# Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate in Maine > Troy is a 5th-generation logger from Allagash, labor champion, and former Maine Senate President — the 2026 Democratic nominee running to unseat Susan Collins. --- ## Home URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO # MAINER BY BIRTH. LOGGER BY TRADE. SENATOR FOR THE PEOPLE. **Troy Jackson is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine.** He's a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, lifelong fighter for workers' rights, and former Maine Senate President who's ready to unseat Susan Collins once and for all. Learn more ###### CONTRIBUTE TO TROY'S CAMPAIGN ## We need your help to win in November. **Troy isn't backed by corporate PACs or billionaire donors. His campaign is powered by working people coming together to fix what's broken in Washington, DC. Join us with a donation of any amount:** **If you’ve saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.** ###### WE CAN TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK #### Together, working people can defeat Susan Collins. It's going to take hard work from all of us. But there's a powerful movement of working class people across Maine and the entire country who are ready to get it done. ###### Share Now Share Now ###### TROY'S priorities ## Working Mainers deserve a break. ## Pass Medicare for All and lower the cost of prescription drugs. ## Tax the billionaires and greedy corporations. ## End the genocide in Gaza. No U.S. tax dollars to Israel’s military. ## Dismantle and abolish ICE. ## Pass a federal right to abortion. ## Pass comprehensive civil rights legislation protecting the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination. View More **It's about damn time to put power back in the hands of the people and send someone to Washington who will fight for the working families who are just trying to get ahead.** **checkMark** ###### sign up toDAY ## JOIN THE MOVEMENT --- ## About Troy URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/about Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ## Mainer by birth. Logger by trade. Senator for the people. ##### Troy Jackson grew up in Aroostook County, a poor kid in a town full of poor kids. His mom was 16 when he was born. His dad was a logger, like his dad, and his dad before him. When Troy was in 7th grade, he saw his first strike. His dad and his fellow loggers were standing up to a wealthy landowner who thought he could squeeze them for more. They weren’t asking for any special treatment or a pay raise — they were just asking for basic fairness. He told them: *Do the work for what I'll pay you today, or I'll replace you tomorrow.* A few years later Troy became a logger himself. He spent years putting in 80-hour weeks in the woods — running equipment, driving trucks, and cutting wood just to make ends meet. ##### It wasn't long until Troy was part of a big labor fight of his own, blocking the border to stand up to billionaire landowners cutting wages. Politicians — including then-first-term Senator Susan Collins — promised to listen, but they left Troy and his fellow loggers high and dry. After that experience, he realized nothing would change for him or anyone else like him unless there was a working class voice in the room when decisions got made. So he ran for the Maine state legislature. Troy spent twenty years in the legislature, six as Senate President. He got there by earning the trust of his friends and neighbors — regardless of what party they belonged to, they knew Troy would fight for them. In the legislature, Troy fought hard to successfully lower prescription drug prices, passed universal school meals, protected union jobs, expanded rural health care, delivered property tax relief, safeguarded our environment, and championed and passed some of the strongest reproductive health protections anywhere in the country. But with the wins, there were real frustrations, too. Time and time again, Troy saw legislation that would be a gamechanger for working families to get watered down, killed, or vetoed. Powerful people marched in and dictated what they would do. It wasn’t so different than what he saw as a kid in the woods with his dad. ##### Like you, Troy is tired of watching working families get squeezed while the wealthiest keep getting more. He's running for U.S. Senate to put power back in the hands of the people and fix our broken systems — because working Mainers deserve a fighter in Washington. Troy earned an Associate's Degree from the University of Maine at Fort Kent in 2000. He lives in Allagash with his partner, Lana. They have two grown sons. ## Troy is fighting for working people across Maine and America to have more time for what matters. --- ## FAQ URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/troy-at-a-glance Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ###### FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ## TROY JACKSON AT A GLANCE *Last updated: October 21, 2026.* ### Who is Troy Jackson? Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, a longtime union member, former Maine Senate President, and the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. ### What office is he running for? Troy is running to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. ### Who is he running against? Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has held the seat for nearly thirty years, since being elected in 1996. ### Where is Troy from? Troy was born and raised in Allagash, a small town in Aroostook County in Maine’s North Woods. He still lives there with his longtime partner, Lana. They have two grown sons and welcomed their first granddaughter in September 2026. ### What did he do before politics? Troy worked as a logger. He put in 80-hour weeks cutting wood, driving trucks, and running heavy equipment. He was the fifth generation of his family to work in the woods. ### Why did he get into politics? Troy got into politics because working people were getting pushed around—and the politicians who promised to help weren’t showing up. In 1998, [he helped lead a border blockade](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2019/10/25/opinion/heres-why-the-1998-logging-blockade-still-matters-now/) after large landowners replaced Maine loggers with cheaper labor. Susan Collins and other politicians promised help, but the loggers were left to fight on their own. Troy decided working people needed one of their own at the table, so he ran for the Maine Legislature. ### How long did he serve in the Maine Legislature? Troy served for 20 years, representing communities in northern Maine. He served in the Maine House from 2002 to 2008 and in the Maine Senate from 2008 to 2014 and again from 2016 to 2024. He represented his hometown in what was then House District 151 and Senate District 35, and, after redistricting changed the lines, Senate District 1. ### Was he Maine Senate President? Yes. He served six years as President of the Maine Senate, from 2018 to 2024. ### What did he accomplish in the legislature? Troy helped lower prescription drug prices, pass universal free school