# Troy Jackson Defeats Susan Collins in Maine Senate Race Long-serving Republican Senator Susan Collins loses seat to Democrat Troy Jackson in midterm upset. - **Source:** [TIME](https://time.com/) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/9a96423c-d5e5-42f0-801b-3d203964d4e5 ## Election Outcome in Maine Troy Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate and career logger, defeated incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. This victory ends Collins' three-decade tenure in the Senate and provides Democrats with a significant win during the midterm elections. Collins conceded the race to Jackson before the official Associated Press call was made. ## Path to the Nomination Jackson, 58, secured the Democratic nomination after the original candidate, Graham Platner, withdrew from the race midsummer. Platner faced allegations of sexual assault, which he categorized as untrue. Jackson utilized his background as a working-class advocate from rural northern Maine to build momentum and eventually secure the party's support for the seat. ## Economic Campaign Strategy Throughout his campaign, Jackson focused on the economic struggles of rural Maine, blaming Republican policies for the decline of local mills and unions. He contrasted his own humble upbringing in Allagash with the economic record of the Republican party. Jackson promised voters he would prioritize affordability and fight for the working class. ## Incumbent Defense Strategy Senator Susan Collins attempted to retain her seat by highlighting the federal funding and infrastructure projects she secured as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Despite her long record of bringing benefits to the state, voters ultimately prioritized the desire to shift control of Congress away from Republicans over her past contributions. ## Contentious Campaign Final Weeks The race intensified during the final weeks as polls indicated a neck-and-neck contest between the two candidates. Jackson faced criticism for telling Collins to shut up during a debate. Simultaneously, a super PAC aligned with Senate Republicans released a controversial radio ad attacking Jackson, which Collins publicly distanced herself from and requested removed. ## Jackson's Political Background Jackson entered politics in 2002 after leading a blockade at the Canadian border to protest temporary workers performing local logging jobs. His career includes serving in the state legislature and as Senate president. During his current campaign, he adopted progressive stances, including supporting Medicare for All and the abolition of ICE. ## Shifting Voter Sentiment Voters who previously supported Collins expressed that she had become less independent over time. Independent voters, such as former nonprofit CEO Marla O'Byrne, noted that while they appreciated Collins' past engagement, the current national political climate necessitated a change in leadership. Many voters felt the need for Democratic control outweighed their personal loyalty. ## Significance of the Result This election marks a major shift in Maine's political landscape, ending the career of the longest-serving female Republican Senator. The result reflects a broader desire among the electorate to move away from moderate Republicanism toward a different legislative direction. Jackson now prepares to transition from state leadership to the U.S. Senate. ## Sources covering this story - https://time.com/article/2026/11/04/maine-democrat-troy-jackson-defeats-republican-senator-susan-collins/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._