Maine Senate
Susan Collins (R) holds this seat and is running again. 2 candidates were on the ballot on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report rates it a toss-up.
Who should win this race, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss
Susan Collins
Republican · holds this seat today
BLiberty Score BOn the liberty side in 75 of 85 votes and bills.
Raised $22,465,218 since January 2025: 68% from people, 25% transfers and other income, 7% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov

Troy Jackson
Democrat · logger, former president of the Maine Senate
FLiberty Score F34 out of 100 across 6 principles. Graded on what Jackson has said and done, because I have no votes in Congress to count for Jackson.
Raised $26,872,874 since January 2025: 89% from people, 9% transfers and other income, 1% from PACs and other committees. The filing at FEC.gov
Higher on Liberty Score: Susan Collins. Susan Collins: B, 85 out of 100 from recorded votes. Troy Jackson: F, 34 out of 100 from words and actions, with no votes in Congress to count.
Voting in Maine: how to register, vote early or vote by mail. Election Day was November 3.
Side by side
A solid letter is a grade from recorded votes on that principle. An outlined letter is on the same scale, for a candidate with no votes: it comes from what that candidate has said and done, and every source is listed below.
Troy Jackson, on the record
I have no votes in Congress to count for Jackson, so the grade above comes from this list: what Jackson has said and done on my principles. Each line has its source, and each is marked with the same test I use for votes.
-
Called the war with the Islamic Republic ridiculous and said Senator Collins, as chair of the Appropriations Committee, should cut off the money for it.
“Well, yeah, there’s something you can do. I mean, you can shut off the money. And that is what she should do as chair of appropriations. If she doesn’t agree with this Iran war”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote to stop American action against the regime in Tehran as against liberty. Cutting off the money for the war does the same thing.
-
At the first debate among the Democrats seeking the nomination, supported American aid to Ukraine, as every candidate on the stage did, according to Reuters.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
I count a vote for aid to Ukraine as with liberty.
-
Apologized for saying it was unfortunate that some people in Maine reject the word genocide for the war in Gaza only because they are Jewish, kept the word, and said he would fight antisemitism in the Senate.
“In the U.S. Senate, I’ll fight antisemitism and work for lasting peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
A pledge to fight antisemitism and work for peace does not say whether he treats Israel as an ally. It settles nothing, so it counts for nothing.
-
Lists among his priorities an end to American tax dollars for Israel's military, and calls the war in Gaza a genocide.
“End the genocide in Gaza. No U.S. tax dollars to Israel's military.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count votes for security aid to Israel as with liberty, and votes to cut it as against.
-
Answered yes when Maine Public asked, during his run for governor, whether he supports the First Amendment, including speech and a press he might consider biased.
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
The measure is no censorship by government. He says the protection covers speech he disagrees with.
-
Puts Medicare for All, government health insurance for every American, first on his list of priorities.
“Pass Medicare for all.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure is free markets. Government health insurance for everyone is a large new government program, the other direction.
-
Lists among his priorities both higher taxes on billionaires and corporations and tax cuts for working-class people.
“Tax the billionaires and make sure greedy corporations pay their fair share. Deliver tax cuts for the working class.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
Lower taxes is the measure. He wants them lower for some and higher for others and names no bill, so it counts for nothing.
-
Answered no when Maine Public asked, during his run for governor, whether he supports a ban on transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports and the dismantling of other protections under the Maine Human Rights Act.
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act as with liberty. The question joined two things, and his answer to it was no.
-
Lists among his priorities a federal civil rights law to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination.
“Pass comprehensive civil rights legislation protecting the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
I count a vote for the Equality Act, which writes gender identity into federal civil rights law, as against liberty. This is a pledge to pass a law of that kind.
-
His campaign told the Bangor Daily News that he would put diplomacy ahead of open-ended military intervention and would not have Washington enrich defense contractors.
“Troy would demand real congressional oversight, put diplomacy ahead of open-ended military intervention, rebuild relationships with allies like Canada and make sure Washington is investing in American workers and communities — not enriching defense contractors or multinational corporations”
- By the test I use for votes
- Not clear either way
The measure is funding and equipping the armed forces. This does not say whether he would vote for the yearly defense bill, so it counts for nothing.
-
In written answers to the Portland Press Herald, said the border must be secured and immigration enforcement handed to a different government agency.
“We need to secure the border, and we need to return immigration enforcement to a professional government agency that doesn’t target Black and brown people at the whim of Donald Trump”
- By the test I use for votes
- With liberty
A secure border is the measure. Taken with the line above, his record on it is mixed.
-
Lists among his priorities abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency that carries out deportations.
“Dismantle and abolish ICE.”
- By the test I use for votes
- Against liberty
The measure is enforcing immigration law and deporting those who break it. This removes the agency that does it.
Who is on the ballot: the state election offices, as listed on Wikipedia on November 3, 2026, checked against the candidate file of the Federal Election Commission. Race rating: the Cook Political Report, November 2, 2026. See a name that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.
Who should win this race, and why?
Say it where other readers can answer you. Opinions, videos and corrections about this race are all in one place.
Discussion
Maine Senate
Opinions, videos, corrections and bug reports about this race, all in one place. What readers post is their words, not mine. My answers carry the Host tag.
Leave out anything private about anyone. The rules, what your account keeps, and what readers have changed so far
Know this race better than I do?
Argue it with the hosts on a call. The community meets every day, and members help decide what goes on these pages.