Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in Maine’s 2026 U.S. Senate election, ending one of the longest-running Republican Senate careers in the state and flipping a seat Democrats had targeted throughout the midterm campaign.

Collins, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996, was seeking a sixth term. Her defeat brings an end to nearly three decades representing Maine in Washington and removes one of the Republican Party’s most established incumbents from the chamber.

Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate and fifth-generation logger from northern Maine, entered the contest under unusual circumstances. He was selected as the Democratic nominee in July after Graham Platner, who had won the party’s primary, withdrew from the race. Jackson then had roughly 100 days to build a statewide campaign against Collins, a nationally recognized incumbent with substantial financial and political resources.

During the campaign, Jackson focused on the cost of living, healthcare, workers’ rights and Collins’ record in Washington. He criticized the senator for supporting portions of President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and argued that she had not done enough to oppose the administration. Jackson also made her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh a central issue, particularly in discussions about abortion policy.

Collins defended her record by emphasizing her experience, work on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and ability to secure federal funding for Maine. She also highlighted instances in which she had disagreed with Trump and Republican leadership, presenting herself as an independent-minded senator capable of working across party lines.

The race drew national attention because Maine has consistently supported Democratic presidential candidates in recent elections, while Collins had repeatedly managed to win reelection as a Republican. Her defeat represents a significant change in the state's representation in the Senate.

Jackson’s victory also carries national implications as both parties competed for control of the narrowly divided Senate. Democrats entered the election needing a net gain of four seats to overcome the Republican majority, making the Maine contest one of their central pickup opportunities.

Jackson will now prepare to take Collins’ place in the Senate, where he is expected to bring a more progressive approach to issues including healthcare, labor policy, and federal spending. The result marks a major transition in Maine’s political representation after nearly three decades under Collins.