Maine · U.S. Senate · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Where do the candidates stand on government and democracy?
Susan CollinsRepublicanIncumbent
Troy JacksonDemocrat
Part of the full Maine U.S. Senate comparison · Last reviewed October 19, 2026
Government & Democracy
Each position is labeled by what it rests on: a campaign proposal, a public statement, a past action such as a vote or lawsuit, or an enacted policy. Where nothing is documented, the page says so.
Documented positions
Susan Collins
Supports requiring voters to show photo ID and voted to advance a federal voter ID bill; opposes increasing the number of Supreme Court justices.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Past actionAug. 8, 2026
Voted Aug. 8, 2026, to advance S. 5271, a bill to amend the Help America Vote Act to require voters to provide photo identification (cloture failed 52–46; 60 votes needed). Asked in the first debate whether voters should show ID, she answered "Yes." 3 sourcesRoll Call Vote 119th Congress - 2nd Session, Vote Number 231: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 5271 (opens in a new tab)U.S. Senate · Aug. 8, 2026 · Legislative record‘We can’t eat road salt’: Jackson rips Sen. Collins in first Maine Senate debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsLive updates: Susan Collins and Troy Jackson debate for the first time (opens in a new tab)Portland Press Herald · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 15, 2026
Said in the final debate that adding justices to the Supreme Court would be "inconsistent with the whole idea of the Supreme Court being insulated from politics." SourceMaine's final Senate debate with Susan Collins and Troy Jackson (opens in a new tab)Portland Press Herald · Oct. 15, 2026 · News
- Past actionAug. 8, 2026
Voted Aug. 8, 2026, to advance S. 5271, a bill to amend the Help America Vote Act to require voters to provide photo identification (cloture failed 52–46; 60 votes needed). Asked in the first debate whether voters should show ID, she answered "Yes." 3 sourcesRoll Call Vote 119th Congress - 2nd Session, Vote Number 231: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed S. 5271 (opens in a new tab)U.S. Senate · Aug. 8, 2026 · Legislative record‘We can’t eat road salt’: Jackson rips Sen. Collins in first Maine Senate debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsLive updates: Susan Collins and Troy Jackson debate for the first time (opens in a new tab)Portland Press Herald · Oct. 6, 2026 · News
- Public statementOct. 15, 2026
Said in the final debate that adding justices to the Supreme Court would be "inconsistent with the whole idea of the Supreme Court being insulated from politics." SourceMaine's final Senate debate with Susan Collins and Troy Jackson (opens in a new tab)Portland Press Herald · Oct. 15, 2026 · News
Troy Jackson
Supports the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, overturning Citizens United, a congressional stock-trading ban and Supreme Court term limits; open to adding justices; opposes requiring voters to show ID.
Show the evidence (2)Hide the evidence
- Campaign proposal2026
His campaign says he would support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the PRO Act, a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, publicly financed federal campaigns, and a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks. SourceTroy's priorities in the Senate (opens in a new tab)Troy Jackson for Maine · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 2026
Answered no when asked at the Oct. 6, 2026 debate whether voters should have to show identification; at the Oct. 15, 2026 debate he said he supports Supreme Court term limits and enforceable ethics standards and would be open to adding justices. 2 sources‘We can’t eat road salt’: Jackson rips Sen. Collins in first Maine Senate debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsMaine's final Senate debate with Susan Collins and Troy Jackson (opens in a new tab)Portland Press Herald · Oct. 15, 2026 · News
- Campaign proposal2026
His campaign says he would support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the PRO Act, a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, publicly financed federal campaigns, and a ban on members of Congress trading individual stocks. SourceTroy's priorities in the Senate (opens in a new tab)Troy Jackson for Maine · Campaign
- Public statementOct. 2026
Answered no when asked at the Oct. 6, 2026 debate whether voters should have to show identification; at the Oct. 15, 2026 debate he said he supports Supreme Court term limits and enforceable ethics standards and would be open to adding justices. 2 sources‘We can’t eat road salt’: Jackson rips Sen. Collins in first Maine Senate debate (opens in a new tab)CNN · Oct. 6, 2026 · NewsMaine's final Senate debate with Susan Collins and Troy Jackson (opens in a new tab)Portland Press Herald · Oct. 15, 2026 · News
Recorded votes on government and democracy
Selected votes
Susan Collins
No selected votes for this candidate
Troy Jackson
LD 1578, An Act to Adopt an Interstate Compact to Elect the President of the United States by National Popular Vote (Maine Senate, 131st Legislature, 2024)
DemocracyAdopts, for Maine, an interstate compact to elect the president of the United States by national popular vote, as stated in the bill's title.
Passed to be engrossed by the Senate 23–12 on March 13, 2024 (Roll Call #585); enacted by the Senate 18–12 on April 3, 2024 (Roll Call #655); final disposition: enacted April 16, 2024, with the governor's action recorded as unsigned (chapter 628).
3 sourcesMaine State Senate Roll Call #585, LD 1578 (HP 1023), 131st Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (opens in a new tab)Maine State Senate · March 13, 2024 · Legislative recordRoll-calls for LD 1578 (opens in a new tab)Maine State Legislature · Legislative recordLD 1578, HP 1023, Text and Status, 131st Legislature, Second Regular Session (opens in a new tab)Maine State Legislature · Legislative recordVoted yesMaine Senate · March 13, 2024
Passage to be Engrossed by Committee Amendment "A" (H-792)
SourceMaine State Senate Roll Call #585, LD 1578 (HP 1023), 131st Legislature, 2nd Regular Session (opens in a new tab)Maine State Senate · March 13, 2024 · Legislative record
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