Democrat Troy Jackson Unseats Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, Ending Her Bid for a Sixth Term

Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine early Wednesday, The Associated Press reported, ending the career of one of the GOP’s most durable statewide candidates.

The Fox News Decision Desk also projected Jackson the winner. The seat was one of at least seven Democrats flipped as they won control of the Senate.

Collins conceded in a statement. “It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Maine in the United States Senate,” she said.

“I’m proud of all I have been able to accomplish for our state and for our country in the past 30 years,” Collins added.

She said, “I called Troy Jackson tonight to congratulate him and to assure him that my staff and I will work to ensure a smooth transition.”

Jackson thanked voters on X. “Maine, I owe you everything,” he wrote. “I’ll never forget where I came from or who I’m fighting for.”

At his election-night party in Portland, Jackson promised struggling families “someone who is fighting for you in Washington, D.C.”

A Late Replacement Who Ran on Costs

Jackson, 58, is a fifth-generation logger from rural Aroostook County and a former president of the Maine Senate. He served nearly 20 years in the Legislature after leading a loggers’ blockade on the Quebec border in the late 1990s.

He had a little more than 100 days to campaign. Jackson replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee in July, after Platner withdrew while facing a sexual assault allegation that he denied.

Jackson, a former campaign surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders, focused on housing and health care costs. Sanders joined him for rallies in October, and Jackson faced criticism over his temperament after telling Collins to “shut up” during a debate.

Collins, 73, was first elected in 1996 and was seeking a sixth term. She chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee and argued that her seniority brought federal money to Maine.

She entered Election Day as the only Republican member of Congress from New England, in a state that has backed Democrats for president since 1992. She won reelection in 2020 by nearly nine points.

Jackson attacked her as failing to check Trump, noting she helped advance the president’s tax and budget bill out of committee before voting against final passage.

“Sen. Collins is like an arsonist who helps set the fire and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,” Jackson said during the campaign.

Collins countered that she frequently broke with her party. Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin campaigned with her in the final weeks to make the case for her bipartisan record.

Her loss leaves New England without a Republican in Congress. Democrats had viewed defeating Collins as key to their Senate takeover, and she was among the GOP’s most threatened incumbents.

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