Maine Student Mock Election Favors Jackson Over Collins

A statewide student mock election gave Democrat Troy Jackson 50.8% support and Republican Sen. Susan Collins 45.1% in their closely watched Maine Senate race, according to results released by the Maine secretary of state’s office. The vote involved more than 12,000 students at 115 schools and does not determine the outcome among eligible voters. The results came as Jackson and Collins made their closing appeals ahead of Election Day. Jackson cast the contest as a choice between billionaires aligned with President Donald Trump and working Mainers, while Collins emphasized federal funding she says she has secured for the state and her record of delivering for Maine. Jackson’s closing advertisement said Mainers would decide the country’s direction and argued that he would protect Social Security, improve access to health care and help people keep more of their earnings. In an opinion piece, he described himself as a working person who believes Mainers have been ignored. His campaign’s message focused on national issues and its criticism of Collins’ support for Trump administration policies. Collins’ campaign highlighted her role as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and...