Overview
- On Monday, Manchin told CNBC he supports Susan Collins and said he will actively campaign for her in Maine’s tight 2026 Senate race.
- Manchin also expressed support for Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan and said he would not be okay with Democrat Abdul El‑Sayed winning that open seat.
- The Maine contest remains narrowly divided after Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew and Troy Jackson was tapped as the replacement, with recent polls showing Jackson slightly ahead but inside the margin of error.
- Collins’ campaign benefits from heavy outside financial backing, including a reported $42 million effort by the Senate Leadership Fund, and markets and prediction markets registered immediate but limited shifts after Manchin’s remarks.
- Manchin’s break from the Democratic Party and his drive to elect independents have refocused late‑cycle strategy in both states by shifting attention, fundraising and the appeal to moderate and independent voters who could decide control of the Senate.