Susan Collins

Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is campaigning with Troy Jackson, the Democratic candidate in Maine’s Senate race, this weekend, his first public appearance in the Pine Tree State since the fallout over Graham Platner’s campaign this summer.

Sanders is set to appear at events with Jackson in Bangor, Biddeford and Lewiston in events as Jackson works to motivate the Democratic base to come out to the polls to support him against longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins.

It’s one of the most competitive races of the midterms.

Read More on Politics

Maine backed former Vice President Kamala Harris by 7 points in 2024, and Democrats are optimistic about a favorable national environment driven by President Donald Trump’s dwindling national approval rating. But Collins is seen as a formidable candidate who has won by large margins in the past due to her personal popularity and moderate image.

Sanders, who caucuses with the Democratic Party, campaigned in Maine with Platner, a progressive oysterman who first won the Democratic nomination back in June. But Platner’s campaign was rattled after he faced sexual assault allegations. He denied any wrongdoing but ultimately dropped out of the race. Some Democrats have taken issue with Sanders for helping to elevate Platner despite what they viewed as red flags about his candidacy.

Still, Sanders campaigning with Jackson could be beneficial for the Democrat, Ronald Schmidt, professor of political science at the University of Southern Maine, told Newsweek on Saturday.

“The hope is that voters who were enthused by Platner, but who felt disillusioned after his fall might decide to just check out and not participate, that Sanders' appearance will be a way for them to get reconnected to the campaign and to remember what the issues are,” he said.

Jackson campaign spokesperson Dan Gottlieb wrote in a statement to Newsweek that the campaign is “excited to welcome Senator Sanders to Maine to rally with Troy Jackson.”

“Bernie and Troy know that working people built this country and deserve a government that fights for them. Susan Collins has had nearly 30 years to deliver, and working Mainers are still getting squeezed while she serves the billionaires and corporate interests who bankroll her campaigns,” he wrote.

Newsweek also reached out to Collins' campaign for comment via email.

Why the Maine Senate Race Matters in the 2026 Midterms

The Maine Senate race is one of the most important of this year’s elections. Democrats are increasingly hopeful about their chances of taking back control of the Senate, and the Maine race is considered to be one of their best chances to flip a GOP-held seat given the state’s Democratic lean.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, so Democrats have to flip four seats to win control of the Senate, as Vice President JD Vance would serve as the tiebreaker in an evenly divided chamber. Being a state that Trump lost three times, Maine is a top pickup opportunity for Democrats.

If Democrats fail to flip Maine, their path to a Senate majority would narrow, as they’d have to make up that loss in a more conservative state.

Bernie Sanders Boosted Platner Before His Campaign Imploded

Sanders was an early Platner endorser, and they campaigned together ahead of the Democratic primary, when Platner easily defeated Governor Janet Mills, who had suspended her campaign earlier in the spring.

Platner aligned himself with Sanders on progressive policies including Medicare for All and criticism of foreign wars. Sanders stood by Platner during earlier controversies around uncovered Reddit posts, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol, as well as accusations that he engaged in physically threatening behavior during a past relationship, which Platner also denied.

Sanders ultimately called for Platner’s withdrawal after the allegation of sexual assault.

"I have spoken with Graham Platner about the best path forward for Maine. In light of these very serious allegations, I have recommended that he step aside," he said in a July 7 statement posted on X.

The backlash led to scrutiny toward Sanders and other progressives.

Schmidt said that while there might be some “bad feelings” toward Sanders over the endorsement, that would pale in comparison to the way Democrats and some independents may feel about Collins.

Troy Jackson Leads Susan Collins in New Poll

Polling suggests there will be a close race in Maine.

On Friday, a new poll from The Washington Post and George Mason University, conducted from September 30 to October 5, showed Jackson up 4 points over Collins, 50 percent to 46 percent, among 800 likely voters. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.

Jackson also led by 4 points in a recent Marist University poll of 1,505 registered voters from October 1 to 4. Jackson’s support stood at 51 percent, while 47 percent supported Collins in the poll, which had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

But a YouGov/CBS News poll pointed to a head heat, with each candidate’s support standing at 50 percent. It surveyed 1,136 likely voters from September 23 to October 1 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.

The outcome of the race is likely to come down to turnout, Schmidt said. Collins is “very, very good at running for reelection,” and Jackson is well-known among Maine Democrats from his time in the state legislature, he said.

What Prediction Markets Show

Jackson was narrowly ahead of Collins in prediction markets on Saturday, having a 57 percent chance of winning on Kalshi and a 59 percent chance on Polymarket.

Prediction markets allow traders to buy and sell contracts tied to political outcomes and current events, aggregating real‑money wagers into probability estimates.

Prices fluctuate as traders react to polling, fundraising, candidate developments and broader political trends. They measure trader sentiment at a given moment but do not always accurately predict the future.

Maine Senate Race: Latest Developments

Both parties are paying attention to Maine.

Former President Barack Obama endorsed Jackson on Thursday, potentially giving the Democratic candidate a boost among other Democrats.

Trump has also floated the idea of visiting Maine ahead of the midterms in remarks to reporters.

Schmidt said that would be “risky” for Republicans.

“One of the interesting things about Senator Collins' base of support in Maine is that she's got supporters who are unhappy with the Trump administration, but they give her a lot of leeway in terms of the consequences of her support. She seems fairly well-insulated from voter anger or exhaustion with the Trump administration. But we don't know how far that will go,” he said.

Collins and Jackson also faced off during two debates this week, and are again expected to take the debate stage in the coming week for two more debates. One of the most viral moments came as Collins cast herself as a critic of Trump’s tariffs, touting her efforts to obtain relief for products like road salt, which cities in rural Maine import from Canada.

Jackson said that minor exemptions did little to offset the broader trade policy implemented by the Trump administration, responding, “We can’t eat road salt.”

Like in other states, economic issues such as the high price of home heating oil are expected to play a major role in Maine this year.

What Happens Next

Two more debates are scheduled for this week on October 13, hosted by WABI and WAGM, and October 15, hosted by News Center Maine, The Portland Press Herald and Maine Public.