Maine Senate Fight Narrows to Days as Rivals Trade Blows Over Family Ties

The race for Maine’s Senate seat has compressed into a final sprint, with both candidates claiming victory is within reach. Republican Sen. Susan Collins stated the effort would be "nonstop" as she greeted iron workers in Bath on Wednesday. Her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, told supporters at a canvassing event in Brunswick that the team had a "great shot" to win.

The campaign has turned sharply personal. The Republican super PAC Senate Leadership Fund aired advertisements suggesting Jackson and his longtime partner are second cousins. Jackson blamed Collins for the ads, arguing she is attacking his family. He noted the PAC is spending "millions and millions of dollars" on these attacks because Collins "won’t fight" for voters' families. Collins responded that the ads disappoint her due to the number of lies spread by the opposition.

Political analyst Mark Brewer indicated the margin of victory could be razor thin. He predicted that determining the winner would not happen on election night, estimating it would take days to count all ballots. This forecast reflects the tightness of the contest in a state that often decides narrow Senate races.

Jackson received high-profile support from Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona on Wednesday. Kelly, a potential future presidential candidate, made multiple stops with the Democratic nominee. Kelly described the election as important and noted his recent campaigns in New Hampshire, Iowa, and Kansas. He suggested some races are closer than initially thought. Kelly planned to continue his tour in New Hampshire on Thursday to support Rep. Chris Pappas in that state’s Senate race.

The two candidates remain focused on the final push. Jackson emphasized the personal stakes of the fight, while Collins focused on the intensity of the remaining days. The outcome will determine which party holds the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.