Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson clashed over the Iran war, high heating costs, and past campaign finance controversies during a testy hourlong debate in Westbrook, Maine, as their closely watched battleground race barrels toward the November election.
The debate, hosted by WMTW Channel 8, marked the second showdown of the week between the five-term incumbent and her Democratic rival.
Clash Over Iran War Policy and Heating Prices
Collins defended her votes, stating that she had voted nine times to end this war
under the War Powers Act. A live fact-check from PolitiFact characterized that claim as selective counting,
noting five instances where Collins voted against such resolutions.
Jackson seized on the exchange to launch a sharp attack on the senator and her husband’s financial holdings.
“She could use her leverage to stop this war. But instead, they’re making money. I mean, Senator Collins and her husband [are] making money, more, off of this war, and so is a whole bunch of other people, and that’s why this doesn’t, doesn’t stop.”
Troy Jackson, Democratic Senate candidate
Collins fired back immediately. That is absolutely outrageous, and you owe me an apology,
she told him. Jackson replied, No, you owe me an apology,
without offering evidence to support his claim that Collins profited from the conflict.
PolitiFact noted that Collins’ husband, Thomas Daffron, owns stock in defense contractors Boeing and RTX, according to reporting from The Maine Independent.
Defending a Three-Decade Senate Record Against Challenger Attacks
Collins, who is seeking a sixth six-year term, defended her longevity in Congress by pointing to her current position as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. What I learned is how much more effective I could be as the seventh ranked person in the Senate versus 99th, which is what I was when I first started out,
she said on the debate stage.
Jackson countered by arguing that Collins has failed to stand up to Donald Trump and highlighted her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which helped pave the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Collins responded that she evaluates nominees based on their qualifications and noted she disagreed with the abortion ruling, while emphasizing her own consistent pro-choice record compared to Jackson’s past stances.
On economic policy, Jackson criticized Collins for her procedural vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Collins explained that while she ultimately opposed the legislation due to its Medicaid cuts, letting the bill move forward on the Senate floor allowed her to secure a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals. Jackson dismissed the maneuver, mocking the senator as an arsonist who helped set the fire, and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out.
Candidates Clash over Campaign Donations and Legislative Records
Both candidates faced questions regarding past financial reports and campaign donations. Collins rejected reporting from ProPublica alleging that after a former defense contractor CEO made a 2019 donation to a super PAC, she used her Appropriations Committee position to award military contracts to the company.
Collins also questioned Jackson’s legislative effectiveness during his tenure as Maine Senate president, pointing to bills he introduced that failed to clear committee. Jackson defended his record, arguing that Collins doesn’t understand the legislative process
and that forcing votes on doomed measures gums the system up.