Maine Senate Race Lands on Housing Costs as Rental Shortage Hits 20,000

Housing costs have become a central issue in Maine's U.S. Senate contest ahead of the November 3, 2026, election, Realtor.com reported in a survey of four states where Decision Desk HQ rates the Senate race a toss-up.

Maine was grouped with Iowa, Ohio and Texas. Democrat Troy Jackson is narrowly favored over Republican incumbent Susan Collins, according to the report. Both candidates have identified private equity ownership of homes as a problem in the state but differ on remedies. Jackson has faulted Collins over a Senate vote on a housing measure from Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire tied to construction of 7 million homes; Collins has questioned Jackson's claim of two properties as primary residences for tax purposes.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition puts Maine's shortfall at 20,000 rental units for extremely low-income households. At the state's $15.10 minimum wage, someone would have to work 67 hours a week to cover a one-bedroom apartment at the fair market rent of $1,323 a month, the coalition's figures show.

Dan Martin, 41, who moved from New Jersey to Freeport five years ago, was among more than 126,000 people who have relocated to Maine since 2020. He told Realtor.com the state lacks enough low-income housing.

Nationally, a 2024 Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies report found 49% of Americans spend more than 30% of income on housing.

This story was first reported by Realtor.com.