Democratic nominee
Troy Jackson
Former Maine Senate president · Fifth-generation logger
Supports AI development only with stronger corporate cost-sharing, labor protections, environmental oversight, public transparency, and community control.
At a glanceDifferent conditions
Different conditions
for growth.
Jackson says AI companies should provide power, pay for upgrades, protect workers, and answer to communities. Collins supports data infrastructure and high-performance computing while evaluating commercial projects individually, with former mill sites and existing hydropower viewed more favorably.
Compare by issueCampaign statements and government records are labeled separately.
Republican nominee
Susan Collins
U.S. senator · Senate Appropriations chair
Supports targeted AI safeguards, public computing investment, and case-by-case data-center development tied to suitable energy and industrial sites.
01
Data centers
Construction, cost allocation, local control, and siting.
Build with firm conditionsHigh confidence
Would require AI companies to provide power, pay for grid upgrades, protect natural resources, create union jobs, and work with local communities.
View 2 evidence records
“Who benefits, who pays and who decides?”Open reported statement ↗
The campaign said companies should pay their fair share and not expect Maine families to subsidize their energy needs.
Open reporting ↗Case-by-case reviewHigh confidence
Supports evaluating projects individually and sees former mill sites with existing hydropower as potentially suitable, while also funding public high-performance computing.
View 2 evidence records
Collins said projects should be handled case by case and expressed support for former mill locations with existing power.
Open reporting ↗Secured $6.2 million for a Maine high-performance computing hub serving AI, biotechnology, and manufacturing.
Open official source ↗02
AI governance
Transparency, safeguards, and prohibited uses.
Public oversightMedium confidence
Calls for transparency when Maine government uses AI and broader scrutiny of technology companies, but has not published a federal model-testing framework.
View evidence
The Agency over AI plan included transparency for state-government AI and worker and environmental safeguards.
Open reported statement ↗Targeted federal rulesHigh confidence
Supports banning materially deceptive AI election content and federal guidance for election administrators rather than general model licensing.
View evidence
The Protect Elections from Deceptive AI Act targets fraudulent synthetic election content.
Open official source ↗03
Energy and grid
Power supply, ratepayer costs, and environmental effects.
Developer provides powerHigh confidence
Says AI companies should build their own power sources and pay for upgrades rather than shift infrastructure costs to residents.
View evidence
Jackson paired cost responsibility with environmental oversight and protections for Maine's natural resources.
Open reported statement ↗Use suitable energy sitesHigh confidence
Favors projects where existing industrial infrastructure and hydropower can support demand, with individual review rather than a blanket rule.
View evidence
Collins identified former mill sites with nearby hydropower as stronger candidates for development.
Open reporting ↗04
Workers and jobs
Labor standards, displacement, training, and employment.
Protect workersHigh confidence
Would require good-paying union jobs and safeguards against AI replacing Maine workers.
View evidence
Jackson's AI plan and Senate campaign consistently frame worker power and corporate accountability as core conditions.
Open campaign source ↗Build research jobsHigh confidence
Supports AI research, commercialization, education, and high-technology job creation through Maine computing investments.
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The computing hub is designed to help researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry commercialize data-intensive products.
Open official source ↗05
Market power
Competition, corporate power, and public investment.
Constrain corporate powerMedium confidence
Promises scrutiny of AI companies and technology billionaires and supports higher taxes on large corporations, but has not proposed a specific AI antitrust structure.
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The campaign calls for taxing billionaires and large corporations and shifting power toward workers.
Open campaign source ↗Public investment, private useHigh confidence
Supports publicly funded computing infrastructure intended to help entrepreneurs, universities, and private industries compete and commercialize products.
View evidence
The Maine hub is structured as shared infrastructure for research and industry rather than public control of AI firms.
Open official source ↗