Troy Jackson Tells Senator Susan Collins to Shut Up at Debate

Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson told incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins to "shut up" during their final debate in Bangor, Maine, on October 15, 2026. The exchange occurred after Henry Elgie, a Bowdoin College student and Sunrise Movement volunteer, interrupted Collins to protest the environmental impact of AI data centers. Collins claimed the protester was "obviously one of Troy’s supporters," prompting Jackson's response.

Following the event, Collins characterized the remark as sexist and "very telling," claiming it reflected Jackson's reputation in Augusta for mistreating women who disagree with him. The Maine GOP condemned the comment as "unacceptable behavior." Jackson defended his reaction, stating he refused to be "talked down to" and denied coordinating the protest, a claim supported by Elgie and the Sunrise Movement.

The candidates also clashed over campaign finances and political loyalty. Collins challenged Jackson's pledge to reject billionaire and corporate PAC donations; Jackson initially denied knowledge of certain ads but later acknowledged accepting billionaire contributions. Federal Election Commission reports released Thursday showed Jackson raised $20.4 million in the third quarter, far outpacing Collins' $5.2 million, though Republican-aligned groups are outspending Democrats overall on advertising.

Throughout the debate, Jackson argued that Collins remains loyal to Donald Trump on key votes, while Collins cited her opposition to Pete Hegseth’s defense secretary nomination as evidence of her independence. The race remains a toss-up as Democrats seek to regain a Senate majority.