# Troy Jackson beats Susan Collins in Maine Senate race > Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins in Maine Senate race, ending 30-year Republican hold. - Title: Troy Jackson beats Susan Collins in Maine Senate race - Summary: Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins in Maine Senate race, ending 30-year Republican hold. Troy Jackson, a former logger, wins Maine Senate seat against… - Keywords: troy jackson, susan collins, maine senate, democrat, republican, senate, maine, us senate, election, 2026 election, trump policies, senate control - Source: The Boston Globe — https://bostonglobe.com/2026/11/04/nation/troy-jackson-beats-susan-collins-maine-senate - Read time: 1 min - Topics: troy jackson, susan collins, maine senate, democrat, republican, senate, maine, us senate, election, 2026 election, trump policies, senate control ## Collins concedes to Jackson Republican Senator Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson after a historic midterm performance. > I called Troy Jackson tonight to congratulate him and to assure him that my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition ## Jackson declares victory Jackson took the stage in Portland to declare victory after speaking to Collins, saying they did big things despite being told they couldn't. > We were told we couldn't do big things here, and we did them anyways ## Jackson's unusual path Jackson, a former logger from Allagash, entered the race after Graham Platner dropped out amid a rape allegation. > A little more than 100 days ago, I stood in front of our convention and asked you to put your faith in a logger from Allagash ## Maine voters demand change Maine voters are angry over Trump-era costs and a broken Washington, rejecting Collins' middle-of-the-road politics. > they are angry over skyrocketing costs on President Trump's watch and, more generally, at an increasingly broken Washington ## Jackson's victory speech Jackson promised to enter the Senate chamber centering his identity as a union member and joined the crowd in singing 'Solidarity Forever'. > You gave the power to me, and my job is to use it for you ## Collins' 30-year career Collins, first elected in 1996, faced stiffer headwinds in this Democratic-leaning state than ever before in her career. > the consummate political survivor and prolific legislator first elected in 1996 ## Jackson's campaign challenges Jackson struggled to scale a national campaign and maintain energy after Platner's campaign ended. > There was no plan. There was no blueprint for this ## Collins' financial advantage Collins vastly outspent Jackson and his supporters on TV airwaves, reflecting a national GOP cash deluge. > On TV airwaves, Collins and her allies vastly outspent Jackson and his supporters ## Collins' policy challenges Collins faced scrutiny over Trump-era policies including tariffs, Iran war, and a fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford. > It withered amid the intensity of Trump's second term, which saw her trying to navigate a cautious middle ground amid damaging tariffs, war with Iran, a fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford ## Jackson's strategy Jackson exploited the environment by targeting Trump-era costs and Collins' record of voting with Trump. > Jackson hit Collins hard over her record of voting in line with Trump and sought to pin the rising costs of fuel and other necessities on her ## Jackson's victory impact Jackson's win ends Collins' 30-year Senate tenure and shifts Maine to Democratic control. > The outcome is a stark change in representation for Maine, and the ouster of one of the last remaining Republican moderates in Congress ## Jackson's campaign timeline Jackson entered the race after Platner dropped out, quickly winning a convention process to replace him. > Jackson, who placed third in the governor primary, quickly won a rapid-fire convention process to replace him ## Key takeaway Troy Jackson, a former logger, wins Maine Senate seat against long-serving Republican Susan Collins, shifting Democratic control in the state and signaling voter anger over Trump-era policies.