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Democrat Jackson leads Republican Collins by 3 points in Maine Senate race
According to the latest poll from the University of New Hampshire, Democrat Troy Jackson holds a 3-point lead over Republican Susan Collins. Fox News' power rankings rate this critical race as a 'toss-up'.
The Senate race in Maine has become a key battleground between Democrats and Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The University of New Hampshire Survey Center's Pine Tree Poll found that Democratic candidate Troy Jackson holds a 3-point advantage over Republican Senator Susan Collins, who is running for a sixth term. Fox News' data-driven power rankings also placed this race in the 'toss-up' category.
Democratic candidate Troy Jackson is a former Maine Senate President and a fifth-generation logger. Jackson emerged after the party's initial candidate, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race following a news report containing a rape allegation by his ex-girlfriend. Although Platner denied the allegation, he dropped out under pressure from top Democrats. Jackson virtually guaranteed the nomination by winning the support of the vast majority of the 500 delegates elected from the state's 16 counties.
Jackson's working-class focused policies
A former conservative Republican who switched to the Democratic Party more than two decades ago, Jackson is also backed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and his Our Revolution group. Jackson's campaign platform is built on policies that appeal to working-class voters, such as higher taxes on billionaires, a universal healthcare system 'Medicare for All', abolishing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, and cutting military aid to Israel.
Collins faces a challenging political climate
Senator Susan Collins is battling an unfavorable environment for her party as she runs for a sixth term. President Donald Trump's low approval ratings, persistent inflation, and the unpopular Iran war are making it difficult for Republicans. Known as a moderate Republican, Collins earned bipartisan appreciation last month by casting her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote. However, Democrats criticize Collins for confirming Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, a vote that paved the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Additionally, following a deadly shooting involving ICE agents in Maine, Collins' support for the ICE budget as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has also drawn intense criticism.
Six years ago, Collins retained her seat by winning the election by about 9 points, despite trailing in the polls against her Democratic opponent Sara Gideon.
A critical race for Senate control
Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. Democrats need a net gain of 4 seats in the midterm elections to reclaim the majority. In addition to Maine, Republican-held seats in Alaska, Iowa, and Ohio are also classified as 'toss-ups' in the Fox News power rankings.
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