# Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins for Maine Senate

> Democrat Troy Jackson has won Maine's U.S. Senate seat, ousting 30-year Republican incumbent Susan Collins in a major victory for Democrats seeking Senate control.
- Title: Troy Jackson defeats Susan Collins for Maine Senate · NPR
- Summary: Democrat Troy Jackson has won Maine's U.S. Senate seat, ousting 30-year Republican incumbent Susan Collins in a major victory for Democrats seeking Senate…
- Keywords: troy jackson, susan collins, maine, u.s. senate, 2026 midterms, democrats, republicans, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/04/g-s1-148952/maine-senate-race-susan-collins-troy-jackson
- Published: 2026-11-04T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: troy jackson, susan collins, maine, u.s. senate, 2026 midterms, democrats, republicans, news
## Jackson defeats Collins in Maine
Troy Jackson, a Democrat, has defeated Republican incumbent Susan Collins for U.S. Senate in Maine, according to the Associated Press. The victory is crucial for Democrats seeking Senate majority.
## Collins' 30-year tenure ends
Collins, the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate, ends her nearly thirty-year tenure in Congress. Jackson becomes the first Democrat to represent Maine in the Senate since nineteen ninety-five.
## Jackson's rapid rise to nominee
A fifth-generation logger, Jackson became the Democratic nominee in August after Graham Platner suspended his campaign following an allegation of rape, which he denies. Jackson quickly became a national figure.
## Jackson's campaign message
Jackson ran on a progressive populist platform emphasizing his working-class background and deep ties to the labor movement. He linked Collins to Trump policies fueling economic concerns in Maine, including rising oil and gas prices.
## A quarter billion spent on ads
The race was one of the most expensive in this year's midterms. Democratic and Republican-aligned groups spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars on ads, according to data from AdImpact.
## Collins' Kavanaugh vote haunted her
Democrats attacked Collins' 2018 vote confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which expanded a conservative majority that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion in 2022. Collins said she does not regret the vote.
## Jackson challenges Collins' record
In an October interview with Maine Public Radio, Jackson said Collins brings in less federal money than Maine loses to Trump policies. "We're losing a lot more; our healthcare, Iran war, tariffs," he said.

> We're losing a lot more; our healthcare, Iran war, tariffs.
## Key takeaway

Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins for Maine's U.S. Senate seat on November 4, 2026, giving Democrats a crucial win in their bid to regain Senate majority.