Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson sparred over billionaire campaign donors, party loyalty and working-class credibility Thursday night in their fourth debate ahead of Maine’s Nov. 3 general election, a race that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate.
Collins opened by pressing Jackson on whether he had honored a campaign pledge to reject money from billionaire donors, pointing to Federal Election Commission records she said contradicted his assurances.
“And as far as the billionaires that I might have on my campaign, that is accurate,” Jackson acknowledged, pausing as the audience reacted audibly. “But I haven’t … I haven’t made any deals like Senator Collins has with those billionaires. I’m going to tax those billionaires when I get to the U.S. Senate.”
Jackson did not specify what deals he was referring to when he leveled the accusation against Collins.
Collins Pressed on Independence From Trump
A moderator asked Collins to name a time she had defied President Donald Trump and actually changed the outcome of a decision. She pointed to her opposition to the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who faced scrutiny during his nomination over his qualifications and allegations about his personal conduct.
“At one point, I had organized people to vote against Secretary Hegseth. As you undoubtedly have read, at the very last minute, one of our Republicans changed his mind. Otherwise, he would have been defeated for that job,” Collins said.
Jackson noted that Hegseth was confirmed regardless.
“Senator Collins likes to have it both ways. I mean, the reality is that 100% of the time when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there. That has happened time and time again,” Jackson said.
Jackson pointed to his own record of breaking with his party, citing clashes with Democratic Gov. Janet Mills during his time in the Maine Senate. “How can I be a rubber stamp with my very own governor — a Democratic governor — vetoing 40 of my bills?” he asked.
Jackson has repeatedly accused Collins of voting in lockstep with Trump across their three previous debates. Collins disputed the figures he has cited.
“You have heard Troy say that I vote with the president 92 or 94% of the time; that takes only a third of the votes. If you look at 90% of the votes, you will find that I vote with him 72% of the time, not 95% of the time,” Collins said.
A Personal Turn Near the End
Near the close of the debate, Jackson, a former logger, asked whether Collins looked down on him because of his working-class background.
“You know, you said consistently that I don’t have the experience. You just said it tonight that I wouldn’t be able to do the things that you do. Growing up as a working-class person, I have all kinds of experience,” Jackson said. “And so, I guess, you know, what I’m curious about — is it just me that you look down on, or is it working-class people overall?”
Collins rejected the characterization and pointed to her own upbringing in Caribou, Maine.
“Troy, I do not look down on you or on anyone. I grew up in Caribou. My first job was picking potatoes,” Collins said. “I have worked since I was age ten, literally since I was age ten. I have enormous respect for all the people of Maine.”
The exchange capped a debate that grew increasingly pointed as both candidates enter the final stretch of a campaign with national implications for the balance of power in the Senate.
