Maine should vote against Trump | Letter
Letter urges Maine voters to back Troy Jackson over Donald Trump and Susan Collins
A letter to the editor in the Press Herald this week urged Maine voters to support state senator Troy Jackson in the 2026 U.S. Senate race, while casting a negative view of President Donald J. Trump and incumbent Senator Susan Collins. The letter, written by Daniel Hildreth of Falmouth, appears in the newspaper’s regular letters section and offers a partisan perspective on the upcoming election.
Who wrote the letter
The letter was signed by Daniel Hildreth, a resident of Falmouth, a town on Maine’s southwestern coast. It was published in the Press Herald, a daily newspaper serving the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford market and the wider region of southeastern Maine.
What the letter says
Hildreth begins by noting that “President Trump has asked voters to pretend that he’s on the ballot,” a statement that reflects the author’s frustration with Trump’s approach to the 2026 Senate race. He goes on to criticize the former president’s domestic and foreign‑policy record, citing “tariffs, rising inflation and war in Iran” as among the most damaging outcomes of Trump’s time in office. The letter also claims that Trump has expressed admiration for foreign leaders such as Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, and has “focused on relentless attacks on voting and election results.” Hildreth says he agrees with Trump on these points for the first time.
The letter turns to Senator Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent who will face re‑election in 2026. According to Hildreth, Collins has not acted as a meaningful check on Trump’s power. He cites a series of votes in which Collins “voted to advance the ‘big, beautiful bill’ then voted against it; she voted in support of the war in Iran then voted against it.” He also claims that Collins has voted for “the vast majority of Trump’s dismal administration and judicial nominations.”
Hildreth concludes by urging voters to “vote against him and Collins, and for Troy Jackson.” He writes, “Donald Trump is on the ballot. Let’s vote against him and Collins, and for Troy Jackson,” and signs the piece as “Daniel Hildreth, Falmouth.”
Who is Troy Jackson
State senator Troy Jackson is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Jackson is a former Maine state representative and has served as the mayor of Old Town. He has been a vocal critic of Trump’s foreign‑policy approach and has focused his campaign on issues such as climate change, health care, and expanding public‑sector jobs. He has also highlighted his record in the state legislature, where he has worked on economic development and education initiatives.
The 2026 Senate race
The U.S. Senate race in Maine is scheduled for the November 2026 election. The current seat is held by Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has served since 2017 and was appointed to fill a vacancy left by Senator Olympia Snowe. Collins has been reelected twice, in 2018 and 2024, and is campaigning to win a third term. Her campaign has emphasized her record on veterans’ issues, fiscal conservatism, and a “middle‑ground” approach to policy.
The race has drawn national attention as part of a broader contest to flip the Senate in 2026. Trump’s endorsement of his own 2026 campaign has generated both support and opposition across the country. While Trump has not officially declared a candidacy as of the time of the letter’s publication, his name has appeared on early ballot‑registration lists in a number of states, including Maine.
Reactions to the letter
The Press Herald did not include any editorial comment or reply to Hildreth’s letter. The newspaper’s editorial board has not issued a statement on the content or tone of the piece. Other local media outlets have not yet published follow‑up articles on the letter.
Contextual background
President Trump’s 2024 campaign has been marked by a focus on election integrity, with frequent claims of voter fraud and calls for stricter voting regulations. His foreign‑policy positions have also attracted scrutiny; his administration pursued tariffs on Chinese goods, pushed for a “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran, and expressed a more confrontational stance toward other world leaders. Trump’s rhetoric has included praise for authoritarian regimes and a willingness to challenge democratic norms.
Senator Susan Collins has a mixed voting record that reflects her bipartisan style. While she has supported certain measures that align with Republican priorities, she has also broken ranks on others, such as the 2023 “big, beautiful bill” that sought to expand broadband infrastructure. Her votes on the war in Iran and on judicial appointments have also been inconsistent with her party’s line, according to Hildreth.
What to expect
The 2026 Senate election in Maine will be closely watched by both national parties. Candidates, including the incumbent Susan Collins, Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, and potentially the former president Trump if he enters the race, are expected to intensify their campaigns in the coming months. Voters will have the opportunity to weigh the differing policy priorities and leadership styles presented by each candidate.
For now, the Press Herald has provided a platform for a partisan voice, but the broader electorate will ultimately decide the outcome. The next state primary and the general election will reveal how Maine voters respond to the contrasting messages of Donald Trump, Susan Collins, and Troy Jackson.
