Susan Collins Accepts Four Televised Maine Senate Debates

Republican incumbent Susan Collins announced Thursday that she has accepted invitations to participate in four televised debates for the upcoming U.S. Senate race in Maine. Collins proposed that the first debate occur in early September, hosted by News Center Maine, Maine Public, and the Portland Press Herald. Further debates are planned with WMTW and a group including WGME, WABI, and WAGM.

Democratic challenger and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson has not yet agreed to the televised format. The Jackson campaign has expressed a preference for town hall-style debates, arguing that voters should be present in the room to ask questions directly.

Spokesperson Shawn Roderick stated that Collins believes Maine residents deserve to see both candidates answer the same questions in the same room as soon as possible. Conversely, spokesperson Dan Gottlieb claimed Jackson is already holding town halls while Collins has not held a public town hall in 25 years. The race is expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in the country as Democrats attempt to flip the seat.