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Troy Jackson defeats GOP Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, padding Democrats’ majority
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine, strengthening the Democratic majority in the Senate following the midterm elections.
- Collins, the only Republican senator from a state Donald Trump lost in 2020, faced criticism for her alignment with Trump, whom Jackson and his allies tied her to amid his low approval ratings.
- Jackson, a progressive and former logger from northern Maine, emphasized his working-class roots and criticized Collins for not using her seniority to block Trump’s policies, while Collins highlighted her success in securing federal funding for Maine.
- Despite Collins' efforts to distance herself from Trump and her record of bipartisanship, anti-Trump sentiment in Maine contributed to her defeat after nearly three decades in the Senate.
- Jackson’s political evolution from a conservative logger and former Republican to a progressive Democrat helped him connect with voters, aided by strong union support and a favorable political environment for Democrats.
