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← Maine on November 3

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.

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  • Susan Collins

    Republican · holds this seat today

    B
    Liberty Score B

    On 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

    F
    Liberty Score F

    34 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.

Confronts tyranny and terror
D-
Collins8 of 13 votes with liberty
F
JacksonAgainst liberty, from 1 source
Stands with free nations and free peoples
A
Collins24 of 24 votes with liberty
F
JacksonBoth ways, from 3 sources
Free speech and a free mind
–
Collins1 of 1, too few to grade
A
JacksonWith liberty, from 1 source
Free markets and free trade
B-
Collins11 of 13 votes with liberty
F
JacksonAgainst liberty, from 2 sources
One law, equal for every individual
A-
Collins6 of 7 votes with liberty
F
JacksonAgainst liberty, from 2 sources
Strong enough to stay free
A
Collins9 of 9 votes with liberty
?
JacksonNot clear either way, from 1 source
Citizenship and the rule of law
A-
Collins16 of 18 votes with liberty
F
JacksonBoth ways, from 2 sources

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.

  • September 2, 2026 · News reportTyranny

    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.

  • July 16, 2026 · News reportFree nations

    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.

  • September 30, 2026 · News reportFree nations

    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.

  • October 2026 · His campaign siteFree nations

    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.

  • April 17, 2026 · Candidate questionnaireFree speech

    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.

  • October 2026 · His campaign siteFree markets

    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.

  • October 2026 · His campaign siteFree markets

    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.

  • April 17, 2026 · Candidate questionnaireEqual rights

    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.

  • October 2026 · His campaign siteEqual rights

    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.

  • August 5, 2026 · Campaign statement in a news reportDefense

    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.

  • September 21, 2026 · News reportBorders

    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.

  • October 2026 · His campaign siteBorders

    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.

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