Susan Collins and Troy Jackson clash over Trump and seniority in Maine’s first Senate debate

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson debated for the first time Tuesday in Maine, trading attacks over President Donald Trump, the cost of living and abortion in one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Maine is central to Democrats’ path to the Senate majority as they try to capitalize on Trump’s unpopularity. Jackson tried to do just that Tuesday by tying Collins to Trump, name-checking him at least 20 times in one hour of debating on WGME-TV. “It matters who you stand with,” Jackson said in his opening statement. “I don’t owe Donald Trump and the billionaires anything. I don’t fight for billionaires like she does.” Collins, meanwhile, emphasized multiple instances when she opposed the Trump administration. She also sought to localize the race and pitch her seniority — and her perch as chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee — as a boost to Maine. She touted $1.5 billion in federal funds that she has brought home to the state for 672 projects in the last five years, “from Madawaksa to Kittery, from Eastport to Rumford.” “I’ve been able to bring home federal dollars to help ease the burden on our taxpayers,” Collins said. Jackson set the tone for the debate early by connecting Collins to Trump and repeatedly saying she votes in alignment with him 96% of the time. Collins questioned the methodology of the study he cited. In a moment that captured her tricky relationship with her party’s leader, Collins dodged two questions about whether she would stand with Trump if he visited Maine, with Trump having recently teased a visit to the Pine Tree State. Collins said only that she doesn’t expect him to come and that she’s “not exactly his favorite senator.” Collins’ answer prompted a grin from Jackson. Trump has said Collins is “not my favorite person” but nevertheless endorsed her for re-election, and Vice President JD Vance has gone to Maine and backed her at events. Polls show a neck-and-neck race between Collins and Jackson, often within the margin of error, as Collins seeks to defy gravity yet again and win a sixth term in the blue-leaning state. She is the only GOP senator representing a state Trump lost in 2024. Both parties are spending tens of millions of dollars on a seat that carries major implications for control of the chamber, and a victory for Collins would constrict Democrats’ path to the Senate majority. Jackson also highlighted Collins’ pivotal vote in 2018 to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was part of the majority that overturned Roe v. Wade, doing away with the federal right to abortion. Tuesday’s debate fell on the anniversary of Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote in the Senate. Collins said she judges all nominees by their qualifications, and she noted that she also supported justices who voted to uphold Roe v. Wade. “In fact, I am the only Republican senator to have voted for Justice [Sonia] Sotomayor, [Elena] Kagan and [Ketanji Brown] Jackson, who were nominated by a Democratic senator,” Collins said. Collins also hit back against attempts to tie her to the end of Roe v. Wade, referring to Jackson’s more conservative stance on abortion earlier in his career and quipping, “There’s only one of us on this stage who has always been pro-choice, and that’s me.” Jackson did not engage with the barb in the moment, but he noted in his closing statement that he pushed for progressive abortion policies in the Legislature. Jackson’s spokesperson, Dan Gottlieb, told NBC News earlier Tuesday that he would oppose any Trump Supreme Court nominee in his final two years should a vacancy open up — a view shared by some other Democrats. Jackson also said Collins voted to advance Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which included about $1 trillion in unpopular Medicaid cuts. That sparked a brushback from Collins, who noted that she voted against the legislation when it came to final passage. She said she has “never voted” to cut Medicaid. “He knows I voted against President Trump’s signature legislative accomplishment,” Collins said, adding that she used the process to support a $50 billion rural healthcare fund. Jackson doubled down. “Sen. Collins is like an arsonist who helped set the fire, and she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,” he said. “She could have stopped it.” Collins went after Jackson’s “failed” policies as a state lawmaker, connecting them to higher housing costs and property taxes. She also questioned his talents as a legislator and whether he could be effective as a junior senator in a divided Senate. When the topic turned to immigration, Jackson cited an ICE officer’s killing of a Mainer this year, saying it happened because “Sen. Collins would not push back against ICE.” Collins said the shooting was “horrific” and “demonstrates that ICE needs further reform.” She said that she supported increased funding for body-worn cameras, as well as training of officers, and that she teamed up with the Maine delegation to demand answers from the Trump administration. In her closing statement, Collins said: “To be effective in the Senate, you need knowledge, experience, seniority and relationships. That combination has allowed me to pass bipartisan legislation.” Jackson questioned whether she has used her power well. “Tonight, Sen. Collins has told us how powerful she is,” he said in his closing statement. “But power means nothing if you won’t use it when the people may need it.”