Maine’s Democratic House Speaker will face Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins in November.
The primary race was called for Sara Gideon just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Gideon was the favorite to beat out two more progressive candidates, Betsy Sweet and Bre Kidman.
Collins, a centrist Republican seeking a fifth term, is a top Democratic target and viewed as vulnerable in a state where a tradition of political independence is clashing with rising polarization and partisanship.
Gideon will further boost her fundraising haul with the victory. A $3.7 million crowdsourced fund for Collins’ challenger was established during the Senate fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation.
