Good Riddance to Susan Collins

Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine has been unseated by Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, bringing an end to her decades-long stint as the “rubber stamp” for the GOP’s agenda. Collins called Jackson to concede Tuesday evening, MS NOW and CNN reported, as Jackson led with 52.2 percent of the vote and the race had not yet been called.Despite Collins’s attempts to distance herself from President Donald Trump on the campaign trail, it seems that there was no shaking the black mark of the president’s endorsement. “I hope she wins,” Trump said during an interview in August. “She’s a good person, actually.”Jackson, a former state senator, replaced erstwhile Democratic nominee Graham Platner in July, and quickly mounted a campaign that focused on Collins’s failure to meaningfully challenge Trump’s disastrous agenda. It’s been a tough year for the five-term senator. In September, it was reported that the FBI was investigating Collins for an alleged illegal pay-to-play scheme with a defense contractor—until the Trump administration killed the probe. Earlier this year, the 73-year-old lawmaker revealed that she’d been diagnosed with a condition called essential tremor, which causes shakiness in the voice and hands. Collins’s defeat represents a crucial step toward Democrats reclaiming control of the Senate. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan defeated Republican candidate Michele Tafoya in Minnesota’s Senate race.Flanagan has defeated Tafoya 54–43 percent, with 72 percent of votes counted.Flanagan will replace Democratic Senator Tina Smith, making her the first Native woman in the U.S. Senate. Flanagan has served as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor since 2018, making her the highest-ranking Native American elected to executive office, according to her official bio.Tafoya, a former sportscaster, targeted Flanagan for serving under Governor Tim Walz, who has been accused by Republicans of overseeing sweeping, systemic social services fraud. In reality, the right-wing fervor over fraud allegations in Minnesota is a fabrication designed to punish Democrats and antagonize immigrants. The state has previously investigated and prosecuted improper payments to childcare services, as well as unrelated high-profile fraud prosecutions involving other Minnesota social services. Similar accusations made by the Trump administration have already been debunked. The two candidates also sparred over Operation Metro Surge, the sweeping immigration enforcement operation that tore apart communities across their state—and claimed the lives of two U.S. citizens. Tafoya had placed the blame on Walz for refusing to coordinate local and state agencies with federal law enforcement, while Flanagan argued for dismantling ICE altogether.Tafoya’s defeat gives Democrats an even greater majority in the Senate.Read more about Minnesota:It’s official: Blexas is here. In a shocking upset, both Republican Governor Greg Abbott and former Attorney General Ken Paxton were ousted by Democratic challengers Tuesday. Gina Hinojosa was elected the first Democratic governor of Texas in more than three decades on Tuesday, ousting Abbott, the Republican incumbent, who outspent her by tens of millions of dollars. Hinojosa’s victory makes her the state’s first Hispanic governor. Meanwhile, James Talarico beat embattled Republican Ken Paxton, becoming the state’s first Democratic senator in 33 years. Talarico’s victory helped to push Democrats to retake control of the U.S. Senate.Hinojosa and Talarico have won a state that President Donald Trump won by 56 percent just two years ago.Democrats have retaken control of the Senate, loosening President Donald Trump’s control on the government.As of this writing, the Democrats hold 51 seats to Republicans’ 39. Democrats flipped six seats from Republicans this election. There are still 10 seats left to be called. Democrats have also taken control of the House of Representatives.Ahead of the midterm elections Tuesday, Republicans held 53 Senate seats to Democrats’ 45, after gaining control of the Senate in a major upset in 2024. Recent polling suggested that the most critical toss-up Senate races would be extremely tight. While America’s authoritarian era likely won’t end in a day, the results of the Senate midterm elections are a searing indictment of Republicans’ rule and the first two years of Trump’s second term.Read more about the Senate:Iowa Democratic state Representative Josh Turek won his state’s Senate race Tuesday, defeating Republican Representative Ashley Hinson. Turek beat Hinson with 51–45, at 79 percent reporting, according to Decision Desk HQ. He will replace retiring GOP Senator Joni Ernst. Democrats have not won a Senate race in Iowa since 2008. Turek’s victory pushed Democrats closer to regaining control of the U.S. Senate.Hinson, a Republican, widely supports President Donald Trump’s political agenda. Over the weekend, Trump campaigned in support of Hinson, where he ranted about her weight loss.