What the downfall of near three-decade senator Susan Collins says about Republican unpopularity
Troy Jackson, in just 101 days, bested the Republican, preventing her sixth Senate term: ‘You can’t eat road salt’
TL;DR
- Susan Collins, a Republican senator with a 30-year tenure, lost her bid for a sixth term to Democrat Troy Jackson.
- Jackson's victory is seen as a result of voter anger towards Donald Trump's presidency and a desire for working-class representation.
- Collins's perceived inaccessibility and focus on deals for the wealthy were contrasted with Jackson's promise of being a voice for ordinary Mainers.
- A key campaign moment was Jackson's retort, 'You can’t eat road salt,' criticizing Collins's focus on what critics deemed minor achievements.
- Collins's vote for Brett Kavanaugh, who later voted to overturn Roe v Wade, was also a significant issue for voters.