The Economist.
Maine is different.
It's the only state in America that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 and has a Republican senator.
Susan Collins is part of a mere handful of split delegations left in the Senate.
Democrats hope this is about to change
because they'll need to flip at least four Republican-held seats to retake control of the Senate.
Maine should be one of the easiest pickups.
Will it be?
I'm John Prideaux, and this is Checks and Balance from The Economist.
Each week, we take one big theme shaping American politics and explore it in depth.
Today, the Maine Senate race.
Mainers face a choice between two very different candidates this November.
The Republican incumbent, Susan Collins, is a moderate who's been in office nearly 30 years.
The presumptive Democratic nominee is Graham Platner, a political newcomer inspired by Bernie Sanders.
How much will candidates matter in the midterms?
With me this week to talk about Maine and to talk about control of the Senate are James Bennet and Charlotte Howard.
James has been off in Maine this week but is now back in New York.
And Charlotte, you're in London.
How's it going?
It's going fine.