Maine's 2026 Senate race: What to know about Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson
2026 Midterms: Maine Senate race
Fox News' Kailey Schuyler joins LiveNOW from FOX to preview Maine's Senate race. This race could impact who controls the Senate next term.
Troy Jackson will face longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine’s 2026 U.S. Senate election, a contest national analysts rate as a toss‑up and one that could help determine control of the chamber.
Who is Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson?
The backstory:
Jackson, a former state lawmaker and fifth‑generation logger from Aroostook County, became the Democratic nominee on July 25 after the party convened an emergency convention. Delegates selected him to replace Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race earlier in the month following an allegation of sexual assault that he denied.
Troy Jackson, Democratic nominee for Maine Senate, speaks before winning the vote at the Maine Democrats Senate Nominating Convention in Bangor, Maine, on Saturday, July 25, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The late switch left Jackson with barely 100 days to introduce himself to voters. He has leaned heavily on his rural roots, labor‑focused message and decades‑old reputation as a fighter for working Mainers. At recent events, Jackson has drawn crowds receptive to his populist pitch, even if his style differs from Platner, who had previously energized large audiences before exiting the race.
RELATED: Election 2026: What to know about the November midterm key races
What to know about Senator Susan Collins
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) addresses the press after a small business roundtable hosted by Republican Senatorial candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz at Washington Crossing Inn on November 6, 2022 in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mark Makela
The other side:
Collins, first elected in 1996, advanced easily from the Republican primary and entered the general election with a substantial fundraising advantage. She remains one of the GOP’s most durable incumbents, often navigating a careful political distance from President Donald Trump while maintaining strong support at home.
By the numbers:
Democrat Troy Jackson and incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins remain statistically tied in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, with polling showing little change since July.
Maine Senate race is hotly contested
Why you should care:
Democrats view Maine as one of their best chances to flip a seat in November, but Collins has repeatedly survived well‑funded efforts to unseat her. Jackson’s challenge is to consolidate Democratic support, introduce himself statewide and persuade independents that it’s time for a change.
In their Oct. 6 debate, Collins’ relationship with President Trump remained a major point of contention. Jackson pointed to Collins’ vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump nominee who later joined the majority in overturning Roe v. Wade and eliminating the federal constitutional right to abortion.
Collins, meanwhile, sought to emphasize her independence from Trump, pointing to disagreements with his administration over immigration enforcement, tariffs and the war with Iran. She also said she has opposed Trump more often than she opposed former President Joe Biden.
"I voted against my party more than any other senator on either side of the aisle," Collins said. "Not exactly his favorite senator," she added.
Graham Platner drops out of the Senate race
In early July, Graham Platner, the Democratic candidate for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, who had withstood multiple controversies throughout several months, announced that he would be dropping out of the race following a sexual assault allegation.
RELATED: Democrat Graham Platner exits Maine Senate race amid scandal
Big picture view:
Platner, who has never held elected office, won support in the primary from voters who were looking for a more combative candidate and recognized one in the military veteran and oyster farmer.
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner speaks at his Primary Election event on June 9, 2026 in Blue Hill, Maine. (Photo by CJ Gunther/Getty Images)
Dig deeper:
His supporters, who included many progressive leaders, often looked past many of the controversies that arose during the campaign, which included having a tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol and online postings dismissive of sexual assault. Just prior to the June 9 primary where Platner secured the nomination, reports arose that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with other women while married and became physical with a previous girlfriend.
Who wins the Senate race in Maine this fall is considered key to determining which party will control the upper chamber in the coming session. Democrats are eager to flip the seat by defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who is seeking her sixth term.
Susan Collins (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Troy Jackson (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Why Election 2026 matters?
Why you should care:
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, controlling the House with a razor-thin 218-212 edge, with one independent and four vacancies, and the Senate with a 53-47 advantage, including two independents who caucus with Democrats.
With every House seat and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, Democrats need a net gain of just six House seats to reclaim the speaker's gavel and four Senate seats to win back the upper chamber, making even a handful of competitive races capable of reshaping the balance of power in Washington.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by the Associated Press, Reuters, Ballotpedia and Previous reporting by LiveNOW from FOX. The University of New Hampshire survey center provided data for the poll. This story was reported from Orlando.