Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) suggested this week that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) should leave the Republican Party to become an independent. Manchin, who left the Democratic Party to become an independent in 2024, made the comments while campaigning with Collins in Maine. He stated that while Collins is "as independent as any Republican," the final decision to change her party affiliation rests with her.
Collins has represented Maine in the U.S. Senate since 1997 and is currently seeking a sixth term. She has developed a record of occasionally voting against her party, including a 2017 vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act and a 2021 vote to convict former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. During her current campaign, she has emphasized her seniority and role as chair of the Appropriations Committee as critical for securing resources for her state.
Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, however, has characterized Collins as a supporter of the former president’s policies. On Friday, October 23, 2026, Jackson stated on social media that Collins "enabled this chaos" regarding trade policies and only voiced opposition when facing a difficult reelection. A spokesperson for Collins did not provide a comment on Manchin's specific suggestion regarding her party status when asked on Friday.
Recent polling indicates a close contest for the Maine Senate seat. A Fox News poll released Thursday, October 22, 2026, showed Collins and Jackson tied at 49 percent. Other surveys from Suffolk University and Marist University have shown Jackson with leads that fall within the polls' margins of error. The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan group, currently rates the race as a "toss up."
The scale of the contest is reflected in the polling of likely voters, with approximately 49 percent supporting each candidate in recent surveys. According to a Fox News poll, 40 percent of likely voters expressed concern that Collins votes with former President Trump too frequently, while 29 percent reported no concern regarding her voting record. Voters will determine if Collins retains her seat, where her seniority allows her to influence federal spending, or if Jackson will take the seat and begin a new term with lower seniority.
A person living in Maine will notice the finality of this decision following the November election. The result will determine who represents the state in federal policy debates regarding healthcare, trade, and government spending for the next six years. Beyond Maine, the Independent Leadership Council, co-founded by Manchin in July, is monitoring this and other races in Montana, Idaho, and Nebraska to increase the number of independent members in Congress. The effective date for the new Senate term will be in January 2027.