Who's In the Race

Maine's U.S. Senate seat (Class II) is headed to the November 3 general election between two nominees. Democrat Troy Jackson advanced from a six-candidate primary on June 9, 2026, with certified results. Republican Susan Collins, the incumbent senator, ran unopposed in her primary and was certified as the Republican nominee the same day. [](#ngr-2b35b32f-10cd-4ddb-aa52-9b4e6bb85eef)

Jackson replaced Graham Platner on the ballot in July, after the oyster farmer dropped out of the race amid allegations of sexual assault — which he denied.

This week, a story broke alleging that Maine Senator Collins steered millions of dollars in federal contracts to a Hawaii-based defense contractor in exchange for donations to her 2020 campaign.

What They Stand For

Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate President, has built his campaign around a "Contract with Working Mainers." His core positions include:

  • Medicare for All and allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, with a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs
  • Raising the federal minimum wage to $20 per hour and strengthening unions
  • Reversing what he calls tax giveaways to billionaires and corporations
  • Building affordable housing and blocking out-of-state and Wall Street buyers from purchasing Maine starter homes
  • Protecting public access to Maine's woods and waters and guarding against large-scale land purchases by out-of-state buyers
  • Strengthening Social Security

Jackson's platform is sourced from his official campaign website, the Portland Press Herald voter guide, and Maine AFL-CIO reporting.

Collins centers her campaign on her role as the first Maine senator in nearly 100 years to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee, which she says positions her to direct federal dollars to Maine priorities including infrastructure, medical research, rural hospitals, veterans' services, and defense contractors like Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Her key positions include:

  • Making health care more affordable and accessible, particularly for rural Mainers and seniors
  • Co-authoring a bipartisan amendment providing $35 billion to a rural health fund, with 20 percent set aside for rural health providers
  • Opposing Medicaid cuts, including voting against the final version of a Republican reconciliation bill over its projected $5.9 billion impact on Maine's Medicaid program

Collins's platform draws from her official campaign website, including her track record page, about page, and posted op-eds.

The Money Behind the Race

Outside groups have spent a combined $15,086,019 in independent expenditures in this race, with $11,313,165 directed at Democratic candidates and $3,772,854 directed at the Republican candidate, Collins.

Of that total, $10,565,895 went toward opposing candidates and $4,520,124 toward supporting them.

The Democratic total covers spending on both primary figure Graham Platner and general-election nominee Jackson.

Race Outlook

Every major race-rating service calls this a toss-up. Cook Political Report rated it a toss-up as of Sept. 23, 2026; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it a toss-up as of Sept. 22; and Inside Elections rated it a toss-up as of Sept. 17. A New York Times/Sienna poll released today placed Collins three points ahead.

On the prediction market Kalshi, as of Sept. 24, 2026, Democrats held a 71 percent implied probability of winning the seat, with Republicans at 29 percent, based on $5,893,377 in market volume.

Maine's recent federal election history reflects a competitive, split-ticket state. Democrat Chellie Pingree won Maine's 1st U.S. House District with about 61 percent of the vote in 2022 and nearly 57 percent in 2024. Democrat Jared F. Golden won Maine's 2nd U.S. House District in 2024 with about 49 percent of the vote. The available record for the 2022 race in Maine's 2nd U.S. House District does not include a winner field. In 2024, independent Angus S. King Jr. won Maine's other U.S. Senate seat with about 51 percent of the vote.

Ballotpedia showed President Trump losing in the state in the 2024 election.

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