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The Likely

The news, and what's likely next.

Politics

Collins leads Jackson in Maine Senate survey from Portland Press Herald and Siena

A New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll reported September 24 showed Republican Susan Collins leading Democrat Troy Jackson 49% to 46%. It marked Collins's first independent survey lead since Jackson became the nominee.

Why it mattersCollins's three-point lead remains within the poll's 4.9-point margin of error, while other contemporaneous surveys show Jackson leading or the race tied.

Who will win the 2026 Maine Senate election? Troy Jackson leadsLikely60%

How we got here

  1. A poll showed Graham Platner leading Collins 49% to 47%. Edu
  2. Maine Democrats selected Troy Jackson as their nominee to challenge Collins. NBC News
  3. The field period began for the New York Times/Press Herald/Siena poll of 619 voters. The New York Times
  4. A poll reported Collins leading 49% to 46% within the margin of error. Pressherald
  5. A separate poll showed Jackson leading Collins 48% to 43%. Edu
  6. A survey showed Jackson at 51% and Collins at 47%, which pollsters characterized as essentially a tie. Spectrumlocalnews
  7. Collins and Jackson were scheduled to hold their first televised debate. Bangordailynews
  8. Organizers scheduled a debate at Bangor's Gracie Theater featuring a live audience and questions from Mainers. Bangordailynews
  9. Maine’s general election is scheduled. Gov

What's likely next

  1. First scheduled Collins-Jackson televised debate, hosted by WGME.
  2. Scheduled debate hosted by WMTW.
  3. Scheduled debate hosted by WABI and WAGM.
  4. Scheduled News Center Maine/Portland Press Herald/Maine Public debate at Gracie Theater in Bangor, with a live audience and questions from Mainers.

All coverage

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