GoKawiilMaine Senate race between Collins and Jackson turns on data center backlash
The contest between Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson has become a referendum on data center expansion in Maine, after the Legislature's proposed moratorium on large facilities was vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills in April. Towns across the state have since passed local moratoriums or put the issue to voters, and a September UMass Lowell/YouGov poll found 76 percent of Mainers oppose a data center in their community. Spending on the race is projected to reach $81 million from Democrats and $114 million from Republicans, much of it tied to the data center industry.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The race's outcome could influence which party controls the Senate, which in turn could shape federal policy on AI and data center construction nationwide, not just in Maine. Heavy industry spending on both sides suggests data center companies see significant stakes in how this and similar races are decided, though their specific aims aren't detailed in the reporting. The intensity of local opposition also signals that data center siting could become a broader flashpoint in rural areas with cheap land and water resources.
- Gov. Janet Mills vetoed a statewide data center moratorium passed by Maine's Legislature in April.
- 76% of surveyed Mainers oppose data centers in their communities, per a September poll.
- The Collins-Jackson Senate race is projected to be the most expensive per capita in US history, with combined spending near $195 million.
Source: theverge.com — Abigail Bassett, 2026-10-30
Published there as: “Maine’s data center revolt will decide who controls the Senate”
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