996. She chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and made her reputation as a Republican willing to break with her party on selected issues. She also faced criticism from Democrats over votes they said had helped advance Trump’s agenda, including her support for Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
In a concession statement, Collins described serving Maine in the Senate as the honour of her life and expressed pride in her work for the state and the country. Her concession is separate from the official certification of election results, which follows state procedures after ballots are counted and reviewed.
The campaign unfolded amid concerns over the cost of heating oil, fuel and housing. Maine’s economy also felt pressure from trade tensions with neighbouring Canada, which affect businesses connected to tourism, forestry and other cross-border activity. Jackson’s working-class background helped distinguish him from the long-serving incumbent, although his campaign also attracted scrutiny over his temperament and political positions.
Jackson had served in Maine’s legislature for roughly two decades, including multiple terms leading the state Senate. His political career grew from disputes over working conditions in the logging industry. He received support from progressive figures, including independent senator Bernie Sanders, while Collins appealed to voters who valued bipartisan negotiation and institutional experience.
The Maine result contributes to the wider Democratic gains reported across the country. Other Senate contests have also changed party hands, but the outcome of each race must be assessed separately. A projected winner is not the same as a certified result, and a party gaining a seat is different from retaining one it already held.
Control of the Senate affects the confirmation of senior federal officials and judges, legislative negotiations, spending measures and congressional scrutiny of the executive branch. Those powers also shape decisions with international consequences, including immigration policy, foreign assistance and relations with African countries. The Maine election itself does not establish any immediate change to visa rules or US policy towards Nigeria.
Jackson is expected to join the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January 2027, following the completion of the electoral process. His victory removes one of the Republican Party’s longest-serving senators and gives Democrats another seat in the chamber.
Image: Troy Jackson in the Maine Senate chamber, 2023. Photograph by ArenLeBrun, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0 public-domain dedication.
