Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson clashed sharply during their fourth and final debate in Bangor, Maine, after a protester interrupted the event.
The demonstrator interrupted Collins mid-speech, shouting, “I’m terrified. AI data centers are destroying our climate. They are poisoning our water.”
As security removed the protester from the hall, Collins suggested the man was aligned with her opponent, saying, “So, this is obviously one of Troy’s supporters.”
Jackson responded immediately and sharply, firing back, “Oh, shut up, I did not — I didn’t, I don’t even know who that kid.”
The race between Collins, seeking a sixth Senate term, and Jackson, a former state Senate president and one-time logger, is rated a toss-up by multiple leading nonpartisan political handicappers.
The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and the Fox News Power Rankings all classify the contest as too close to call, with the latest polls showing the candidates within the margin of error.
Jackson, who grew up in rural northern Maine in the same county as Collins, attempted to draw a contrast on class during the debate, asking her directly, “What I’m curious about — is it just me that you look down on, or is it working-class people overall?”
Collins pushed back firmly, responding, “Troy, I do not look down on you or on anyone. I grew up in Caribou. My first job was picking potatoes.”
Jackson repeatedly attempted to tie Collins to President Donald Trump throughout the debate, claiming, “The reality is 100% of the time when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there.”
Collins rejected that framing, pointing to what she called a “major difference between Troy and me,” adding, “I vote very independently. … I am the most bipartisan member of the Senate.”
Collins also took aim at Jackson’s voting record, warning, “We don’t need more people who are going to vote a straight party line.”
The hour-long debate covered a wide range of issues, including the Iran War, immigration, rising fuel prices and electricity rates, budget deficits, Supreme Court reform, dark money in politics, an assault weapons ban, and climate change.
Jackson secured the Democratic Senate nomination at a special convention in late July, after primary winner Graham Platner dropped out following allegations that he raped a woman he previously dated, which Platner denied.
Collins remains the only Republican senator seeking re-election in a state that Trump lost in 2024, yet she has a strong record of defying Democratic efforts to remove her from office.
Six years ago, Collins trailed Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, the Maine House speaker at the time, but ultimately won re-election by nearly nine points even as Joe Biden carried the state by a similar margin.
