Fifth-generation logger Troy Jackson has defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a major upset in Maine, according to election projections. The win gives Democrats a significant gain in one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 midterms.
Collins’ defeat ends a Senate career that began in 1996 and lasted nearly 30 years. She was seeking a sixth term.
“Maine, I owe you everything,” Jackson wrote on X. “I’m ready to get to work for Mainers in the U.S. Senate, and I promise you this: I’ll never forget where I came from or who I’m fighting for.”
In a concession statement, Collins said serving Maine had been the honor of her life and that she was proud of what she had accomplished for the state and country. She said she had called Jackson to congratulate him and would help ensure a smooth transition.
Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate, represented parts of Aroostook County in the state Legislature. He ran as a working-class Democrat and labor advocate, promising to challenge Washington’s political establishment and wealthy interests.
He entered the race after Graham Platner withdrew in July amid sexual assault allegations. Maine Democrats then voted to put Jackson on the ballot. Jackson’s campaign also faced scrutiny after reports emerged that his longtime partner, with whom he has two children, is his second cousin; they share great-grandparents. The controversy did not prevent his victory.
Collins, Maine’s longest-serving member of Congress, chaired the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, giving her a prominent role in federal spending and funding for state projects. Her campaign emphasized her independence and record of working across party lines, as well as her efforts on infrastructure, veterans’ issues, rural communities and federal aid.
Her relationship with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party became a central issue in the contest. Democrats criticized her votes for Trump-backed policies and her support for confirming Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, arguing that her moderate reputation did not reflect her record. Collins pointed to occasions when she had opposed Trump and Republicans, saying voters valued her willingness to break with her party.
Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin campaigned alongside Collins during the final weeks, backing her argument that she could work with lawmakers from both parties.
Jackson’s win marks a major political change in Maine and ends Collins’ long run as one of the state’s most successful Republican candidates. Collins won reelection by almost nine points in 2020, but Democrats went into the 2026 race with an advantage as the state’s electorate has shifted toward their party and opposition to the Trump administration has grown.
Jackson will arrive in the Senate with experience leading the state Legislature and close ties to organized labor and rural Maine. His election could make him a prominent voice on economic issues as Democrats try to win over working-class voters nationwide.
