Maine's Susan Collins seeks 6th Senate term in ranked-choice race
Why it matters: Democrats see the seat as a key pickup chance as they try to win Senate control during Donald Trump's presidency.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term in Maine against Democrat Troy Jackson in a race that could help decide control of the Senate. Collins, first elected in 1996, has tried to lean on her long record and distance herself from Donald Trump, while Jackson has cast her as too willing to back the president on pivotal votes. The contest became more turbulent after Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out in July, leading Democrats to replace him with Jackson at an emergency convention. Maine uses ranked-choice voting, and because write-in candidates could keep either major candidate below 50%, the outcome may not be settled on election night.