Susan Collins loses Maine Senate race to Democrat Troy Jackson
Five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine lost her bid for a sixth term to Democrat Troy Jackson. Collins, first elected in 1996, conceded early Wednesday. Outlets reported Jackson leading by roughly five points as the race was called.
Bias breakdown and outlet coverageon the RUSH story page →
The result
BBC, The Guardian and NBC News reported Jackson defeated Collins, ending nearly three decades in the Senate. The Blaze and Breitbart cited tallies around 52–53 percent for Jackson to about 47 percent for Collins as she conceded. ABC News published Collins's concession statement congratulating Jackson and pledging a smooth transition. The Epoch Times reported the pickup as part of a night that brought Democrats to a 53-seat Senate majority in its count of flips. Newsweek likewise covered Collins's defeat.
The campaign
Jackson, a former Maine Senate president and logger by trade, entered after earlier Democratic nominee Graham Platner left the race amid scandal allegations, BBC, ABC News and The Epoch Times reported. Collins ran as a moderate who sometimes breaks with her party; Jackson argued she had not used her seniority to block Trump policies Mainers disliked, NBC News and the Guardian reported. New York Post noted Jackson was a late swap-in after Platner exited. MS NOW framed the result as ending Collins's long run in a state that usually backs Democrats for president.
Why this matters
Collins was among the most closely watched Republican incumbents. The seat is a Democratic pickup in the fight for Senate control.
What the right is saying
Right-leaning coverage stressed Collins's long tenure and the loss of a moderate Republican seat, including Breitbart, The Blaze and The Epoch Times.
What the left is saying
Left-leaning outlets framed the result as a long-sought ouster and a working-people win for Jackson, including the Guardian, NBC News and MS NOW.