U.S. Senate, Maine · November 3, 2026
Who should I vote for in the Maine U.S. Senate race?
Susan Collins has the strongest record in the Maine U.S. Senate race. Susan Collins scores 77 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Troy Jackson at 68, as of October 6, 2026. Susan Collins's highest marks are courage and relevant experience. Troy Jackson's highest marks are relevant experience and results. Brent Andrews (1 of 15 criteria), Sigrid Ann Olson (1 of 15 criteria), Gina Oswald (1 of 15 criteria), Joseph Steinberger (1 of 15 criteria), Michael Turcotte (1 of 15 criteria) and Ashley Webb (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Write-in
Brent Andrews
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Susan Collins
On the ballot as Susan M. Collins
77 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 70
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 81
Democratic
Troy Jackson
On the ballot as Troy D. Jackson
68 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 100
Write-in
Sigrid Ann Olson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Gina Oswald
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Joseph Steinberger
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Michael Turcotte
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Ashley Webb
On the ballot as Ashley J. Webb
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Brent Andrews
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Susan Collins
- Mark against2026-03
Her office acknowledged that a periodic transaction report for her husband's Pfizer bond purchase was filed five days after the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline.
Sources: NOTUS, March 26, 2026, Bangor Daily News, June 29, 2026
- Unresolved2026-09-22
ProPublica reported that convicted contractor Martin Kao told federal investigators of a pay-to-play scheme involving her office and Navatek contracts; she and FBI officials call the allegations false.
Where it stands: No charge or official finding against her or her campaign. ProPublica and the New York Times report the FBI closed the inquiry in 2025; Kao is serving a prison sentence on his own 2022 guilty plea.
Sources: Maine Public, Sept. 22, 2026, Bangor Daily News, Sept. 22, 2026
- On the record2021-02-13 to 2021-06
Voted Guilty in the February 2021 impeachment trial of President Trump; the Aroostook, Piscataquis and Kennebec county Republican committees later voted to censure her, while the state committee declined.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 59 (2021), Bangor Daily News (AP), June 26, 2021, WGME, June 25, 2021
- Credit2026-09-14
Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, now an independent, said he supports her reelection and would campaign with her.
Source: CNN, Sept. 14, 2026
- Credit2023
The Lugar Center Bipartisan Index ranked her first in the Senate for 2023, with a score of 2.41047.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, 2023 Senate scores
- Credit1997-01 to 2026-09
GovTrack records that she missed none of 10,097 Senate roll call votes from January 1997 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack member page
- Credit1997 to 2026
GovTrack counts 55 bills she sponsored that were enacted, including the NAPA Reauthorization Act in the 118th Congress.
Source: GovTrack member page
Troy Jackson
- On the record2025-08 to 2025-10
Maine Revenue Services placed a state tax lien on him in August 2025 for about $4,600 in taxes dating to 2020; it was released in October after he paid.
Source: Bangor Daily News, July 22, 2026
- On the record2021
Threw a water bottle during a 2021 argument with Democratic state Sen. Heather Sanborn; it struck no one, and his campaign says he apologized at the time.
Source: PolitiFact, July 28, 2026
- On the record1988-03
At 19 he was charged with misdemeanor assault after punching a man in Fort Kent; the case was resolved by a fine, and he does not dispute it.
- Credit2023 to 2024
The Center for Effective Lawmaking ranked him the most effective member of the Maine Senate in 2023 to 2024, with 32 of his bills becoming law.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Sigrid Ann Olson
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Gina Oswald
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Joseph Steinberger
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Michael Turcotte
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Ashley Webb
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Her office acknowledged a 2026 periodic transaction report filed five days past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline for her husband's Pfizer bond purchase, reported by NOTUS and the Bangor Daily News (E16). No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: NOTUS, March 26, 2026, Bangor Daily News, June 29, 2026, FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00314575
Troy Jackson. His Senate committee registered with the FEC on July 7, 2026; its first quarterly report was not yet due. No FEC administrative fine and no Maine Ethics Commission penalty found.
Sources: FEC committee page, Troy Jackson for Maine, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00955609
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Voted against most of her party on the 2017 health law repeal amendment, the 2020 Barrett nomination, the 2021 impeachment verdict (Guilty), the 2025 Hegseth nomination and 2025 H.R. 1. Three Maine county Republican committees censured her in 2021.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 179 (2017), GovTrack, Senate Vote 59 (2021), GovTrack, Senate Vote 15 (2025), Hegseth nomination, GovTrack, Senate Vote 372 (2025), H.R. 1, Bangor Daily News (AP), June 26, 2021
Troy Jackson. PBS reports he has clashed with lawmakers of both parties, including Democratic Gov. Janet Mills.
Source: PBS NewsHour (AP), Aug. 8, 2026
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Her campaign proposed and accepted four televised October 2026 debates with Troy Jackson. She does not hold open town halls; her team says she prefers small-group meetings with constituents.
Sources: Maine Morning Star via Yahoo News, Aug. 27, 2026, Bangor Daily News, Sept. 4, 2026
Troy Jackson. Accepted four October 2026 debates with Collins and held public town halls across the state, three in the first week of September alone.
Source: Bangor Daily News, Sept. 4, 2026
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. Took part in the televised July 16, 2026 debate among Democrats seeking to replace Graham Platner as nominee.
Source: WGME, July 18, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Senator since 1997 with no formal conduct finding found. Former Democratic, now independent, Sen. Joe Manchin backed her in 2026, calling her a person you can talk to who wants to do the right thing.
Sources: GovTrack member page, CNN, Sept. 14, 2026
Troy Jackson. Served 22 years in the Legislature, including six as Senate president, with no formal conduct finding found. A 2021 water bottle incident and a 1988 misdemeanor are listed in his Record.
