Why I’m out canvassing for Troy Jackson | Opinion
Maine Democrat Volunteer Mobilizes in York County Ahead of 2026 Senate Race
Saco, Maine – In the quiet streets of York County, a familiar face can be seen pushing open doors at the start of every weekend. Sandra Smith Congdon, a long‑time member of the Saco Democratic Committee, has taken to canvassing the region on behalf of former state senator Troy Jackson in the race to replace Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins.
Congdon, who grew up in a working‑class family in the 1970s and 1980s, says her parents’ jobs in construction and retail “provided them with fair wages and good health care.” Those early lessons about the value of hard work and union support shaped her view of what Maine should look like in the coming years.
“I’m out every weekend canvassing for Troy Jackson in York County with the hope that we can flip the U.S. Senate because Maine is central to that fight,” Congdon told the Press Herald. “I see a lot of working‑class people today who can no longer afford basic needs.”
Jackson, who served in the Maine Senate from 2006 to 2015, is a longtime resident of the state and has repeatedly highlighted his ties to Maine’s labor force. Congdon says that his background, combined with his legislative experience, gives him a “fighting” spirit that she believes is essential for the state’s future.
The 2026 election will see Senator Susan Collins face off against Jackson for Maine’s second Senate seat. Collins, who has served since 2013, has voted with the Republican Party 95 percent of the time, according to recent voting records, and is considered a moderate‑right figure on many issues. Congdon argues that her alignment with the national GOP no longer reflects the priorities of Maine’s working population.
“I encourage you all to tune out the negative campaign ads that stretch the truth and look at how we can be better humans and get back to having an American dream again where basic needs are met and working people can even afford some wants,” she said. “This will not happen with the current administration or Susan Collins’ consistent enabling.”
Congdon’s message focuses on a number of pressing concerns she believes will affect voters in 2026: the rising cost of food, fuel, healthcare and childcare; the impact of the U.S. war in Iran on domestic fuel prices; cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and a federal environmental agency that she says is failing to protect the planet. She also highlights what she calls the lack of accountability from Republican lawmakers in Washington, describing their willingness to “stand up to” the current administration as “far more important than the well‑being of the nation.”
While Congdon’s comments reflect a personal viewpoint, the broader political environment in Maine has been marked by a growing split between the state’s rural, traditionally Republican voters and its urban centers, which have trended more Democratic in recent elections. The state’s 2024 presidential results—where President Joe Biden narrowly carried Maine—highlighted the potential for a shift in the Senate seat.
In addition to her door‑to‑door efforts, Congdon has called for increased voter turnout. “Please vote for Troy Jackson and other Democratic candidates so working‑class people, not just billionaires, have a shot at the American dream,” she urged.
The 2026 midterm elections will not only decide the balance of power in the Senate but also influence the composition of the House of Representatives and the President’s cabinet. Maine’s two seats will be pivotal in any shift toward a more balanced Senate, a fact that local volunteers like Congdon say should not be underestimated.
For now, the volunteer’s canvassing shoes are worn and her voice is steady. “We need to flip the House and the Senate in the midterms to bring back checks and balances,” Congdon says, as she steps out onto the next porch to ask for an opinion, a promise, or a vote.
