Susan Collins Didn’t Have a Chance

As Republican Susan Collins faced a crushing defeat in Maine's Senate race, it became clear that her chances of winning had dwindled long before the final votes were counted. Democrats were seizing victories across the Eastern Seaboard, and the momentum rapidly shifted westward to Kansas, Texas, and beyond. Collins had defied expectations before, but this time, the wave was too strong.

"She's sure to win," proclaimed a conservative activist, Tom Burpee, shortly after 9 p.m. in Bangor, Maine. Others around her, confident in the outcome, dismissed Maine as "not that stupid." Despite the rosy analysis of the latest returns, Collins's stroll through the party appeared to be a farewell rather than a victory lap. She would not be returning to the party.

Minutes later, she called her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, to congratulate him on his win. By midnight, the ballroom was nearly empty, and Collins delivered a brief statement, marking her exit from the Senate. With nearly 90% of the votes counted, Jackson had a substantial lead, up by nearly eight points. Collins's loss marked her as the longest-serving Republican incumbent to lose a reelection bid that night.

Democrats were surprised but not entirely shocked by their victory. Jackson, a former logger turned legislator, had campaigned against Collins in the past and emerged victorious after a series of setbacks, including the collapse of a potential replacement candidate following sexual assault allegations. While Jackson aligned with progressive views like Medicare for All, his history on abortion made his campaign more complex.

Collins, a moderate with bipartisan appeal, ran on her ability to bring federal funding to Maine, while Jackson used her experience as a legislator against him, accusing her of being out of touch and lacking the skills to be an effective senator. The election highlighted the growing dissatisfaction with conventional politicians, as voters turned to Jackson's populist message.

Jackson's final campaign stop at a Portland bowling alley emphasized the stark divide between the two candidates, with Jackson dressed as a cord of wood and Collins dismissing him as "novice." As Maine evolved, Collins's message as the state's guardian proved ineffective, and she became the latest senator to face a resounding defeat.