Early-Vote Data in Maine's Senate Race: Democrats Lead 55 to 19 in Ballots Cast
According to state election data compiled by TargetSmart and NBC News, as of the evening of Oct. 16 nearly 8 million voters nationwide had already cast ballots through early voting or mail-in ballots. Among registered voters who have voted, 54% are Democrats, 30% Republicans and 16% independents or other affiliations. The figures reflect voters' party registration, not how they actually voted.
In Maine's U.S. Senate race, the Democratic edge is equally clear: 55% of those who have voted are registered Democrats, 19% Republicans, and more than a quarter fall in the "other" category. Republican Senator Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term; her Democratic challenger is Troy Jackson, former president of the Maine Senate.
Collins is the only Republican senator seeking re-election this year in a state that voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, and multiple polls show the race close. Democrats view the seat as one of the keys to control of the Senate.
Political scientists note that the early-vote data show higher Democratic enthusiasm, but it is too soon to tell whether that means an overall turnout surge; election-day voting will be the test.
Related: America's Electoral System (4): The Midterms: What Is on the Ballot on November 3, 2026
Related: Early Voting for Nevada's Midterms Runs Oct. 17-30
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：缅因州议会大厦（资料图）。照片：MarkSweep／Wikimedia Commons（公有领域）。The Maine State House (file photo). Photo: MarkSweep / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
