Maine’s Senate Race: A Close Contest

The recent Senate race in Maine shows a close contest between incumbent Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson. Despite a Democratic-leaning environment, Collins holds a tie with Jackson. Her appeal to Maine’s Democrats and focus on state issues have kept her competitive.

Collins has a slight advantage in terms of bringing federal funds to Maine. A notable factor is her ability to attract voters who disapprove of Trump, surpassing the typical support for Republican candidates nationwide. On the other hand, Jackson’s support stems from those who believe Collins aligns too closely with Trump and from those opposing tariffs and seeking a Democrat-controlled Senate.

A notable 10% of voters remain undecided, indicating that the outcome could still swing either way. Even among voters who think Jackson’s policies could improve their finances, one in five still support Collins.

Additionally, while many voters feel Trump’s policies have harmed Maine’s economy, with Jackson winning most of these individuals, Collins’ long-time service record works in her favor. She performs well with voters who have consistently supported her over the years.

Democratic nominee Jackson faces internal challenges. Four in ten Democrats and most independents desire an alternative nominee. Jackson’s popularity lags behind Hannah Pingree, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, who closely aligns with the state’s partisan tendencies. Pingree also pulls support from voters splitting their tickets to favor Collins.

The survey, conducted by CBS News/YouGov, included 1,114 registered voters in Maine from September 23 to October 1, 2026. It was weighted by gender, age, race, and education using U.S. Census data, alongside the 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error is ± 4.7 points.

David Van Riper contributed to this report.