Aroostook County underscores the ‘Maine’ in Senate showdown

In one corner, we have the incumbent, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has served in the Senate since 1997. Even by standards of that august governmental body, she enjoys unusual advantages as a senior senator — for instance, as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, playing a direct role in how much federal money comes to Maine. In the other corner, her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, has extensive experience in Maine politics, but none at a federal level. The common thread — and what makes this such a Maine story — is their background coming from Aroostook County. Collins, 73, a Caribou native, comes from a family that owns a local hardware business. Jackson, 58, who was born in Fort Kent — the northern terminus of U.S. Route 1, now lives in Allagash. The fifth-generation logger got his start in politics via a 1998 border blockade to protest Canadian lumberjacks taking U.S. jobs. The County, as it is known in Maine, has long symbolized work ethic, resilience and grit. Potato farming and forest products are its legacy industries. Yet, with a population of around 67,000, roughly one in 21 Mainers is from Aroostook, giving the County an outsized influence in the race for a U.S. Senate seat. What Collins brings to the table Collins  is viewed by many as a moderate Republican. She does not vote in lockstep with the president, but she has voted along party lines on key social issues. She voted to support Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court. Whatever her politics, Collins has had a role in bringing federal money to Maine — and that has helped her get reelected. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee (and chair since January 2025), she’s helped direct money for airport, road and bridge improvements. She helped secure funding for a $300 million training ship for the Maine Maritime Academy. Critics will say appropriations committees are a give and take — that your state only gets something if you’re willing to give something in return. Critics also contend that she’s painted as a moderate, but that her moderate side only comes on votes that are inconsequential or where other Republicans have defected. Jackson’s challenge The challenger, Jackson, has a vast background in Maine politics. He’s been the president of the Maine Senate, as well as the body’s majority leader and minority leader. He served in the state House of Representatives. He was among the candidates for governor, but came in third in the June primary. He was nominated by state Democrats to lead the ticket after the implosion of Graham Platner. Jackson’s background in Maine politics, his profession as a logger and his Aroostook County blood should also give him credibility among Maine voters. Both candidates are beneficiaries of additional campaign funding, which has poured into Maine. As of Sept. 14, Jackson was polling at 48% while Collins was at around 45%, according to the FiftyPlusOne website. For now, Democrats hold 47 of the 100 Senate seats. There are 35 seats that will be decided on Nov. 3, including 22 now held by Republicans. While Jackson joined the race late, his name recognition in Maine and working-class roots in this anti-incumbent year could work in his favor. It remains to be seen whether that’s enough to unseat Collins.