In the final push of a high-stakes campaign, the Maine Senate race has transformed into a nationalized battleground for the soul of the chamber. Republican incumbent Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, have spent the closing days of the election cycle flanking themselves with polar-opposite political heavyweights to emphasize their conflicting visions for representation.
On Wednesday, Collins appeared in Norway, Maine, alongside West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin. The two, both wearing matching red fleece jackets, toured a New Balance factory to highlight Collins’ record of delivering tangible results for her constituents. During the visit, Collins celebrated a successful effort to ensure the Pentagon provides American troops with American-made athletic shoes, a deal she argued benefits the workers she described as the “best shoemakers in the world.”
Manchin, the last Democrat representing West Virginia in the Senate and a frequent partner of Collins in bipartisan negotiations, offered a full-throated endorsement of the incumbent. He described Collins as the “soul of the Senate,” a testament to her standing as a moderate who prioritizes cross-aisle cooperation over partisan purity. His presence was intended to reassure centrist voters and reinforce Collins’ primary campaign theme: that seniority and the ability to work within the existing system provide more for Maine than ideological fire.
Just twenty-four hours later, the campaign narrative shifted to Portland, where Troy Jackson took the stage at the State Theater. He was joined by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York for a “students versus billionaires” town hall that drew a large, progressive crowd. The event served as a direct rebuttal to the brand of bipartisanship championed by Collins and Manchin. Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that many Washington consultants would have advised Jackson against appearing with her, yet she framed his willingness to do so as a sign of his commitment to the working class.
Jackson’s strategy is built on a rejection of Senate comity. He has framed Collins’ bipartisan wins as “half a loaf,” arguing that voters deserve a more radical shift in policy, including higher taxes on the wealthy to fund a broader social safety net. Jackson, a logger by trade, leaned into his blue-collar roots to contrast himself with the polished political class in Washington. Ocasio-Cortez echoed this sentiment, telling the crowd that the political establishment is “afraid of a waitress in the House and a logger in the United States Senate.”
During the town hall, Jackson and Ocasio-Cortez fielded questions on a wide array of topics, including trans rights, student debt, and public transportation. One of the more pointed moments came when they were asked if they were “Israel First or America First.” Both responded with “America First,” with Jackson specifically promising to end “blank checks” for Israel, a stance that aligns with the more progressive wing of his party.
The exchange of surrogates has also become a point of contention between the two camps. Manchin, while campaigning for Collins, took aim at Jackson’s roster of supporters, which has included Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders in addition to Ocasio-Cortez. Manchin described them as “three extreme liberals,” adding that while he liked them personally, he disagreed with their policies. “If that’s who you are, you are who you’re associated with,” Manchin remarked, attempting to tie Jackson to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party.
Throughout their four televised debates, Collins has sought to portray Jackson as an “angry lightweight” whose confrontational style would render him ineffective in a legislative body that requires consensus. Jackson has countered by labeling Collins as corrupt and frequently citing her vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court as a betrayal of Maine’s values. He has also dismissed her claims of influence, particularly her negotiations with the Trump administration over trade tariffs.
One of the most resonant moments of the campaign emerged from those debates when Jackson critiqued the tariff carve-outs Collins secured for rock salt. “You can’t eat rock salt,” Jackson quipped, a line that quickly became a rallying cry for his supporters. The phrase was even featured on buttons worn by Ocasio-Cortez during the Portland town hall, symbolizing the argument that incremental legislative wins do not address the fundamental economic needs of the populace.
As voters prepare to head to the polls, the choice is clearly defined. Collins is running on the promise of stability, institutional knowledge, and the benefits of a veteran senator who can bridge the gap between parties. Jackson is offering a platform of systemic disruption, arguing that the only way to improve life for Mainers is to strip President Trump of a Senate majority, revoke tax cuts for the wealthy, and pursue a massive redistribution of wealth. The result will likely hinge on whether Maine voters prefer the “soul of the Senate” or a logger willing to fight against the very structure of the institution.
