DAVID MARCUS: The future of the GOP in New England rides on Maines Senate vote

The New England region of the United States comprises six states, more than 15 million people, 21 seats in the House of Representatives, and 12 senators. Yet, of this congressional delegation, only one is a Republican — Sen. Susan Collins of Maine — at least for now.

In the Pine Tree State, Democrat Troy Jackson has a slight lead in the polls. Over her 30 years in the Senate, Collins has pulled a lot of electoral footballs from Democrat Charlie Browns, who thought victory and a Senate seat were a chip shot away.

In Maine, I chatted with Republican State House Representative Laurel Libby — a rising star in the local GOP and possible heir to the kind of centrist Republicanism that Collins has managed to cling to in this mostly blue region.

Libby told Fox News Digital that "[Collins] is great on constituent services and goes out of her way to be in the community," adding, "it's kind of hysterical for Troy Jackson to say she doesnt hold town halls. Susan Collins is out in the community constantly."

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I pressed Libby a bit on what role, especially if Collins holds on to win, the Maine and broader New England Republican Party can play in the post Trump era — which lies just over two years over the horizon. She replied, "I think we need to be providing the long-term solutions for Maine.

"Weve seen what a Democrat trifecta [in state government] has done for Maine. During Jacksons time in the Senate, he is responsible for our electricity costs going up 70%," she said. "He supported a budget that went up 50%."

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These were concerns that I also heard from Don, a Vietnam veteran in his late 70s who recently moved into Bangor from a nearby farm after his wife passed away.

"All those Democrats south of [the state capital] Augusta, they just think everyone is made of money, and it's really hurting normal folks," Don said.

Among Republican voters in Bangor, and even some Independents, the word "Augusta," is generally uttered with approximately the level of disdain Jerry Seinfeld had when saying "Newman!"

Dan and Tess, a couple in their 30s, were in town from Massachusetts, of which Maine was once a part. They both see Collins as a strong centrist voice for the region.

"It's a problem when every politician in New England is a Democrat," Dan said. "Especially when the Democrats are out of power."

Chris, also from Massachusetts, was in Maine upgrading carrier lines. When asked what Republicans could do to get a foothold in the region, he said, "I don't really know, when the state's been Democratic [for so long]. ... Coming together to the people with things that don't pull sides apart, because they have two sides, but they're supposed to meet in the middle."

This is a point that Libby refined in our conversation when asked about the fact that Collins was campaigning this week with former moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, while Jackson barnstormed with far-left New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

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