A Republican-aligned super PAC intended to help Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in her reelection bid accidentally directed digital ads attacking her Democratic opponent to the wrong Portland—Oregon rather than Maine.

Defending Main Street SuperPAC Inc., associated with the Republican Main Street Partnership (which supports moderate Republicans like Collins), placed a roughly $20,000–$25,000 digital ad buy targeting Maine’s largest city. The 30-second spot, which ran in early October, attacked Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson on taxes and the cost of living with lines such as “Maine can’t afford Troy Jackson and all his taxes.” Instead of reaching Portland, Maine, the ads were shown more than a million times primarily in the Portland, Oregon, metro area (and some Washington state ZIP codes), according to data from the Google Ads Transparency Center.

Sarah Chamberlain, president and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership, said the group was “absolutely furious” at the “ridiculous error” by its ad buyer, Cross Screen Media. The ads were pulled from Oregon once the mistake was discovered, the buyer took responsibility and refunded the PAC, and the spots are now running in the correct Portland, Maine.

The blunder comes amid heavy outside spending in Maine’s high-profile 2026 Senate race, where Collins faces Jackson. Both campaigns have focused on affordability, and pro-Collins groups have poured significant resources into the contest. Some linear TV impressions of the ad did reach Maine audiences, according to ad tracking data, but the bulk of the misplaced digital spend did not.

Supporters of Jackson described the error as “hilarious,” noting the volume of out-of-state money in the race. The mix-up was first flagged by viewers and X users who noticed anti-Jackson ads appearing in Oregon.

The episode highlights the risks of rapid, high-volume digital ad placement in a cycle where Maine is a top target for both parties’ spending. No donor funds were ultimately lost, according to the PAC.