Senator Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger Troy Jackson are set to face off in the third Maine Senate debate on Tuesday, as polls point to a closely divided race in the Pine Tree State. The debate is set to be hosted by Bangor-based news station WABI and will air at 7 p.m. It is the third in a series of four debates held over a two-week span as early voting gets underway in Maine.
Collins and Jackson have sparred over issues like affordability, tariffs and their approach to President Donald Trump as they hope to win over undecided voters who could ultimately decide the outcome of the critical race. The Maine Senate race is seen as one of the most competitive and important elections of the 2026 midterms. It’s one of a handful of races that could determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate when the new Congress reconvenes next year.
Maine has a Democratic lean. Trump lost it in all three of his presidential runs, including by nearly 7 points in 2024. But Collins has been able to defy the state’s partisanship in the past due to her personal popularity, bipartisan image and status as the Appropriations Committee chair, which has allowed her to bring funding back into the state.
But this year, the longtime incumbent has found herself in a toss-up race against Jackson, the former president of the Maine Senate. Trump’s approval rating has fallen as voters sour on him due to economic concerns centered around the cost of living, fueling a more pro-Democratic national environment. There is a lot at stake for both candidates as polls point to such a close race.
Dan Shea, professor of political science at Colby College, told Newsweek that Jackson will need to "sharpen his pitch." "Down home and folksy is fine, but there also needs to be a bit more substance," he said. Collins, meanwhile, needs to "slow down and actually get a bit more ‘plain spoken,’" he said. "It's a contrast in styles, not unlike the 2016 Clinton/Trump debates, in partisan reverse," he said.
Newsweek reached out to the Collins and Jackson campaigns for comment via email. Polling has consistently shown a close race in Maine in the past few weeks, and both parties view the race as competitive. Forecasters like the Cook Political Report also classify the race as a pure toss-up.
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