Politics · October 22, 2026
Fox News Poll: Nail-biter in Maine Senate race
Part of: Maine Senate: Collins vs. Jackson →
The Maine U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson is currently a toss-up, with a Fox News poll showing both candidates tied at 49%. Collins, seeking a sixth term, is the only Republican senator up for re-election in a state that former President Donald Trump lost in 2024. The contest is viewed as pivotal for control of the Senate, prompting high-profile campaign visits from figures like Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Joe Manchin. While Jackson aims to consolidate the progressive base and highlight economic issues, Collins is focusing on her moderate image and concerns about her opponent's liberal platform.
Read the original coverage
- Fox NewsAllSides: Right (Digital)MBFC: Right
Fox News Poll: Nail-biter in Maine Senate race
Read at Fox News ↗ - PBS NewsMBFC: Left-Center
What Maine voters are saying about the Collins-Jackson Senate race
Read at PBS News ↗ What Dueling Visits by Ocasio-Cortez and Manchin Say About Maine’s Senate Race
Read at The New York Times ↗- NewsweekMBFC: Right-Center
AOC motivates Dem base for Troy Jackson in Maine battleground Senate race
Read at Newsweek ↗ - The Center SquareAllSides: Lean Right
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stumps for Jackson in Maine U.S. Senate race
Read at The Center Square ↗
Reported across the spectrum
- Susan Collins and Troy Jackson are tied at 49% in a recent Fox News poll.
- Susan Collins is a five-term Republican incumbent seeking a sixth term.
- Troy Jackson is a former logger and state legislator who previously served as Maine Senate President.
- The race is considered a toss-up and is critical for control of the U.S. Senate.
- Donald Trump lost Maine in 2024 by 7 points.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visited Portland, Maine, to campaign for Troy Jackson.
Reported by only some outlets
- Only 12% of Maine voters say their family is better off financially than two years ago.
- 53% of Maine voters prefer a Democratic-led Senate, while 45% prefer Republican control.
- Troy Jackson replaced previous Democratic candidate Graham Platner, who withdrew following sexual assault allegations.
- Senator Joe Manchin has campaigned for or visited Maine in support of Susan Collins's centrist pitch.
- Collins won her 2020 race by nearly 9 points.
- More than 6 in 10 Maine voters disapprove of Donald Trump's job performance.
Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
characterize the race as a clash of ideologies where progressives are being mobilized to challenge a vulnerable incumbent while highlighting local worker backgrounds
Right-leaning outlets tend to emphasize…
emphasize economic dissatisfaction among voters and link the Democratic challenger to polarizing progressive figures and scandals involving the previous nominee
Where coverage diverges
Coverage diverges along left/right lines — see Framing tab for specifics.
About these outlets
CadNews does not determine absolute truth or endorse political viewpoints. It compares publicly available reporting, identifies shared facts, highlights framing differences, and flags uncertainty.