Democrat Troy Jackson Ousts Sen. Susan Collins in Maine
The Facts
- Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. Collins conceded shortly after midnight, when Jackson led by seven points with 70% of the vote counted.
- Collins is the first Maine senator to lose a re-election bid since 1978, when Democrat William Hathaway lost to Republican William Cohen. First elected in 1996, she was the only Republican senator from a state that has backed Democrats for president since 1992.
- Jackson became the Democratic nominee after Graham Platner withdrew amid a sexual assault allegation that he denied. Platner's campaign had also drawn scrutiny over a tattoo he later covered up and sexually explicit messages sent to several women.
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The Spin
Republican narrative
Losing a senator who chaired Appropriations and spent three decades steering federal dollars to Maine is a costly mistake for a small state with little clout. A record of breaking with the party when it mattered deserved better than a swap for a Sanders-style agenda. Trading proven independence for a last-minute substitute candidate is a downgrade Maine will feel.
Democratic narrative
Thirty years of furrowed brows and carefully worded concern never once lowered the price of groceries, gas or health care for working families in Maine. A senator cozy with defense contractors and corporate donors had long stopped representing the people footing the bill. A logger and union member in that seat means someone finally fighting for workers, not the donor class.
