Troy Jackson, the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine, said he’s not worried by close polls and wonders why his opponent is “not beating me by more.”
At a political event Friday, Mr. Jackson was asked why the race with incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins was close despite President Trump’s low approval ratings.
Mr. Jackson answered by listing his disadvantages.
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“They’re spending an unbelievable amount of money,” he said. “I’m not as well-known. [I’ve] certainly been trying. I’ve only had 85 days to do this.”
Mr. Jackson entered the race after scandal-plagued nominee Graham Platner, who faced rape accusations, dropped out.
Mr. Jackson, a former state Senate president who placed third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary this year, was overwhelmingly selected as the replacement U.S. Senate nominee by a special convention.
He added at Friday’s event, “I guess I’m wondering why she’s not beating me by more. … If you’re the most powerful senator … why is this logger from Allagash being competitive with you? I think that says a lot more about her record than it does about mine.”
The right race comes even as Democratic Senate candidates have held large polling leads in more Republican states such as North Carolina and Georgia.
An early October Marist poll suggested 59% of Maine registered voters disapproved of the president’s job performance.
The same survey showed Mr. Jackson leading Ms. Collins 51% to 47%, with a 3.8% margin of error.
Ms. Collins is the only Republican Senate candidate seeking reelection in a state that Mr. Trump lost in 2024.
The five-term senator has been resilient, defeating her Democratic challenger by over 8 percentage points in 2020 despite trailing in every public poll.
Democrats may need to win Maine to win control of the Senate.
The Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up.
Election Day is Nov. 3.
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