How to Read This

Colors reflect constitutional accountability based on publicly verifiable conduct. They are not endorsements or predictions of election outcomes. Ratings reflect the severity, pattern, and context of conduct.

Green — Clear constitutional compliance / restraint
Amber — Mixed, limited, or under-articulated record
Red — Clear or repeated constitutional breach

Maine · U.S. Senate

ME Constitutional Accountability Scorecard — Summary Table

Contest & Candidate Use of Force Rule of Law Election Integrity
U.S. Senate
Susan Collins (R, incumbent)
Troy Jackson (D)

U.S. Senate — Candidate Assessments

Susan Collins (R, incumbent)

Use of Force: Amber | Rule of Law: Green | Election Integrity: Amber

1. Use of Force — Amber

What the record shows

  • Has recognized Congress's constitutional role in war powers but applied that principle inconsistently - opposing an Iran War Powers Resolution after hostilities began, then voting to end the conflict when the War Powers Act's 60-day deadline was reached.
  • Supported substantial expansion and funding of ICE enforcement and detention capacity, while providing more limited evidence of demanding constitutional safeguards and accountability commensurate with that expanded authority.
  • Has nevertheless pressed DHS over ICE operations in Maine and supported safeguards including officer identification, body cameras, de-escalation training, detention standards, and increased Inspector General oversight.
  • Following the fatal Biddeford shooting involving ICE personnel, called for a full and independent DHS Inspector General investigation.

Why Amber

  • Collins has demonstrated respect for congressional war powers and supported some safeguards governing federal immigration enforcement.
  • However, her support for substantially expanded ICE enforcement and detention authority has not been matched by a comparably strong record of insisting on constitutional restraint and accountability.
  • The resulting record is mixed rather than sufficiently consistent to warrant Green.

2. Rule of Law / Oversight — Green

What the record shows

  • Treated impeachment as a constitutional accountability mechanism, voting to acquit President Trump in 2020 after concluding the constitutional burden had not been met, but voting to convict following January 6 based on what she viewed as a serious abuse of presidential power.
  • Defended the independence of Inspectors General and questioned executive actions removing federal watchdogs.
  • Challenged DOGE and administration actions she believed exceeded appropriate executive authority, using her position as Appropriations Committee chair to examine compliance with enacted laws and congressional spending decisions.
  • Opposed the proposed Anti-Weaponization Fund, voted to prohibit its funding, and challenged proposals to use federal funds to compensate January 6 defendants or settle future claims outside normal accountability processes.

Why Green

  • Collins’s record demonstrates consistent support for constitutional checks, independent oversight, and institutional accountability.
  • She has exercised congressional authority to scrutinize executive actions, defend independent watchdogs, and oppose uses of government power and public funds she viewed as inconsistent with established legal and accountability processes.
  • Her willingness to apply these principles to leaders and actions of her own party provides affirmative evidence of commitment to the rule of law and constitutional oversight.

3. Election Integrity — Amber

What the record shows

  • Consistently defended the certified 2020 election results, rejected unsupported fraud allegations, and criticized efforts to pressure state officials to alter election outcomes.
  • Before January 6, publicly stated that the election was over, the courts had spoken, and Congress had a constitutional responsibility to certify the results; subsequently voted to convict President Trump for his role in attempting to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
  • Supported bipartisan election-security measures designed to strengthen the security and reliability of election systems.
  • Supports the SAVE Act as a straightforward election-security measure, without acknowledging documented difficulties some eligible voters may face in meeting its requirements; CIU concludes the Act could impose significant and disproportionate burdens on lawful voters.

Why Amber

  • Collins has consistently defended certified election results, rejected unsupported fraud claims, and supported the peaceful transfer of power.
  • However, her support for the SAVE Act raises significant concerns under CIU's voter-access criteria because of the burdens its identification requirements could impose on eligible voters.
  • Taken together, the record reflects strong support for election legitimacy but a meaningful inconsistency regarding lawful voter access.

Troy Jackson (D)

Use of Force: Amber | Rule of Law: Amber | Election Integrity: Amber

1. Use of Force — Amber

What the record shows

  • Publicly opposed unilateral military action against Iran and argued that Congress should authorize military force.
  • Criticized federal immigration enforcement practices on constitutional grounds, emphasizing due process, identification of government agents, accountability, and restraint in the use of force.
  • Proposed transferring immigration enforcement to a civilian-led structure emphasizing humanitarian standards, legal due process, and constitutional protections.

Why Amber

  • Jackson has articulated clear constitutional limits on both military and domestic enforcement power, including congressional authority over military action, due process, accountability, and restraint in the use of government force.
  • However, his record is based primarily on stated positions rather than a sustained governing record demonstrating how he would apply those principles in practice.
  • The available evidence therefore falls short of the affirmative constitutional conduct required for Green.

