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

Maine Senate race

Susan Collins (R) — incumbent vs. Troy Jackson (D)
Cook rating (Oct. 20): Toss Up · Result: not yet called (AP)

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, Oct. 20, 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. 27): Solid D · Result: not yet called (AP)

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. 27, 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 (Oct. 23); incumbent or open seat as Cook lists them.

• ME-02 (Open (Golden)): Lean R

Sources: Cook Political Report House ratings, Oct. 23, 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