Troy Jackson takes Maine Senate seat

Troy Jackson, 58, won the U.S. Senate seat from Maine on Wednesday, ending a 30-year tenure for Republican Susan Collins. Jackson defeated the incumbent by capitalizing on President Donald Trump's unpopularity. He addressed supporters at a party in Portland, telling them he would fight for them in Washington.

The race shifted in July when Graham Platner, the original Democratic nominee and an oyster farmer, withdrew. Jackson, who had initially sought the gubernatorial nomination and lost, took over at a special convention. He had roughly 100 days to build his campaign before Election Day.

Jackson is from rural Aroostook County. He entered politics after leading a loggers' blockade against Canadian workers in the late 1990s. He served nearly 20 years in the state House before becoming the top leader in the state Senate. He had previously worked as a campaign surrogate for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

During the campaign, Jackson focused on housing and healthcare costs. He held events at churches, union halls, and bars to promote workers' rights. Sanders joined Jackson for rallies in October. Jackson criticized Collins for advancing Trump's tax and budget bills in committee before voting no on final passage.

Collins, 73, sought her sixth term. She was the only Republican from New England in Congress. Her state has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate since 1992. She emphasized her independence from the president and her role as chair of the Senate appropriations committee.

Collins stated that she took over the appropriations chairmanship last year. She called it a once-in-a-century opportunity to serve Maine. She had survived a tough challenge in 2020 against Sara Gideon. She conceded by phone to Jackson after the election night results were clear.

The next step for Jackson is to prepare for his swearing-in ceremony in January. He will replace Collins in the U.S. Senate, where he will take her seat on key committees. Collins will leave office after serving since 1996.