Maine U.S. Senate 2026: where the candidates stand on data centers
2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot, from the Maine Secretary of State's list (opens in a new tab). The officeholder comes first, then the Republican and Democratic nominees together by last name, then everyone else by last name; in each group a candidate with a statement or vote on the record comes first (how the order works). Each has the same space. The list: 2026 General Election Candidates List (FINAL), Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions (Spreadsheet titled FINAL, last modified September 9, 2026 (file metadata); linked from maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming. Withdrawals and replacements listing as of September 22, 2026; declared write in list dated 8/25/26).
Senator Susan Collins said she supports legislation to establish guardrails for data center construction, including requirements to prevent projects from increasing electricity rates or affecting local water supplies
Troy Jackson said data centers could drive up electricity costs, strain the water supply and gain approval without sufficient oversight and that the approval process should be slowed while governments establish standards for AI and data center development
These candidates are not printed on the November 3 ballot. A voter writes in the name, and the votes count because an official election list certifies the candidacy: the state's own, or a county election board's where the state publishes none. Each line names the list that certifies it; what each has said about data centers stays on their own page.
Labels are applied by the record's published rules: two readings of each statement, and a third that reads its source where the two differ. Every label sits beside its statement and its source, and any label can be challenged through Report a change, with the correction logged on the corrections page.
In their own words
Where does Susan M. Collins stand on data centers?
Susan M. Collins has 6 statements on data centers on the record.
Statements 6 statements
· paraphrased
Senator Susan Collins said she supports legislation to establish guardrails for data center construction, including requirements to prevent projects from increasing electricity rates or affecting local water supplies
Senator Susan Collins said she hopes the Senate will discuss a bill setting standards for data centers, including ensuring operators cover electricity costs
Troy D. Jackson has 1 statement on data centers on the record.
Statements 1 statement
· paraphrased
Troy Jackson said data centers could drive up electricity costs, strain the water supply and gain approval without sufficient oversight and that the approval process should be slowed while governments establish standards for AI and data center development
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