Susan M. Collins

In the 2020 Senate race for ME Senate seat, Susan M. Collins (R) won with 51.0% of the vote, defeating Sara I. Gideon (D) who received 42.4%. 4 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Susan M. Collins's 8.6-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This race flipped the seat from Independent to Republican. Angus S. King, Jr. (I) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2014 Senate race for ME Senate seat, Susan M. Collins (R) won with 67.0% of the vote, defeating Shenna Bellows (D) who received 30.8%. 2 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Susan M. Collins's 36.2-point advantage over the runner-up confirmed a comfortable win.

This race flipped the seat from Independent to Republican. Angus King (I) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. As a Republican, Susan M. Collins benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Democrat in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.