Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican from Maine who weathered the confirmation battle over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and years of political fights, lost her seat Wednesday morning to Democrat Troy Jackson.
With 69.2% of the expected vote counted, Jackson led Collins 52.4% to 47.5%. Collins conceded early Wednesday.
In a statement, Collins called serving Maine in the Senate the honor of her life and said she was proud of what she had accomplished for the state and country over 30 years. She said she had called Jackson to congratulate him and promised her staff would help with a smooth transition.
Jackson spoke to supporters at his election night gathering in Portland. Later, he thanked Maine voters on X, saying he was ready to work for them in the Senate and would remember where he came from and whom he represented.
Jackson was not initially the Democrats’ nominee. Oysterman Graham Platner won the June 9 primary with 72.1% of the vote, but withdrew in July after facing an allegation of sexual assault. Platner called the allegation categorically false. On July 25, party delegates chose Jackson, 58, a former president of the Maine Senate, to take his place by a vote of 566 to five.
Jackson raised $20.4 million in the quarter ending in September, almost four times Collins’ $5.2 million. Still, groups supporting Collins spent more on advertising than groups backing Jackson: $85.3 million compared with $53.9 million.
Collins was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and was the last Republican in Congress from New England. She campaigned on her record of breaking with President Donald Trump, saying during an October debate that she had voted against her party more often than any other senator from either party.
Her defeat came during a difficult night for Republicans. Democrats won control of both the House and the Senate. No sitting Maine senator had lost re-election since 1978.
