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Bangor, Maine– A protester interrupted the final debate between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in Maine, sparking a heated exchange after Collins suggested the protester was a Jackson supporter.
The interruption came in the middle of a debate that saw the candidates exchange shots on numerous issues. The race between Jackson and Collins, who is seeking a sixth term representing the blue-leaning northern New England state, is a prime opportunity for Democrats as they try to win back the Senate majority from Republicans in the midterm elections.
The latest public opinion polls indicate a race within the margin of error between Collins and Jackson, a former lumberjack and former state Senate president. Fox News’ latest Power Rankings considers the race a toss-up, as do major nonpartisan political handicappers, the Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabato’s Crystal Ball.
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Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson face off in their fourth and final debate on October 15, 2026 in Bangor, Maine. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
The protester, who interrupted Collins as she spoke, shouted: “I’m terrified. AI data centers are destroying our climate. They’re poisoning our water.”
“30 years for what?” the protester shouted, referring to Collins’ tenure in the Senate.
As security escorted the protester out of the debate hall, Collins suggested the man was a Jackson supporter.
“So he’s obviously one of Troy’s supporters,” Collins said.
Jackson quickly replied, “Oh, shut up, I didn’t do it – I didn’t do it, I don’t even know who that kid is.”
Another heated moment came a few minutes later when each candidate was able to ask the other a question.
Jackson, who grew up in rural northern Maine, in the same county as Collins, asked, “What I’m curious about: Is it just me you look down on, or is it working-class people in general?”
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Troy Jackson speaks after being chosen by the Maine Democratic Party to be its U.S. Senate nominee to replace Graham Platner on the November 25, 2026 runoff election in Bangor, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The senator retorted, “Troy, I don’t look down on you or anyone. I grew up in Caribou. My first job was picking potatoes.
As he works to oust Collins from the Senate, Jackson has repeatedly tried to tie the senator to President Donald Trump, who has seen his approval ratings in Maine and across the country plummet even further.
“The reality is that 100 percent of the time Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins will be there,” Jackson said.
But Collins highlighted what she described as a “major difference between Troy and I. I vote very independently. … I’m the most bipartisan member of the Senate.”
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Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine is endorsed by the state chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police October 14, 2026 in Bangor, Maine. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
And referring to Jackson, Collins said, “We don’t need more people voting along a clear party line.”
Collins and Jackson spent much of the hour-long debate trading shots over issues including the war in Iran, immigration, rising fuel and electricity prices, budget deficits, Supreme Court reform, dark money in politics, banning assault weapons and climate change.
Collins used the debate, the fourth between the two candidates in a two-week period but the first with a live audience, to once again show how her seniority in the Senate has helped her deliver federal funding to Maine. Meanwhile, Jackson used the confrontation to position himself as an outsider who understands the struggles and frustrations of working-class voters.
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Campaign signs for Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in Bangor, Maine, October 14, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
Jackson won a special nomination convention in late July to claim the party’s Senate nomination, which remained vacant after primary winner Graham Platner ended his campaign following allegations that he raped a woman he previously dated. Platner denied the allegations but gave up.
Jackson, who ran unsuccessfully earlier this year for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, campaigned alongside Platner during the primary campaign.
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Collins, who is the only Republican senator seeking re-election in a state that Trump lost in the 2024 election, has consistently survived Democratic efforts to unseat her.
Six years ago, she trailed Democratic challenger Sara Gideon, then speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, but Collins won re-election by nearly nine points while former President Joe Biden won the state by a similar margin.
Jessica Sonkin of Fox News contributed to this report.
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