The Democrat running for Senate in Maine has a slight polling edge over Republican incumbent who has served for nearly 30 years, another sign of Democrats' strength in their bid to take control of the chamber in the Nov. 3 election.
Fifty percent of likely voters support Troy Jackson, compared to 46 percent for Sen. Susan Collins, according to a new Washington Post-Schar School poll. The poll was taken from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5 and has a margin of error of 3.6 percent.
The poll is by no means a death sentence for Collins, who outperformed polls in 2020 and is respected for her deep understanding of Maine voters, but shows that even a moderate Republican is at risk in a year that voters are increasingly siding with Democrats.
Jackson, the former president
of the Maine Senate, joined the race in July after the previous Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, resigned after facing rape allegations.
Backed by progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Jackson is running on a platform that includes Medicare for all, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and federalizing abortion rights.
Collins, who first won the seat in 1996, highlights her bipartisan record in the Senate. During both of Trump's terms, she has often been a deciding moderate vote on controversial issues, striking a balance between concern over issues and maintaining backing from Maine voters.
Collins is currently chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which helps decide how to spend the government's money. The same poll found that 54 percent of likely voters thought she would do a better job at bringing funds back to the district.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrat in Maine leading Republican Susan Collins, poll shows