2. Rule of Law / Oversight — Amber

What the record shows

  • Has criticized what he describes as executive overreach and emphasized constitutional limits on federal authority.
  • Has publicly invoked due process and constitutional protections in criticizing federal immigration enforcement.
  • Has no substantial governing record involving judicial independence, congressional oversight, Inspectors General, or other institutional accountability mechanisms.

Why Amber

  • Jackson's stated positions generally favor constitutional restraint, but the available record provides limited evidence of how he would defend institutional checks and balances when exercising federal authority.
  • The record is therefore too limited for Green.

3. Election Integrity — Amber

What the record shows

  • Campaign platform expressly calls for protecting the right to vote for every American.
  • No documented record identified of rejecting certified election outcomes or promoting election-denial claims.
  • Limited public record on acceptance of certified election outcomes, January 6, independent election administration, or other major constitutional election disputes.

Why Amber

  • Jackson has affirmatively supported voting rights and has no identified record of election denial or efforts to undermine certified outcomes.
  • However, the available record provides limited evidence of how he has applied broader constitutional election principles in practice, leaving an insufficient record for Green.

Sources

Susan Collins

  1. BILL SUMMARY: Homeland Security Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bill. https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy26_homeland_security_conference_bill_summary.pdf?
  2. Senator Collins Statement on Passage of DHS Funding Package. (March 27, 2026). https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/majority/senator-collins-statement-on-passage-of-dhs-funding-package?
  3. Senator Collins’ Statement on Iran War Powers Resolution. (March 4, 2026). https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/03/04/2026/senator-collins-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution?
  4. Senator Collins’ Statement on Her Vote to End Hostilities in Iran Ahead of 60-Day Deadline. (April 30, 2026). https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-her-vote-to-end-hostilities-in-iran-ahead-of-60-day-deadline?
  5. The Hill. (April 30, 2026). Collins breaks with GOP leaders on Iran war powers resolution..
  6. Sen. Susan Collins. (February 12, 2020). Senator Collins Votes to Advance Revised War Powers Resolution (S.J.Res.68). https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-votes-advance-revised-war-powers-resolution?
  7. Sen. Susan Collins. (February 4, 2020). Senator Collins Announces Her Position on Impeachment Articles. https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-her-position-impeachment-articles?
  8. Sen. Susan Collins. (February 13, 2021). Senator Collins Delivers Remarks on Impeachment Article. https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-remarks-impeachment-article?
  9. The Hill. (April 6, 2020). Susan Collins: Firing of intelligence community watchdog ‘not warranted.’ https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/491406-susan-collins-firing-of-intelligence-community-watchdog-not-warranted/?
  10. Axios. (February 9, 2025). Musk's "move fast, break things" ethos threatens U.S. security. https://www.axios.com/2025/02/09/elon-musk-doge-federal-it-national-security.
  11. U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote No. 137. (June 4, 2026). Schumer amendment addressing the Anti-Weaponization Fund. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00137.htm?
  12. CNN. (May 22, 2026). Republicans revolt over Trump’s $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/21/politics/blanche-senate-republicans-anti-weaponization-fund.
  13. Bangor Daily News. (November 20, 2020). Susan Collins: Trump ‘wrong’ to pressure Republican officials over election results. https://www.bangordailynews.com/2020/11/20/politics/susan-collins-trump-wrong-to-pressure-gop-officials-over-election-results/?
  14. NPR. (January 3, 2021). Republican lawmakers divided on election certification. https://www.npr.org/2021/01/03/953052950/republican-lawmakers-divided-on-election-certification?
  15. The Maine Wire. (June 6, 2026). Sen. Susan Collins One of Four Republicans to Vote Against Including SAVE Act in ICE Funding Bill. https://www.themainewire.com/2026/06/sen-susan-collins-one-of-four-republicans-to-vote-against-including-save-act-in-ice-funding-bill/?

Troy Jackson

  1. News Center Maine. (July 13, 2026). Troy Jackson will speak at emergency Biddeford rally following alleged fatal ICE-involved shooting.
  2. ABC News. (July 14, 2026). Immigration enforcement becomes a flashpoint in Maine Senate race after fatal ICE shooting.
  3. The Maine Wire. (August 2, 2026). Jackson Blasts ICE, Susan Collins During Biddeford Veterans Rally.
  4. Troy Jackson (Official X). (July 13, 2026). Statement on Biddeford ICE Shooting.
  5. Troy Jackson (Official Facebook). (April 3, 2026). No Kings. No Oligarchs. No ICE.
  6. National Review. (August 10, 2026). Troy Jackson Entered Politics Fighting Foreign Labor. Now He Wants to Abolish ICE.
  7. NPR. (July 25, 2026). Democrats in Maine formally nominate Troy Jackson as their new U.S. Senate candidate(https://www.npr.org/ [link pending]