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Maine 2026 Election: Senate & Governor Races, Candidates & Poll Times

Facts checked Nov. 3, 2026 · Jamoke News does not project winners or call races; results link to the AP.

What was on the ballot in Maine on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: the U.S. Senate race, the governor’s race and the most competitive U.S. House districts, with candidates, Cook Political Report ratings, poll-closing time and the latest coverage.

Polls close: 8 p.m. ET. All states. Results: AP Maine results.

Maine Senate race

Susan Collins (R) — incumbent vs. Troy Jackson (D)
Cook rating (Nov. 2): Toss Up · Result: Troy Jackson (D) won (AP via PBS News; AP results)

Former state Senate President Troy Jackson replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee after Platner withdrew in July. This race uses ranked-choice voting; six declared write-in candidates are also running.

Sources: Cook Political Report Senate ratings, Nov. 2, 2026 · Wikipedia: 2026 United States Senate elections (nominee lists, sourced to state election offices) · Maine Monitor (via Penobscot Bay Press): How ranked-choice voting works in Maine, Oct. 22, 2026

Maine governor race

Hannah Pingree (D) vs. Bobby Charles (R) vs. Rick Bennett (I)
Cook rating (Oct. 29): Solid D · Result: see AP results

Open seat (Gov. Janet Mills is term-limited). The governor's race does not use ranked-choice voting in the general election; the winner needs only a plurality.

Sources: Cook Political Report governor ratings, Oct. 29, 2026 · Bangor Daily News: final Maine gubernatorial debate, Oct. 14, 2026 · Maine Monitor (via Penobscot Bay Press): How ranked-choice voting works in Maine, Oct. 22, 2026

Maine House races to watch

Districts the Cook Political Report does not rate as solid (Nov. 2); incumbent or open seat as Cook lists them.

ME-02 (Open (Golden)): Lean R

Sources: Cook Political Report House ratings, Nov. 2, 2026

What else to know

Maine's 2nd District race (Republican Paul LePage vs. Democrat Matt Dunlap, plus an independent) also uses ranked-choice voting. If no candidate tops 50% of first choices, the Secretary of State runs a central ranked-choice tabulation, which can take days. See how ranked-choice voting works.

Sources: Maine Monitor (via Penobscot Bay Press): How ranked-choice voting works in Maine, Oct. 22, 2026 · Maine Secretary of State: ranked choice voting information

Latest Maine election headlines

Democrat concedes in open race for Golden's House seat in Maine 1 outlet Nov 5, 2026, 1:30 PM ET
LePage’s Maine House race heads to ranked-choice voting 2 outlets Nov 5, 2026, 12:53 PM ET
‘It Is Never Enough’: Susan Collins Couldn’t Outrun Trump 2 outlets Nov 4, 2026, 7:51 PM ET
How Troy Jackson Defeated Susan Collins in Maine, Ending Her 30 Year Senate Career 15 outlets Nov 3, 2026, 8:05 PM ET
Latest on tight races in Michigan, Texas, and Maine as voting underway 1 outlet Nov 3, 2026, 7:19 PM ET
On the ground in Texas, Michigan and Maine: Voters speak out at polls on key Senate races 1 outlet Nov 3, 2026, 3:21 PM ET
Collins's Maine office vandalized on eve of election 1 outlet Nov 3, 2026, 2:18 PM ET
Susan Collins' Maine Senate office vandalized with 'disturbing' graffiti on night before Election Day 1 outlet Nov 3, 2026, 11:44 AM ET
Texas, Alaska, Maine Senate races flip blue on DDHQ map 1 outlet Nov 2, 2026, 8:25 AM ET
Collins accuses Schumer of pushing attack ads filled with 'outright lies' in tight Maine race 1 outlet Nov 1, 2026, 9:18 PM ET
Will ranked choice voting affect timing of Maine and Alaska's Senate race results? Here's what we know 5 outlets Nov 1, 2026, 3:14 PM ET
Susan Collins Is Always Keeping Score 1 outlet Oct 31, 2026, 10:29 AM ET

All Maine stories →