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MIDTERMS 2026 - SENATE

Maine

TOSS UP R-held - Jackson was picked by a party convention after primary winner Graham Platner withdrew

Election day is Tuesday, November 3 - 7 days away.

DEMOCRAT

Troy Jackson

Former Maine Senate president and logger from rural northern Maine (Allagash), who finished third in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor. source

REPUBLICAN - INCUMBENT

Susan Collins

Five-term U.S. senator (since 1997) seeking a sixth term. source

Where they differ

Only issues they disagree on. Each position is something the candidate said, voted for or published, linked to where.

Medicare for All

JACKSON

Supports Medicare for All 'so that people I know across the state have health care.' source

COLLINS

Opposes it, saying it would let 'Big Government' take over the entire health care system. source

ICE

JACKSON

Says ICE should be abolished and should not have received a funding increase. source

COLLINS

Says ICE needs 'serious reforms' but should continue to exist; defends DHS funding with added safeguards. source

Supreme Court expansion

JACKSON

Supports adding justices to the Supreme Court, plus term limits and ethics reforms. source

COLLINS

Opposes adding justices, saying it would 'make it a total political body.' source

Voter ID

JACKSON

Says no ID should be required to vote. source

COLLINS

Supports requiring voter ID, saying 'Only Americans should vote in American elections.' source

Assault-weapon purchase age

JACKSON

Opposes raising the minimum age to buy an assault weapon from 18 to 21; supports banning new assault-weapon sales. source

COLLINS

Open to raising the minimum age from 18 to 21; supports a bump-stock ban and 'reasonable' magazine limits. source

Kavanaugh confirmation

JACKSON

Says Collins's 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who helped overturn Roe, was a mistake. source

COLLINS

Stands by her vote, though she disagrees with his ruling on abortion. source

The money

Each campaign's own filings with the Federal Election Commission, for the whole 2026 cycle. Reports are filed on different days, so check the date under each name.

RAISED

Jackson $26.9M

Collins $25.2M

SPENT

Jackson $25.3M

Collins $23.8M

CASH LEFT

Jackson $1.6M

Collins $2.7M

Jackson: through 2026-10-14; Collins: through 2026-10-14. Source: FEC, read 2026-10-23.

Outside groups

Money super PACs, parties and other groups reported spending on their own to help or hurt each candidate.

Troy Jackson

to help $1.8M

to hurt $43K

Susan Collins

to help $2.9M

to hurt $1.6M

Independent expenditures reported to the FEC for the 2026 cycle, primary included. Groups that do not have to report (some issue ads) are not counted.

Latest polling

A Suffolk University poll (Oct. 8-11, 500 likely voters, +/-4.4) had Jackson 49%, Collins 47%. source

Maine right now

How the state is doing going into the vote, from the people who count it.

JOBLESS RATE

3.3%

US: 4.2%

September 2026, seasonally adjusted, preliminary. Source: BLS

GAS, REGULAR

$4.29

US: $4.27

State average on 2026-10-27. Source: AAA

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Troy Jackson by ArenLeBrun, CC0; Susan Collins by U.S. Congress, Public domain.

Positions checked 2026-10-23. Things they agree on are left out on purpose. Spot something wrong? Use the feedback button and we will fix it.