Maine Democratic Senate hopeful Troy Jackson says he has no regrets about telling his rival, incumbent Republican Susan Collins, to "shut up" while the candidates squared off during the final preelection debate. Jackson and Collins sparred last week over President Donald Trump, campaign finances and immigration enforcement in an intense encounter. The debate was briefly interrupted by a data center protester as Collins was speaking.
Jackson fired back, “Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid.” The remark toward the sitting senator drew criticism, including from Collins. Jackson refused to apologize during a CNN appearance on Sunday.
"I mean...She accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was. I was surprised when he jumped up out of there.” Newsweek has contacted both campaigns for comment.
Last week's debate was the final before Election Day on November 3. The other encounters followed a similar theme, with Collins touting her experience and record of bipartisanship, and Jackson underscoring her political proximity to Trump. Jackson on Sunday said he has tried to be cordial when dealing with the incumbent senator, but that he objected to the implication he had any hand in Thursday night’s interruption.
I’ve shook her hand afterwards every time. What I’m not going to be is talked down to by Senator Collins, I’m not going to be accused of things like that. I’m fighting for Mainers and I just think that was another situation where she was talking down to me so I’m not going to apologize for that,” he said.
Jackson also said groups backing Collins had spent millions "attacking me and my family" with "untrue claims." Collins, in an interview with Fox News following the debate, called the speed of Jackson’s retort “very telling,” and said that it was unsurprising given “the reputation Troy Jackson has and particularly when he’s dealing with women with whom he disagrees.” Collins had in the past accused Jackson of struggling “to control his temper,” alluding to allegations that the Democrat has been confrontational with colleagues during his time as a state lawmaker. Jackson has denied those allegations. The senator’s campaign told CBS News affiliate WGME that this was “yet another example of Troy Jackson’s angry outbursts with female colleagues, and it raises a serious question about how he handles women who disagree with him.” A Jackson campaign spokeswoman, Maggie Amjad, told the New York Times that the opposing campaign’s attempt “to turn that exchange into anything else is baseless.” The latest Polymarket odds give Jackson a 58 percent chance of winning the crucial Senate seat, and the Democrat has led in the majority of polls since entering the race in late July after Democratic primary winner Graham Platner stepped down amid controversy.
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