Susan Collins and Troy Jackson clash over Trump and seniority in first Maine Senate debate

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson debated for the first time Tuesday in Maine, trading attacks on President Donald Trump, the cost of living and abortion in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate elections.

Maine is central to Democrats’ path to the Senate majority as they try to capitalize on Trump’s unpopularity. That’s exactly what Jackson attempted to do Tuesday by linking Collins to Trump, fact-checking him at least 20 times in an hour of debate on WGME-TV.

“It’s important who you stand with,” Jackson said in his opening statement. “I don’t owe anything to Donald Trump and the billionaires. I don’t fight for billionaires like she does.”

Collins, meanwhile, highlighted several instances where she opposed the Trump administration.

She also sought to localize the race and present her seniority — and her position as chairwoman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee — as a boost for Maine. She touted the $1.5 billion in federal funds she brought to the state for 672 projects over the past five years, “from Madawaksa to Kittery, from Eastport to Rumford.”

“I was able to bring in federal dollars to help ease the burden on our taxpayers,” Collins said.

Jackson set the tone for the debate from the start by linking Collins to Trump and repeatedly saying that she voted with him 96 percent of the time. Collins questioned the methodology of the study he cited.

In a moment that illustrates her delicate relationship with her party’s leader, Collins dodged two questions about whether she would stand with Trump if he visited Maine, with Trump having recently teased a visit to the Pine Tree State. Collins said only that she didn’t expect him to come and that she was “not exactly his favorite senator.”

Collins’ response elicited a smile from Jackson. Trump said Collins was “not my favorite person,” but he nonetheless endorsed her for re-election, and Vice President J.D. Vance visited Maine and supported her at events.

Polls show a neck-and-neck race between Collins and Jackson, often within the margin of error, as Collins looks to once again defy gravity and win a sixth term in the blue-leaning state. She is the only Republican senator representing a state Trump lost in 2024.

Both parties are spending tens of millions of dollars on a seat that has major implications for control of the chamber, and a Collins victory would limit Democrats’ path to the Senate majority.

Jackson also highlighted Collins’ crucial 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was part of the majority that overturned Roe v. Wade, thereby removing the federal right to abortion. Tuesday’s debate fell on the anniversary of Kavanaugh’s confirmation vote in the Senate.

Collins said she judges all nominees based on their qualifications, and she noted that she also supports the justices who voted to uphold Roe v. Wade.

“In fact, I am the only Republican senator who voted for Justice (Sonia) Sotomayor, (Elena) Kagan and (Ketanji Brown) Jackson, who were nominated by a Democratic senator,” Collins said.

Collins also responded to attempts to tie it to the end of Roe v. Wade, referencing Jackson’s more conservative stance on abortion earlier in his career and joking, “There’s only one of us on this stage that’s always been pro-choice, and that’s me.” »

Jackson did not address the issue at this time, but he noted in his closing statement that he has pushed for progressive abortion policies in the Legislature.

Jackson spokesman Dan Gottlieb told NBC News on Tuesday that he would oppose any Trump nominee to the Supreme Court in his final two years if a vacancy arises — a view shared by other Democrats.

Jackson also said Collins voted in favor of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which included about $1 trillion in unpopular cuts to Medicaid.

This prompted a reaction from Collins, who noted that she had voted against the bill when it finally passed. She said she “never voted” to eliminate Medicaid.

“He knows I voted against President Trump’s signature legislative achievement,” Collins said, adding that she used that process to support a $50 billion rural health fund.

Jackson doubled the lead.

“Senator Collins is like an arsonist who helped start the fire, and she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,” he said. “She could have stopped him.”

Collins attacked Jackson’s “failed” policies as a state lawmaker, linking them to higher housing costs and property taxes. She also questioned his legislative skills and whether he could be effective as a junior senator in a divided Senate.

When the topic turned to immigration, Jackson cited the killing of a Mainer by an ICE officer this year, saying it happened because “Senator Collins would not stand up to ICE.”

Collins said the shooting was “horrific” and “demonstrates that ICE needs additional reforms.” She said she supports increasing funding for body-worn cameras, as well as officer training, and has joined with Maine’s delegation to demand answers from the Trump administration.

In his closing statement, Collins said, “To be effective in the Senate requires knowledge, experience, seniority and relationships. This combination has allowed me to pass bipartisan legislation.”

Jackson wondered if she had used her power well.

“Tonight, Senator Collins told us how powerful she is,” he said in his closing statement. “But power means nothing if you don’t use it when people need it.”