Source: Ballotpedia, Troy Jackson
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to certified electors and voted Guilty in the February 2021 impeachment trial over efforts to subvert the election; three county Republican committees then censured her.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1 (2021), GovTrack, Senate Vote 2 (2021), GovTrack, Senate Vote 59 (2021), WGME, June 25, 2021
Troy Jackson. Took the oath as a Maine legislator from 2002 to 2024. No official finding of misuse of office and no action to reject certified election results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Troy Jackson
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. U.S. senator for Maine since January 1997, five full terms.
Source: GovTrack member page
Troy Jackson. Served in the Maine House from 2002 to 2008 and the Maine Senate from 2008 to 2014 and 2016 to 2024, including as Democratic leader and Senate president.
Source: Ballotpedia, Troy Jackson
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and its State, Foreign Operations subcommittee, and gave specific plans in a Bangor Daily News questionnaire, including a $35 monthly insulin cap bill.
Sources: GovTrack member page, committees, Bangor Daily News reader questions, Oct. 2026
Troy Jackson. Former Maine Senate president (E5). Published positions in the Bangor Daily News questionnaire, mostly in general terms, such as support for Medicare for All.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Troy Jackson, Bangor Daily News reader questions, Oct. 2026
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Answered the Bangor Daily News reader questionnaire, agreed to four televised debates, and her Senate office offers an e-newsletter and issue pages.
Sources: Bangor Daily News reader questions, Oct. 2026, Maine Morning Star via Yahoo News, Aug. 27, 2026, collins.senate.gov contact page (Wayback Machine copy)
Troy Jackson. Answered the Bangor Daily News reader questionnaire, held public town halls, and agreed to four televised debates.
Sources: Bangor Daily News reader questions, Oct. 2026, Bangor Daily News, Sept. 4, 2026
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. Took part in a televised July 2026 candidate debate. No questionnaire or issue page found.
Source: WGME, July 18, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Brent Andrews. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of York.
Susan Collins. Born and raised in Caribou, where both parents served as mayor. About 7 percent of itemized individual contributions by state in 2025 to 2026 came from Maine (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: collins.senate.gov About (Wayback Machine copy), FEC candidate page
Troy Jackson. A logger from Allagash in Aroostook County, which he represented in the Legislature for over two decades. No FEC by-state totals are available yet.
Sources: Bangor Daily News, July 22, 2026, PBS NewsHour (AP), Aug. 8, 2026
Sigrid Ann Olson. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of Cape Elizabeth.
Gina Oswald. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of Strong.
Joseph Steinberger. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of Rockland.
Michael Turcotte. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of Burnham.
Ashley Webb. Declared write-in candidate listed as a resident of Farmington.
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found. Was Maine's commissioner of Professional and Financial Regulation from 1987; the size of that department was not documented.
Sources: FEC administrative fines search, committee C00314575, collins.senate.gov About (Wayback Machine copy)
Troy Jackson. Led the Maine Senate as president from 2018 to 2024. No FEC administrative fine found; no source states the size or performance of the organizations he led.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Troy Jackson, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00955609
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates her Meets Expectations for the 118th Congress (LES 2.0 of 0.709, benchmark 0.852), with two substantive bills enacted. GovTrack counts 55 enacted bills as primary sponsor.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress (Collins ME row, 118th), Center for Effective Lawmaking, data download page, GovTrack member page
Troy Jackson. Center for Effective Lawmaking state scores rate him Above Expectations and first in the Maine Senate for 2023 to 2024, with 32 bills becoming law, and first in each Senate term since 2013 to 2014.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking, State Legislative Effectiveness Scores data file
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. GovTrack reports she missed 0 of 10,097 roll call votes from January 1997 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack member page
Troy Jackson. No public record found.
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Her Senate office lists six Maine offices (Augusta, Bangor, Biddeford, Caribou, Lewiston, Portland) and a request-assistance service. No published casework totals were opened.
Source: collins.senate.gov contact page (Wayback Machine copy)
Troy Jackson. No public record found.
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index for 2023, the latest posted Senate scores: score 2.41047, ranked first in the Senate.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, 2023 Senate scores
Troy Jackson. No public record found.
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Brent Andrews. No public record found.
Susan Collins. No public record found.
Troy Jackson. No public record found.
Sigrid Ann Olson. No public record found.
Gina Oswald. No public record found.
Joseph Steinberger. No public record found.
Michael Turcotte. No public record found.
Ashley Webb. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Maine U.S. Senate race?
Susan Collins has the strongest record in the Maine U.S. Senate race. Susan Collins scores 77 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Troy Jackson at 68, as of October 6, 2026. Susan Collins's highest marks are courage and relevant experience. Troy Jackson's highest marks are relevant experience and results. Brent Andrews (1 of 15 criteria), Sigrid Ann Olson (1 of 15 criteria), Gina Oswald (1 of 15 criteria), Joseph Steinberger (1 of 15 criteria), Michael Turcotte (1 of 15 criteria) and Ashley Webb (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Maine U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Brent Andrews (Write-in), Susan M. Collins (Republican, incumbent), Troy D. Jackson (Democratic), Sigrid Ann Olson (Write-in), Gina Oswald (Write-in), Joseph Steinberger (Write-in), Michael Turcotte (Write-in), Ashley J. Webb (Write-in). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Brent Andrews a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Brent Andrews has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Susan Collins a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Susan Collins scores 77 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 70 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 81 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Troy Jackson a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Troy Jackson scores 68 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 100 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Sigrid Ann Olson a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Sigrid Ann Olson has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Gina Oswald a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Gina Oswald has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Joseph Steinberger a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Joseph Steinberger has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Michael Turcotte a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Michael Turcotte has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Ashley Webb a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Ashley Webb has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Maine race scored, and the Maine 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.