Fox News columnist David Marcus wrote on Oct. 23, 2026, that while polls give Democrat Troy Jackson a slight lead, many voters he spoke with in Bangor, Maine, told him they expect Republican Sen. Susan Collins to win reelection.
Marcus wrote that Collins’ three-decade tenure and familiarity with Mainers were recurrent themes in his reporting. A lifelong Mainer he identified as Philip credited Collins with bringing federal dollars to the state and helping fund new local fire stations, Marcus reported.
At a Bangor restaurant, Marcus said he spoke with firefighters and other voters who described Collins as an “institution in Maine” and many referred to her by her first name. One voter quoted by Marcus, Hank, told him, “I’ll believe she loses when I see it.”
Marcus also reported encountering former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin at Reagan National Airport, saying Manchin was traveling to campaign for Collins. The column noted differing views remain in the state and that some Mainers Marcus spoke with said they support Jackson.
Marcus’ piece characterizes the on-the-ground impressions in Bangor and contrasts them with polling that shows a competitive race, as described in his column for Fox News Digital.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
