PoliticsTrending
Democrat Troy Jackson has defeated longtime Republican incumbent Susan Collins in Maine, according to NBC News projections, as Democrats gain control of Congress.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
Democrat Troy Jackson has won the Maine Senate race, according to projections from NBC News. Jackson defeated the longtime Republican incumbent, Susan Collins, in a race that helps secure a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.
Jackson, a former logger, entered the race late in the season after the original Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, withdrew following a series of scandals, including allegations of sexual assault. Platner has denied the allegations. Jackson won the Senate nomination in a special convention after failing to win the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
During the campaign, Jackson positioned himself as a working-class candidate and supported progressive policies, such as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In state debates, Jackson accused Collins of yielding to pressure from President Donald Trump. At one point during a debate, Jackson told the 73-year-old Collins to "shut up."
Collins, who was first elected in 1996, was noted for her reputation as a moderate. She had voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial in 2021 and voted against repealing the Affordable Care Act. However, she also supported the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary. Collins argued that she used her position as leader of the Senate's Appropriations Committee to benefit Maine and its residents.
The victory in Maine contributes to a broader night for the Democratic Party. NBC News projects that Democrats will take control of both the House and the Senate in January. The party has flipped seven Senate seats so far, including those in Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas.
In the House of Representatives, an NBC News analysis shows Democrats are projected to win at least 252 seats, which is well beyond the 218 required for a majority.
Following the election results, stock futures saw a decline. S&P 500 futures slid by more than 0.5%, Dow Jones Industrial futures fell by more than 100 points, and Nasdaq 100 futures saw a sell-off of more than 1%, at one point dropping by as much as 2.5%.
In an X post, billionaire Elon Musk, who spent a quarter-billion dollars to elect Republicans, wrote, “Data centers in space looking pretty appealing right now.”
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of Congress and expanded their reach in state legislatures, following significant losses for the Republican Party.
Democrat Adam Hamilton has defeated Republican incumbent Roger Marshall in Kansas, marking the first time a Democrat has won the state's Senate seat in 94 years.
