Maine Senate Race Tied at 49% as Collins and Jackson Make Closing Pitches

A Fox News poll of Maine likely voters found Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson tied at 49% each in the state's Senate race. Interviews were completed after the candidates' Oct. 15 debate. Collins, seeking a sixth term, is the only GOP senator up for re-election this year from a state Trump lost in 2024, when he lost Maine by 7 points. She won in 2020 by nearly 9 points. The poll found 53% concerned she votes with Trump too much, while 46% were concerned Jackson is too liberal. More than 6 in 10 disapprove of Trump's job performance, and only 12% say their family is better off financially than two years ago. Voters preferred a Democratic-led Senate, 53% to 45%. Jackson held a town hall with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Joe Manchin also visited the state.

Left-leaning outlets, the New York Times and CBS News, focus on the closing campaign: Collins aiming at the political middle, Jackson trying to energize the left, and his town hall with Ocasio-Cortez. Right-leaning Fox News leads with poll numbers, voter mood and Collins citing Jackson's "shut up" remark on "Hannity." Both sides present the race as tight. Alternative / independent outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and right-leaning outlets had.