# Maine Senate race hinges on Collins, not Jackson > In a tight contest to control the Senate, Maine's race is uniquely about the incumbent's record rather than her challenger's vision. - Title: Maine Senate race hinges on Collins, not Jackson · TIME - Summary: In a tight contest to control the Senate, Maine's race is uniquely about the incumbent's record rather than her challenger's vision. - Keywords: susan collins, troy jackson, maine senate race, two thousand twenty-six election, republican incumbent, democratic challenger, federal spending, economic anxiety, corruption investigation, working-class politics, TIME - Source: TIME — https://time.com/article/2026/10/26/in-maine-a-toss-up-senate-race-is-about-the-incumbent-and-not-much-else - Author: Julia Terruso - Published: 2026-10-26T11:00:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: susan collins, troy jackson, maine senate race, two thousand twenty-six election, republican incumbent, democratic challenger, federal spending, economic anxiety, corruption investigation, working-class politics ## Collins defends her record on tariffs At a Portland debate, Republican Senator Susan Collins claimed credit for exempting concrete and road salt from President Trump's Canadian import levies, saving one small Maine town ten thousand dollars and a concrete business owner… ## Jackson's viral comeback Democrat Troy Jackson responded by asking what about everything else going up in price, then said, we can't eat road salt.The remark sparked let them eat road salt memes and became the race's defining moment. > We can't eat road salt. ## The race is about Collins, not Jackson Maine's Senate contest stands out among races deciding Senate control because it focuses on the incumbent rather than the challenger. > This race is about Susan Collins and asking the people of Maine whether or not it's time for change. ## Jackson replaces withdrawn primary winner Jackson became the Democratic nominee after Graham Platner, the primary winner, withdrew following accusations of sexual assault, which Platner denied. Though their policy platforms are nearly identical, Jackson's subdued style contrasts sharply with Platner's charisma. ## Jackson's understated presence Jackson typically wears a Red Sox cap, fleece vest and cell phone on a belt clip. ## Jackson's strength is authenticity Toby McGrath, who ran President Barack Obama's campaign in Maine in two thousand eight and two thousand twelve, says Troy's a salt of the earth guy whose biggest strength is his authenticity. > Troy's a salt of the earth guy. His biggest strength is his authenticity. ## Both campaigns sharpen attacks Jackson has highlighted a ProPublica report that the FBI and Justice Department sought to open a pay-to-play bribery probe into Collins, which she denied. ## Collins distances herself from attack ad Collins distanced herself from the super PAC ad attacking Jackson and called for it to be taken down, though the race remains unclear whether such attacks are breaking through with voters. ## Collins warns of lost seniority Collins told Fox News digital that Jackson would be one hundred in seniority, and all of that essential federal funding targeted for the state of Maine, virtually all of it will go away if he… > He'll be 100 in seniority. And all of that essential federal funding targeted for the state of Maine, virtually all of it will go away. ## Collins' long Senate tenure Susan Collins is Maine's longest-serving member of Congress and the longest-serving Republican woman in Senate history. Astoundingly, she has never missed a roll-call vote since taking office in nineteen ninety-seven. ## Collins' controversial votes Collins, seventy-three, has faced criticism for confirming Trump cabinet members including Health Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr., and for elevating Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. ## Collins' federal funding record Most Maine towns have benefited from Collins' role as chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, which steered funding for community centers, railroad improvement projects and shipyards. ## Jackson capitalizes on economic anxiety Jackson has capitalized on economic anxieties by referencing high heating oil costs in his final ads, hitting airwaves as residents fill tanks for winter in the nation's fourth-coldest state. ## Jackson's working-class background Jackson's mom was sixteen when she had him in Aroostook County in rural northern Maine. ## Jackson's path to state politics When Canadian loggers started taking work from locals, Jackson helped lead a blockade at the border. ## Jackson's debate stumble In the final debate before the election, Jackson told Collins to shut up after she accused a protester of being one of his supporters. ## The race comes down to Collins A September CNN poll found seventy-one percent of Jackson voters said theirs was a vote against Collins, while only twenty-nine percent said it was a vote for Jackson. ## Key takeaway Maine's Senate race between Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson turns on voters' view of Collins herself, with Jackson's campaign keeping focus on her record rather than his own platform.