Troy Jackson inherits Maine's Senate seat but faces steep drop in federal funding access
The five-term Republican predecessor brought $1.5 billion to the state, a flow of money that historical data suggests will halve for the freshman Democrat.
By Sofia Ramirez ·
Federal earmarks for Maine could fall by as much as 50 percent in the coming years, a decline that mirrors trends in states that recently lost senior members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. A 2012 study in the Journal of Political Economy found that such funding flows dry up sharply after a senior appropriator departs, with the reduction gradually reversing only after the successor takes their place.
U.S. Sen.-elect Troy Jackson, a Democrat who defeated five-term Republican Susan Collins in November, arrives in Washington in early January. Collins served as the chair of the Appropriations Committee and made securing federal dollars a central part of her campaign, citing $1.5 billion brought to Maine over her final five years. In the current fiscal year, Collins helped drive nearly $425 million to the state, the fourth-highest amount among all senators. The entire Maine congressional delegation secured approximately $460 million in earmarks, equating to $328 per resident.
Jackson faces a structural disadvantage because he is a freshman senator. Committee assignments in the Senate are driven by seniority, making it rare for a first-term member to secure a seat on the Appropriations panel. Larry Persily, an Alaska newspaper publisher and former federal official, noted that losing a senior appropriator inevitably reduces a state's clout. He pointed to Alaska's experience after the death of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, which led to a loss of influence in securing funds.
The impact of committee placement is evident in Alabama. When former Republican Sen. Richard Shelby served as appropriations chair, he secured over $548 million for the state in fiscal year 2022. That figure rose to $656 million in his final year. When Republican Sen. Katie Britt took office in 2023, Alabama's total initially dropped to less than half of that level. However, Britt was quickly assigned to the committee, allowing her to secure $232 million for the state, a figure that placed her ninth among senators. Britt previously served as Shelby's chief of staff, giving her an inside knowledge of the committee's processes.
Maine's incoming independent senator, Angus King, will serve as the state's senior lawmaker. King does not sit on the Appropriations Committee but has maintained strong relationships with key figures in the chamber. His office stated on Thursday that he has a solid alliance with Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, who is expected to become the new appropriations chair. King also maintains a healthy relationship with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, a centrist Republican and former Collins ally who is likely to become the top GOP member on the panel.
On the House side, Rep. Chellie Pingree sits on the chamber's Appropriations Committee. Former Gov. Paul LePage recently won the 2nd Congressional District race against state Auditor Matt Dunlap, adding a Republican to the state's House delegation. Persily advised that incoming senators hoping for committee seats should have a backup plan, noting that the government may remain largely immobilized for the next two years due to the divide between the current administration and the new Democratic-led Congress.
The Jackson campaign and Collins' office did not respond to requests for comment. Federal staffers and experts said on Thursday that it is too early to determine final committee assignments for Jackson or King. Persily suggested that if Democrats control the White House in 2028, Maine's senator could benefit from increased attention to build a successful record for reelection.
