The one GOP incumbent who’s poised to defy the odds in midterms bloodbath

Republicans face a difficult midterm environment, according to The Independent, yet Maine Sen. Susan Collins may be the one GOP incumbent able to survive it. Democrats hold a nine-point lead on the generic congressional ballot, and the party is spreading its defense across states as varied as Alaska, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. Collins, a five-term senator, debates Democrat Troy Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, on Tuesday night.

Maine seems favorable to Democrats: Kamala Harris carried it by about seven points, and Democrats control the governor's office and legislature. Even so, a New York Times/Siena poll found Collins ahead by three points, while a CBS poll showed a tie. Jackson was weakened when Graham Platner, the primary winner, withdrew after Politico reported an allegation of sexual assault, which Platner denied. Jackson had campaigned alongside Platner earlier.

The Times/Siena data suggests Collins draws crossover backing: 44 percent of women and 13 percent of Democrats, and she leads Jackson 51 percent to 45 percent among "other" voters. She stresses her appropriations chairmanship and her votes against Pete Hegseth and Todd Blanche. In 2020, she won despite trailing in polls. However, her abortion-rights standing has eroded since Dobbs.

Summarized by PolitiKool from The Independent’s reporting. Read the full story at The Independent →