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Poll Shows Susan Collins Leading Troy Jackson in Maine

By Drooid · Sep 24, 2026, 4:34 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Collins Leads Poll

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) leads Democrat Troy Jackson 49% to 46% in the poll.
The survey of 619 registered Maine voters ran September 15-22 with a ±4.9-point margin of error.
Five percent of respondents remain undecided about the Senate race.
Favorability shows 51% view Collins positively versus 41% for Jackson.
Collins receives 8% Democratic support while Jackson draws 3% Republican support.

Summary

Collins Faces Allegations

ProPublica disclosed an alleged pay-for-play linking Rep. Collins to a $150,000 donation from Navatek CEO Martin Kao.
The FBI terminated a broader bribery probe after Kao’s claims revived the investigation.
Collins’s campaign says staff learned of the shell-company donation only in 2020 and denies prior knowledge.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune labeled the allegations a “political hit job by a left-wing outlet.”

History

Historical Context

The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal, uncovered in 2005, revealed that lobbyists overbilled Native American tribes by about $85 million and bribed officials such as Rep. Bob Ney. Congressional outrage spurred 2006 lobbying reforms, including the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, tightening earmark and donation rules. Those reforms frame today’s Maine Senate poll and ProPublica’s Navatek donation probe, which echo Abramoff-era pay-for-play concerns.

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Collins Leads Poll

U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) leads Democrat Troy Jackson 49% to 46% in the poll.
The survey of 619 registered Maine voters ran September 15-22 with a ±4.9-point margin of error.
Five percent of respondents remain undecided about the Senate race.
Favorability shows 51% view Collins positively versus 41% for Jackson.
Collins receives 8% Democratic support while Jackson draws 3% Republican support.

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