Collins and Jackson meet for final Maine Senate debate with Suffolk poll showing a tight race

Mixed · 2Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson were due to meet on 15 October at 7 p.m. for the final debate of the Maine Senate race, hosted by the Portland Press Herald and NEWS CENTER Maine. 1 2 Mixed · 2A Suffolk University poll conducted 8–11 October among 500 likely voters put Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate, at 49% and Collins at 47%, a gap within the poll's margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 points. 1 2 Centre · 1Newsweek reported that Collins led among independents 47% to 44% while Jackson won Democrats 94% to 5%, and that other recent polls showed Jackson ahead by 4 points (Washington Post/George Mason, Marist) or tied at 50% (YouGov/CBS), with RealClearPolitics averaging a 1.3-point Jackson lead. 1

Mixed · 2The race is rated a toss-up and is seen as a top Democratic opportunity to flip a seat; Republicans hold the Senate 53-47, and Newsweek said Democrats need four seats for a majority. 2 1 Mixed · 2Polling underestimated Collins in 2020, when she trailed Sara Gideon in most surveys but won re-election; Fox put her margin at nearly nine points. 1 2 Centre · 1At Tuesday's earlier debate the candidates agreed on guardrails for data center development and both said the Iran war should end; Jackson argued Collins enabled it by not using her post as Appropriations Committee chair to cut off funding, while Collins cited her votes to end the conflict after the War Powers Act's 60-day period. 1

Right · 1In a Fox News Digital interview on Wednesday, Collins said Maine would lose federal funding if Jackson replaced her, because he would be "100 in seniority"; she cited her seniority and role as Appropriations chair, and $46 million she said she secured for police and sheriff's departments. 2 Mixed · 2Collins rejected the idea that she is a Trump "puppet", citing her opposition to the One Big Beautiful Bill over Medicaid cuts, her criticism of tariffs on Canada, her vote against Attorney General Todd Blanche, and a bipartisan letter opposing Trump's plan to import Russian diesel; Newsweek also noted that letter and her remark that Trump is not coming to Maine. 2 1 Right · 1The Jackson campaign said Collins has voted with Trump 96% of the time; Collins disputed that figure, saying a study covering 90% of votes found 72%. 2

Right · 1Collins also attacked Jackson over his backing of Graham Platner, the primary winner who ended his campaign after a report alleging rape, which Platner denied, and over a Democratic Socialists of America endorsement in his gubernatorial run; the Jackson campaign replied that he is not a Democratic Socialist, does not support defunding police, called on Platner to drop out, and would not accept a Platner endorsement. 2 Right · 1Jackson won a special nominating convention in late July to replace Platner. 2 Centre · 1Other campaign developments included Barack Obama's endorsement of Jackson, a weekend visit by Bernie Sanders, and a pro-Collins PAC, Defending Main Street, that mistakenly bought ads attacking Jackson in Portland, Oregon, which it blamed on a media vendor. In-person absentee voting runs 5–29 October. 1