2026 United States Senate election in Maine

For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.

2026 United States Senate election in Maine
November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)
 
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent U.S. senator

Susan Collins
Republican



Elections in Maine
Federal offices
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2020
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2021
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Constitutional amendments
2021
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2024
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City of Portland
Mayoral elections

The 2026 United States Senate election in Maine will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Maine. Incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins plans to run for re-election to a sixth term in office. This will be the only Republican-held Senate seat up for election in 2026 in a state that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election. This election will coincide with U.S. House elections for Maine's two congressional districts, a gubernatorial election, and various other state, county and local elections.

Background

A sparsely populated state in New England, Maine is one of the most rural states in the nation and is considered to be a moderately blue state, having voted for every Democratic presidential nominee since 1992 and voting for Kamala Harris by about seven percentage points in 2024. Democrats also control the governorship, the state legislature, and both seats in Maine's U.S. House congressional delegation.[1]

Collins was first elected in 1996 and was re-elected in four subsequent elections, significantly outperforming other Republicans in the state. In 2020, despite almost all polls and analysts predicting that she would lose her re-election bid, Collins unexpectedly defeated Democratic nominee Sara Gideon by about eight percentage points. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden carried Maine by about nine percentage points on the same ballot.[2]

As the only Republican-held Senate seat up for election in a state that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election and Collins' record of overperformance despite the state's Democratic lean, Maine is considered a key Senate battleground in 2026. This Senate seat has been held by Republicans since 1979. With the decline of ticket splitting and being in a midterm year with a Republican president, Collins is widely viewed as the most vulnerable Republican incumbent senator.[3][4] Following the retirement of Joe Manchin and the defeats of Democratic Senators Jon Tester and Sherrod Brown in 2024, Collins remains the last senator to represent a non-swing state of the opposite party (i.e., a reliably red or blue state).

Republican primary

Collins was first elected in 1996. With Collins being a moderate conservative and sometimes a swing vote, she could face a more conservative primary opponent. However, she has the firm backing of national Republicans.[5]

Candidates

Declared

  • Dan Smeriglio, former police officer[6]

Publicly expressed interest

Filed paperwork

  • Carmen Calabrese[8]

Endorsements

Susan Collins (not declared)
Organizations

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Susan Collins (R) $3,602,617 $1,682,892 $3,214,918
Source: Federal Election Commission[10]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Filed paperwork

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Jordan Wood
Individuals

Independent

Candidates

Declared

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of March 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Phillip Rench (I) $52,787 $7,045 $45,742
Source: Federal Election Commission[10]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[20] Battleground February 20, 2025
The Cook Political Report[21] Lean R February 13, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[22] Lean R March 12, 2025
Race To The WH[23] Tossup April 27, 2025

References

  1. ^ "Maine Democrats say they won enough seats to control state Senate". spectrumlocalnews.com. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Everett, Burgess (November 4, 2020). "Collins wins again in Maine, boosting Senate GOP". POLITICO. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  3. ^ Coleman, J. Miles (July 11, 2024). "The Shocking Decline of Senate Ticket-Splitting". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  4. ^ Stanton, Andrew (November 14, 2024). "Susan Collins' Reelection Plan Throws a Wrench in Democrats' Senate Hopes". Newsweek. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Who will Democrats find to run against Susan Collins in 2026?". Piscataquis Observer. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  6. ^ Collins, Steve (February 18, 2025). "A Frenchville Republican challenges Susan Collins". Sun Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  7. ^ Shepherd, Michael (November 15, 2024). "Susan Collins plans to run for historic 6th term in 2026". Piscataquis Observer. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  8. ^ "CALABRESE, CARMEN VINCENT MR. - Candidate overview". FEC.gov. January 1, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  9. ^ "- AIPAC Political Portal". candidates.aipacpac.org. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "2026 Election United States Senate - Maine". fec.gov. Federal Election Commission. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  11. ^ Billings, Randy (June 11, 2025). "Brunswick Democrat announces campaign for Susan Collins' Senate seat". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  12. ^ Kobin, Billy (April 23, 2025). "Democrat with national ties announces 2026 bid to unseat Susan Collins". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  13. ^ Bartow, Adam (February 26, 2025). "Growing field: First Democrat files to challenge Sen. Susan Collins". WMTV. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  14. ^ a b c Ohm, Rachel (May 27, 2025). "Who will Maine Democrats run against Susan Collins?". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
  15. ^ Kobin, Billy (May 29, 2025). "These Democrats may run against Susan Collins in 2026". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2025.
  16. ^ a b Kobin, Billy (April 19, 2025). "Who will Democrats find to run against Susan Collins in 2026?". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 19, 2025.
  17. ^ Kobin, Billy (May 20, 2025). "Jared Golden will run for reelection in Maine's 2nd District in 2026". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  18. ^ Klein, Howie (June 8, 2025). "Meet Jordan Wood, The Mainer Who Will Beat Susan Collins". Blue America. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  19. ^ Fahlberg, Audrey (March 7, 2025). "Ex-Democrat SpaceX Engineer Challenging Maine Senator Susan Collins as an Independent". National Review. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  20. ^ "Senate Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  21. ^ "2026 CPR Senate Race Ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  22. ^ "2026 Senate ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  23. ^ "2026 Senate Forecast". Race to the WH. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
Official campaign websites
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