Collins and Jackson clash over policy claims in Maine Senate debate

Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson faced each other in a televised Maine Senate debate that covered abortion, tariffs, electricity rates and the Iran conflict. Both candidates repeated familiar criticisms as the race tightens, according to recent polls.

Collins dismissed a ProPublica report on her husband’s defense-contractor ties as "absolutely false," while Jackson accused her of profiting from the Iran war, a charge she called "outrageous" and demanded an apology. The two did find brief common ground, agreeing that higher earners should pay more into Social Security, despite a pro-Collins political action committee’s ads suggesting otherwise.

Fact-checkers noted that Jackson’s claim that Collins helped end Roe v. Wade by confirming Brett Kavanaugh oversimplifies the issue; Collins voted for Kavanaugh but also supported justices who upheld abortion rights. On electricity costs, Collins said rates rose under Jackson’s leadership, but data show Maine’s national ranking stayed at eighth while prices increased 46% over six years, driven largely by higher natural-gas prices and storm-related distribution costs.

Regarding the Iran war, Collins’ husband holds modest holdings in two defense contractors and an energy company, representing a small portion of the couple’s net worth, according to financial disclosures.

Jackson’s assertion that Collins voted with President Donald Trump 96% of the time is close to the CQ Roll Call figure of 92% for the second Trump term, though the methodology varies. Collins responded that she has voted with the administration about 72% of the time when using a broader calculation.

The debate also touched on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” health-care package. Collins said she created a $50 billion rural health fund, but experts say the amount would not fully offset the $137 billion in Medicaid cuts projected nationally. Jackson’s claim that Collins advanced the bill out of committee was inaccurate; the legislation moved through the budget reconciliation process, and Collins ultimately voted against it at final passage.