Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins as Democrats flip Maine Senate seat

• Democrat Troy Jackson defeated five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, flipping a Republican-held seat and adding to Democratic gains in the 2026 midterms.

• Jackson, 58, a former Maine Senate president and fifth-generation logger, secured the Democratic nomination in July after Graham Platner withdrew, leaving him just over 100 days to campaign.

• Collins, 73, first elected in 1996, was seeking a sixth term. She highlighted her bipartisan record and role as Senate Appropriations Committee chair, while Jackson criticized Collins’ support for President Donald Trump.

• Jackson campaigned on affordability, workers’ rights, and universal healthcare, drawing support from progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders.

• Collins had comfortably won reelection in 2020 despite Maine’s history of voting for Democratic presidential candidates. Her defeat ends nearly 30 years in the Senate.

• With 72% of the expected vote reported, Jackson led Collins 53% to 47%, with 291,682 votes against 258,254, according to ABC News’ live results.

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