The Country

From the Left · Watch · October 23, 2026

Oct 22 · Ocasio-Cortez rallies with Troy Jackson in Portland as Collins and Jackson fight over a toss-up Maine Senate seat

PBS NewsHour: What Maine voters are saying about the Collins-Jackson Senate race

Grade C (76/100). Field report: Collins's federal-money pitch, Jackson's progressive campaign, split-ticket and undecided voters, heating-oil costs, ad spending and the debates

Lehrer score 76/100 (−24 own-voice claim/analysis: [1:48] 'But the message here was less about him and more about opposition to President Trump and Collins.' (correspondent's own read of the Jackson event)). Fixed scale: 90+ A, 80s B, 70s C, 60s D, under 60 F → C.

[1:48] 'But the message here was less about him and more about opposition to President Trump and Collins.' (correspondent's own read of the Jackson event)

Splits: Field report: Collins's federal-money pitch, Jackson's progressive campaign, split-ticket and undecided voters, heating-oil costs, ad spending and the debates

  • Broken. Rule: own-voice claim/analysis ([1:48] 'But the message here was less about him and more about opposition to President Trump and Collins.' (correspondent's own read of the Jackson event))

Watch at PBS NewsHour

Same story: C-SPAN, New York Post

How the grades work

Dispute this grade

Disagree with our approach or a rating? Have other feedback?

Tell us what you think we got wrong, or anything else. We read every message.