Troy Jackson Defeats Susan Collins

What happened

Updated 1:27am ET

Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Susan Collins in Maine’s U.S. Senate race, flipping her seat after nearly 30 years in office.
Jackson, a logger and former Maine Senate president, became the Democratic nominee in July after Graham Platner withdrew amid sexual assault allegations, which Platner denied.
Jackson campaigned on lowering living costs and accused Collins of failing to challenge President Donald Trump, while Collins stressed her experience and federal funding for Maine.
The victory added to Democrats’ new Senate majority on a night when the party also won control of the House.
Collins conceded early Wednesday and promised that she and her staff would work with Jackson to ensure a smooth transition.

How the left told it

Left-leaning outlets framed Jackson’s victory as a breakthrough for Democrats and a rejection of Collins’s moderate image and ties to Trump. The Guardian highlighted his “progressive economic populism,” while Vox emphasized Trump’s unpopularity and rising costs; HuffPost said Collins rarely provided an effective barrier against Trump and other conservatives.

How the right told it

Right-leaning outlets largely framed the result as a major Democratic pickup ending a durable Republican’s career. Fox News called it a “major upset,” and the Washington Examiner described a “seismic shake-up.” Some added sharper criticism of Jackson: Breitbart labeled him “far-left,” while the Washington Free Beacon scrutinized his lobbyist son.