Collins insists socialist rival won't beat her as Maine's money machine: 'You'll lose big time'

Maine’s Senate seat race remains a statistical toss‑up as the final debate approaches

A new Suffolk University poll released on October 14 shows Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger, former state Senate president Troy Jackson, tied in the eyes of likely voters (Jackson 49 percent to Collins 47 percent). The two‑point margin falls well within the poll’s margin of error and is the most recent sign that the race may be one of the most competitive in the nation.

The poll was taken from October 8‑11 and published just before the final debate of the campaign, slated for Thursday. Political analysts and non‑partisan rating agencies—including the Fox News Power Rankings, Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabato’s Crystal Ball—have all classified the Maine contest as a toss‑up, underscoring the high stakes for both parties.

Collins, who has served in the Senate for six terms, has framed her record as a key to securing federal money for the state. “Maine voters lose out big time if Troy Jackson were to be elected,” she told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. “He’ll be 100 in seniority, and all of that essential federal funding targeted for Maine, virtually all of it, will go away.”

The former Senator, a long‑time member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, cited her leadership role and experience as the reason she has been able to bring funding to Maine projects, including police and sheriff departments. “I’ve secured funding for projects throughout Maine, $46 million to help our police and sheriff’s departments upgrade their equipment, facilities, and communications,” she said.

Jackson, a one‑time logger and the last elected president of the Maine Senate, has taken a different tack. In the first debate he criticized Collins for what he described as a failure to use her influence to curb the rising costs of energy, food and housing. “Sen. Collins has told us how powerful she is, but power means nothing if you won’t use it when the people may need it,” he said. He also warned that Collins’ close ties to former President Donald Trump could be a liability for Maine voters.

The campaign has been fraught with controversy. Collins’ 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh—a decision that paved the way for the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade—has been a target for Democrats. She also faced criticism after a fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents earlier this summer, with many accusing her of supporting the agency’s funding.

Jackson’s own record has been under scrutiny as well. The Democratic candidate was endorsed by the Democratic Socialists of America during his 2024 gubernatorial campaign, a group that has advocated for defunding police. Collins has highlighted that, while Jackson claims not to support such a platform, his past endorsements and his alignment with the group are a point of contention. “During his gubernatorial campaign, Troy was endorsed and welcomed the endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America. One of the key parts of the DSA platform is to defund the police,” Collins said. Jackson’s campaign counters that he has no policy ties to defunding the police and has called on former Democratic primary candidate Graham Platner to drop out and refused to accept Platner’s endorsement.

The race’s current dynamics also reflect the broader national context. Maine is a blue‑leaning state that voted for Biden in 2020 and 2024, and it is one of the few places where Republicans must win by a wide margin to flip the Senate seat. The Republican Party’s campaign has emphasized Collins’ opposition to several Trump‑era policies—such as the tariff war with Canada and the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a federal proposal that would have cut Medicaid—and her willingness to break with the president when she believes it is in the state’s best interest.

Collins, who has been described as a moderate Republican, said she has opposed the president’s deal with Vladimir Putin over diesel fuel and has signed a bipartisan letter urging a reconsideration of that deal. She also pointed out that a study showing her aligning with Trump 96 percent of the time covered only 30 percent of her votes; a larger study of 90 percent of her votes shows a 72 percent alignment.

Jackson’s campaign has framed the race as a choice between a senator who, in their view, has repeatedly supported Trump‑aligned policies that hurt Maine residents, and a candidate who promises to fight for the state’s interests. “That’s the choice on this stage — a senator who helps Donald Trump hurt Maine then tells us how concerned she is, or somebody who will stand up against him before another family in Maine has to pay the price,” Jackson said during a debate.

The final debate will be a crucial moment for both campaigns. It is the last chance for voters to weigh the two candidates’ records and their visions for Maine’s future. Whether Collins’ long tenure and experience will outweigh Jackson’s critiques of her voting record remains uncertain, but the latest polling data and the evenly split ratings from leading political forecasters suggest that the Senate seat will be decided in a very tight contest.

As the debate approaches, the question of federal funding, seniority, and the political alignment of Maine’s representative to Washington will likely remain the central issues for voters across the state. The outcome will determine not only the political balance of the Senate but also the direction of federal resources that shape everyday life for Maine residents.