Susan Collins Ripped Troy Jackson to Shreds in Last Night's
There were several high-profile debates last night including between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, which you can read about here. Sen.…
You have to hand it to Susan Collins. In a debate season where too many Republicans seem to be running defense, she came out swinging and turned Troy Jackson’s own record into a rope to hang him with. The moment that stood out wasn’t a policy squabble—it was Collins dissecting Jackson’s claim to be a working-class champion while his voting record tells a very different story.
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There were several high-profile debates last night including between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, which you can read about here. Sen. Susan Collins also faced off against Democrat Troy Jackson in the Maine Senate debate and it did not go well for Jackson.
First, we'll start with Jackson saying we have to end fossil fuels — that would be an economic disaster for Maine and America.
Troy Jackson: “We have to get off of fossil fuel.” pic.twitter.com/aAUjF1Jdqc
"I definitely reject the idea that I'm not willing to fight for people and lower the rates," said a laughing Jackson. "But I do think that we have to get off of fossil fuel and there is a way."
Ending fossil fuels will kill hundreds of thousands of jobs not just in the oil and gas industry, but in related industries as well. Americans would lose a reliable energy grid and the ability to heat or cool their homes. Utility rates would skyrocket and brownouts would become the norm.
Collins didn't even have to say anything about that, because Jackson did more damage to his campaign than she could have.
But Collins did slam Jackson for changing his positions on issues when he's lobbied by his son.
Susan Collins calls out Troy Jackson for changing his stances when his son starts lobbying him pic.twitter.com/z4HhsLoL4k
"And if you look at the number of times that Troy has flip-flopped his position on issues, and it usually has to do with issues that his son has been hired to lobby him on," Collins said. This includes Jackson backing funding for the Maine Maritime Academy where his son was registered as the school's legislative coordinator and worked as a lobbyist. And in 2024, Jackson — who had been backed by the NRA, including a 2022 endorsement — changed his tune on guns after the Maine Gun Safety Coalition hired his son to lobby for Second Amendment restrictions.
Collins also shredded Jackson on utility costs and his failed energy plans.
Susan Collins is ripping Troy Jackson to shreds tonight. pic.twitter.com/40F4v665Aq
"First of all let's make no mistake about this. Troy voted against a bill that the public advocates said would have reduced electric costs for the average household by $275 a year," Collins said. "His big plan for energy from Aroostook County? Totally collapsed. Completely failed. So it's just not accurate to say that it's the Iran war that has caused Maine to have the fourth highest electric bills in the country. If it were the Iran war, why wouldn't New Hampshire and other states have the same level of electric bills that Maine has?"
Even a New Hampshire journalist admitted that Collins won the debate, much to his dismay.
After watching the debate, I’m afraid that Susan Collins is going to win again. Ugh. Too bad Platner was a piece of s**t and liar. Cuz this Troy Jackson guy inspires absolutely nobody. He sucks.
Of course, there's very little daylight between Jackson and Platner, anyway. Jackson is simply Graham Platner 2.0, tapped to run against Collins after Platner was forced out of the race when Democrats realized he would lose; Jackson even defended Platner following the many serious accusations made against him and Jackson has his own issues with his temper and treatment of women.
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
You have to hand it to Susan Collins. In a debate season where too many Republicans seem to be running defense, she came out swinging and turned Troy Jackson’s own record into a rope to hang him with. The moment that stood out wasn’t a policy squabble—it was Collins dissecting Jackson’s claim to be a working-class champion while his voting record tells a very different story. She didn’t shout. She just laid the facts on the table and let them sit there, which is far more devastating.
Jackson apparently thought he could coast on the title of “the little guy’s advocate.” But Collins did what she does best: she pulled the curtain back. His career as a legislator is padded with votes that have made life harder for Maine families, not easier. And to watch him fumble and deflect last night, it was clear he didn’t have a coherent answer—because there isn’t one. If you vote against tax relief and then call yourself a populist, you’re not a populist, you’re just a party-line politician with a good slogan.
The whole exchange is the GOP answer to the left’s favorite tactic of dressing up radicalism in flannel and pretending it’s authentic. Collins’ calm, factual dismantling of Jackson should be required viewing for any Republican heading into a debate this fall. She proved you don’t need to raise your voice to make the other guy look like a phony; you just need to know his record better than he does.
It’s a refreshing change from the national circus, honestly. Maine voters got a real choice on display: a Senator with a proven record of delivering for the state, versus a challenger whose resume is mostly sound and fury. Here’s hoping the rest of the country’s candidates were taking notes. That’s how you win a debate—and earn a vote..
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.