Mapping the 2020 US Senate race

A statewide, town-by-town look back at the 2020 Senate race between Susan Collins and Sara Gideon

Remember the U.S. Senate race between Susan Collins and Sara Gideon that was supposed to be a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats, but that Collins in fact easily won? What did that look like as a map, as an example of a Republican winning a contested statewide race in Maine? Take a look below:

This map is best viewed on a browser.

This is what a solid Republican victory looks like in Maine. It’s simply that - solid, not spectacular, unlike Collins’ previous victories. Still, it shows how comprehensive her win really was. Apart from a few outliers here and there, she won most of the interior of the state, including major cities like Bangor, Lewiston, Auburn, and Augusta. She carried much of the coastal areas that Republican presidential candidates rarely do, and nearly every municipality in Kennebec County, another key swing area. While it’s not the best a Republican could conceivably do in Maine - Collins herself has done better in earlier races - it’s still very impressive. It shows how she’s managed to stay in office so long, and the challenge any Democrat faces in running against her in 2026.

Jim is also a weekly columnist for the Portland Press Herald, Maine’s largest daily newspaper. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) or on Facebook.