1996Final results
1996 election for U.S. Senate in Maine
U.S. Senate · Maine
Susan Collins (R) won with 49.2% of the vote, defeating Joseph Brennan (D) by 5.3 points.
Susan CollinsRepublican · winner
49.2%298,422
Joseph BrennanDemocrat
43.9%266,226
John C. RensenbrinkIndependent
3.9%23,441
William P. ClarkeConstitution
3.1%18,618
606,777 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1996
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Joseph BrennanSusan Collins
$978.8K
Raised by the campaign
$1.7M
$976.8K
Spent by the campaign
$1.6M
$2K
Cash on hand
$100.3K
Other candidates' campaigns: John C. Rensenbrink $40.7K · William P. Clarke $11.6K.
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1996.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1996
The candidates
Susan Collins (R)Joseph Brennan (D)
Also on the ballot: John C. Rensenbrink (Independent), 3.9%; William P. Clarke (Constitution), 3.1%