SENATE
Maine Senate2026
RACE AT A GLANCE
RACE TYPE
Incumbent running
Susan Collins (R)
COOK PARTISAN VOTING INDEX
Last updated : Apr 27, 2026D +50
R +50
D +4
Race summary
Facing a near-certain primary loss to upstart Democratic rival Graham Platner, Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign for Senate on Thursday. It’s a stunning flameout for a sitting governor whom national Democrats had hailed as their long-sought answer to finally unseat Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November. Now, they will have an untested candidate who upended Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s plans — perhaps presaging similar upsets in other contests this cycle — and who could make the race about him instead of further tying Collins to President Donald Trump. Instead, Democrats will take a gamble with Platner, an oyster farmer who has a litany of past controversial comments and a more unconventional background — which hasn’t dimmed his support in-state among primary voters.Key Dates
Filing Deadline: Mar 15, 2026
Primary Election: Jun 9, 2026
INCUMBENT
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INCUMBENT
Full Bio:
COLLINS, Susan Margaret, a Senator from Maine; born in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine,
December 7, 1952; graduated from St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY 1975;
worked for United States Senator William S. Cohen 1975-1987, serving as staff
director of the Senate Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on the Oversight of
Government Management 1981-1987; commissioner of the Maine Department of
Professional and Financial Regulation 1987-1992; New England regional director,
United States Small Business Administration 1992; served as deputy state
treasurer of Massachusetts, 1993; won an eight-way Republican primary to become
the first woman nominated for governor of Maine in 1994, but lost general
election; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1996;
reelected in 2002, 2008, and again in 2014 for the term ending January 3, 2021;
chair, Committee on Governmental Affairs (One Hundred Eighth Congress),
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (One Hundred Ninth
Congress); Special Committee on Aging (One Hundred Fourteenth and One Hundred Fifteenth Congresses).
Source: Bioguide
CANDIDATES
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STATE DATA
Maine
Population Breakdown
Source: United States Census
Past Presidential Results from this State
2024 Election Results
Source: The Cook Political Report
2020 Election Results
Source: The Cook Political Report
RACE ANALYSIS
Race Analysis
Updated: Apr 13, 2026
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