Troy Jackson Tells Susan Collins to ‘Shut Up’ in Heated Maine Senate Debate

PORTLAND, Maine – A tense Maine Senate debate took a sharp turn Thursday night when Democratic challenger Troy Jackson told Republican Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up.” The final faceoff also was briefly disrupted by a protester objecting to data centers.

Held at a theater in Bangor, the debate marked the fourth and final meeting between Collins and Jackson in a closely watched race that could help determine control of the U.S. Senate. As in their previous encounters, the candidates clashed over the national debt, Collins’ relationship with President Donald Trump’s administration and whether either has contributed to Washington’s deepening partisan divide.

The confrontation began when a data center opponent shouted while Collins was speaking. As moderators called for the protester to be escorted out, Collins suggested the demonstrator was “obviously one of Troy’s supporters.”

Jackson immediately pushed back, saying, “Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid.”

The Maine Republican Party later condemned the remark on social media, calling Jackson’s comment “unacceptable behavior.” Jackson’s campaign declined to discuss the exchange.

Party allegiance was another major theme of the debate. Asked to identify a moment when she had broken with Republicans, Collins pointed to her opposition to Pete Hegseth’s nomination as defense secretary. She said she worked to rally Republican senators against him, though Hegseth ultimately won confirmation.

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Collins portrayed Jackson as a dependable Democratic vote, contrasting him with what she described as her record of independence. Jackson rejected that argument, saying Collins supports Trump when the president needs her vote on important legislation.

“What I know is that 100% of the time when Donald Trump goes to Susan Collins for a vote, he gets it,” Jackson said.

Collins is campaigning for a sixth term and has tried to demonstrate distance from Trump during the debates. At one point, she used the term “Gulf of Mexico” rather than Trump’s preferred “Gulf of America.” Jackson dismissed her occasional opposition to the president as “managed votes,” arguing that she acts independently only when the result is already certain.

Jackson’s campaign also announced Thursday that it collected $20.4 million during the third quarter as it works to narrow Collins’ fundraising advantage. Jackson entered the contest late, making the quarter his first period of fundraising.

Collins’ campaign reported raising $5.2 million over the same three-month period. She started the race with a substantial financial lead, having amassed more than $18 million by the end of June. Jackson did not secure the Democratic nomination until late July.