Democrats win stunning upset as Collins loses Senate seat in Maine
Democratic lumberjack and former state senate president Troy Jackson defeated five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins, who held the Maine seat since 1997.
Troy Jackson won Maine's US Senate race, ending Susan Collins' nearly three-decade tenure in Congress in one of the midterms' biggest upsets. Jackson, 58, a lumberjack and former state senate president, ran on progressive economic policies.
Jackson painted Collins as loyal to Trump despite her moderate image. The race was marked by mutual accusations of corruption and clashing over living costs in rural Maine.
Jackson argued Collins' votes, including confirming conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, had empowered Trump's agenda. The victory hands Democrats one of their most sought-after wins in this election cycle.
- 58
- Jackson's age
- since 1997
- Collins' tenure
- five
- Collins' terms
- nearly 30 years
- Tenure ending
Why it mattersThe result changes which party controls the Senate. As the only Senate Republican running in a state Trump lost in 2024, Collins' defeat signals vulnerability for Republicans in states Biden won.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet, but a Democratic Senate majority could shift US foreign policy and trade positions relevant to Australian interests.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
