Collins and Jackson clash on influence in Maine Senate runoff

Maine voters face a stark choice in Tuesday's Senate runoff between two competing definitions of power. The contest pits incumbent Susan Collins, who emphasizes her ability to direct federal funds to the state, against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, who argues that Collins has failed to use her congressional position to check President Donald Trump.

The race has become the most expensive per capita in the nation, with political groups spending more than $200 million. The majority of that money funded negative advertising and mailers. Monied interests, including billionaire Elon Musk, have invested heavily, reflecting the high stakes involved in potentially shifting control of the Senate.

Collins, the only Republican in New England, has run a hyperlocal campaign centered on her seniority and role as chair of the Senate appropriations committee. She highlighted her influence in late August when she visited Kenduskeag to celebrate a new library funded by a federal earmark. Collins stated she has secured funding for 45 fire stations statewide, using the visit to illustrate how her position brings money to Maine that might otherwise go to other states.

Jackson, a former logger and state legislator, has sought to nationalize the race. He framed Collins as an enabler of the president's second term during an event in Brunswick. Jackson claimed that Collins could have stopped tariffs and the war in Iran but chose not to. He aligned himself with organized labor and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, mirroring the platform of Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race after a scandal in late July.

The candidates have brought in high-profile surrogates to bolster their messages. New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned with Jackson in Portland, urging women to elect him. Collins campaigned with former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who called her the soul of the Senate. Vice President JD Vance also visited Maine to support the Republican ticket, praising Collins as an independent friend while defending the president's trade war with Canada.

Collins has had to navigate the tension between her independent identity and her relationship with the White House. She requested specific carve-outs on Canadian tariffs and the release of home heating oil reserves to mitigate the effects of the Iran war. Jackson contends that these requests are necessary because Collins has not stood up to the administration directly. Collins maintains she votes independently and seeks to represent the center rather than a straight party line.

Voters in Kennebunk and other communities have expressed mixed feelings about Jackson's candidacy. Some, like Lisa Eaton, admitted they ranked him lower in the primary due to a lack of enthusiasm despite his alignment with their economic interests. Jackson has worked to change that perception, telling audiences he owes the people of Maine everything. The final vote will determine whether Collins returns to Washington for a sixth term or yields her seat to Jackson.