Collins stresses independence from Trump as Jackson attacks record in Maine Senate debate
publishers 22articles 22first reported 5 Oct, 11:44 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 17 editions
Republican Sen. Susan Collins emphasized her differences with President Donald Trump during a televised debate Tuesday against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in Maine’s closely contested Senate race.
Collins, seeking a sixth term, said she was not Trump’s “favorite senator,” cited her record of breaking with her party and said she had voted with former President Joe Biden more than 90% of the time. She opposed the war with Iran as “not well thought out” and highlighted her efforts to remove products including concrete, pulp and road salt from tariffs on Canada.
Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate, argued that Collins nonetheless voted with Trump 96% of the time. He focused on her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, linking it to the court’s later decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Jackson also dismissed Collins’ tariff exemptions with the response, “We can’t eat road salt.”
Healthcare was another point of conflict. Collins cited her role in securing a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals. Jackson said she had helped advance a Republican budget package containing major Medicaid reductions, despite voting against its final passage, and compared her actions to an arsonist seeking credit for bringing “a cup of water” to a fire.
Jackson entered the race after former Democratic candidate Graham Platner withdrew in July following sexual assault allegations that he denied. A late-September Maine People’s Resource Center poll placed Jackson at 49.3% and Collins at 46.5%, a difference within the margin of error.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 48 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
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- 8, 2 with the article's own text
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- 8
- This version written
- 48 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
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