Republican Super PAC misplaces $25,000 in Maine Senate ads

A Republican super PAC, Defending Main Street, mistakenly spent approximately $25,000 on digital attack ads targeting Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson in the Portland, Oregon, media market instead of Portland, Maine. The ads, which accused Jackson of being a “tax-hiker,” reached over a million viewers in Oregon and hundreds of thousands in Washington state. The PAC attributed the error to its media vendor, Cross Screen Media, which has since refunded the full amount.

The advertising blunder occurs amidst a high-stakes reelection battle for incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. While the misplaced funds provided no electoral benefit in Maine, the incident has drawn criticism from the Jackson campaign.

In a separate development regarding the Maine Senate race, former Senator Joe Manchin announced he will campaign for Collins, describing her as someone who helps maintain the “soul of the Senate.” Meanwhile, Troy Jackson has been touring the state on a “Solidarity Forever” tour alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, focusing on healthcare and economic issues to secure Democratic control of the chamber.