Abortion has largely faded from the national political spotlight, with candidates in key races now focusing on issues like cost of living, immigration, and policing. Four years after it helped Democrats avoid a wave of losses, abortion is mentioned in less than 5 percent of Democratic Senate ads, according to the Wesleyan Media Project. However, in the state of Maine, abortion remains a central issue in the race for the U.S. Senate. Maine is an exception. As of September 16, Democratic advertisers had spent about 15 percent of their $40.8 million in broadcast TV and streaming ads on abortion rights, according to Nate Schwartz from AdImpact. This makes it one of the top issues in the state, alongside ads about President Donald Trump and healthcare. Planned Parenthood’s political arm is spending $600,000 on ads targeting Republican Senator Susan Collins, and another Democratic-aligned group, WinSenate, has allocated 70 percent of its budget to abortion-focused ads in Maine. Collins, the only Republican senator up for re-election in a state Trump lost in 2024, is a key target for Democrats. She is running for her sixth term in a year when Democrats are leading in national polls. This is also the first time she will face voters since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that Justice Brett Kavanaugh helped deliver. Collins had voted to confirm Kavanaugh in 2018, despite earlier saying she would not support a nominee who opposed Roe v. Wade. For abortion rights groups, this race is crucial. They are investing heavily in a state where fewer than half a percent of voters list abortion as their top issue, even as Democrats have opportunities to win in nearly every state. If Collins loses, it could signal that the issue still influences voters, even where it is not their top concern. If she wins, it may be harder to argue that Republicans will face a political price for restricting abortion access, even in blue states. Maine has taken steps to protect abortion access since Democrats took control of the state government in 2018. The state has expanded who can provide abortions, required insurance coverage, and shielded patients and providers from legal action. Collins has argued that these changes have made Maine an exception, but advocates say the perception that the state is immune is misleading, especially with federal Medicaid cuts affecting providers. Collins is facing off against Troy Jackson, a Democrat with a history of conservative positions. Jackson once opposed abortion but has since renounced those views, earning high ratings from Planned Parenthood. His record has been scrutinized, but he has also supported progressive policies on reproductive rights. The outcome of this race could have broader implications. If Collins loses, it may be seen as a warning to Republicans in future elections. If she wins, it may show that voters are not always punishing officials for past decisions, even in the context of a post-Roe world. The race highlights the complex interplay between personal politics, national trends, and the issue of reproductive rights in American elections.