meals, protect union jobs, expand rural health care, deliver property tax relief, protect Maine's environment, and pass some of the strongest reproductive health protections in the country: - **Prescription drug costs:** Troy sponsored laws establishing Maine’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (LD 1499) and a pathway to import lower-cost prescription drugs (LD 1272), and fought to increase competition for more affordable generic medicines (LD 1280). - **Free school meals:** Troy helped make school breakfast and lunch free for all Maine public school students (LD 1679). - **Workers’ rights:** Troy fought for collective bargaining rights for loggers and farmworkers (LD 1459), stronger wage-theft enforcement (LD 372), and fair wages and labor standards on clean energy projects (LD 1895, LD 2266). He has a 100% pro-labor voting score from the Maine AFL-CIO. - **Paid family and medical leave:** Troy helped pass Maine’s paid family and medical leave law (LD 258). - **Property tax relief:** Troy helped deliver relief for Maine homeowners and strengthen protections that help people stay in their homes (LD 215, LD 1629). - **Healthcare access:** Troy fought to expand access to care and protect rural communities that too often get left behind (LD 915, LD 1350). - **Reproductive freedom:** Troy helped strengthen Maine’s abortion protections after Roe v. Wade was overturned — co-sponsoring major legislation (LD 1619) that expanded abortion access, protected providers from criminal penalties, and improved data privacy practices. He also sponsored legislation (LD 1954) requiring state-regulated health plans to cover FDA-approved prescription contraception without out-of-pocket costs. - **Gun safety:** Troy supported Maine’s 72-hour waiting period for firearm purchases (LD 2238). - **Wabanaki rights:** Troy backed greater self-determination for the Wabanaki Nations, including legislation expanding Tribal courts’ authority (LD 2007). ### Has he won in tough districts? Yes. In 2008, Troy defeated a Republican by 25 points ([62%-37%](https://web.archive.org/web/20241210185913/https://lldc.mainelegislature.org/Open/Elections/Returns/2008/20081104/elec_20081104q.pdf)) to flip Senate District 35. He held the seat in 2010, despite a national GOP wave that saw Republicans secure their first trifecta in Maine state government since 1963. He ran and won in a district three times in a row that was carried by both Donald Trump and Susan Collins. ### What are his top priorities in the Senate? - Pass Medicare for All - Lower the cost of prescription drugs - Tax billionaires and make large corporations pay their fair share - Cut taxes for working people - Dismantle and abolish ICE - Pass a federal right to abortion - End the genocide in Gaza and stop U.S. funding for Israel's military - Protect the right to vote and to organize a union - Pass comprehensive civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ people - Ban members of Congress from trading stocks - Overturn Citizens United and get dark money out of politics Read more on Troy's [Priorities page](/bd3c1187-3500-4543-bf83-8ca2c3712fe1). ### Does he take corporate PAC money? No. Troy’s U.S. Senate campaign does not accept contributions from corporate PACs, AIPAC, or lobbyists representing Big Pharma and Big Oil. ### Is he a member of a union? Yes, Troy Jackson has been a member of five different unions over the course of his working life, including International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), United Auto Workers (UAW), International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) & Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA). Now, he has been endorsed by 50 unions in his campaign for U.S. Senate. ### What is his education? He earned an associate's degree from the University of Maine at Fort Kent in 2000. ### How old is he? Troy was born on June 26, 1968. ### Which groups have endorsed him? More than 100 organizations, elected officials, and community leaders throughout Maine have endorsed Troy, including the AFL-CIO, Reproductive Freedom for All, End Citizens United, President Barack Obama, Democratic nominee for governor Hannah Pingree, and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah. See the full list on [Troy’s Endorsements page](https://www.jacksonformaine.com/endorsements). ### How can I vote in Maine? October 5: Early voting begins and absentee ballots begin to be sent to voters by the state of Maine. October 29: Last day to early vote or request an absentee ballot. November 3: This is Election Day. And it's the last day for your mail ballot to be received and counted. Make sure your ballot is received by 8:00 p.m. on November 3. [Check your Maine voter registration.](https://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/voter_lookup.php) [Request an absentee ballot.](https://absenteeballotrequest.sos.maine.gov/) ### How can I contact the campaign? General questions: [info@jacksonformaine.com](mailto:info@jacksonformaine.com). Press: [press@jacksonformaine.com](mailto:press@jacksonformaine.com). Mail: Troy Jackson for Maine, P.O. Box 3003, Portland, ME 04104. ### How can I support the campaign? Donate through ActBlue [here](https://secure.actblue.com/donate/loc_tdj_fr_web?refcode=at-a-glance), sign up to volunteer or find organizing events on our [Volunteer page](/590831b1-e7ab-436b-a58c-f0ccf64e8011), or find another event on our [Events page](/db23fd4e-fa9b-41f7-a750-0d8af499b7e0). --- ## Endorsements URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/endorsements Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ###### TOGETHER WE FIGHT, TOGETHER WE WIN ## TROY'S ENDORSEMENTS ##### Labor unions and organizations - AFGE 1164 - AFL-CIO — American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations - AFSCME — American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - AFSCME Council 93 - AFT — American Federation of Teachers - Alliance for Retired Americans - American Postal Workers Union 536 - Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 6 - ATU — Amalgamated Transit Union - Committee to Protect Health Care - CWA — Communications Workers of America - CWA Local 1400 - Defend the Vote - Eastern Maine Labor Council - End Citizens United - Food AND Medicine - Human Rights Campaign - IAM — International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - IATSE Local 114 - IBEW — International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - IBEW Local 104 - IBEW Local 567 - IFPTE — International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers - Interior Systems Union Local 352 - International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW) Local 7 - International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 4 - International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) DC 35 - IUOE — International Union of Operating Engineers - IUPAT — International Union of Painters and Allied Trades - Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) Local 327 - Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) Local 976 - Lake Region Indivisible - League of Conservation Voters Action Fund - LiUNA! — Laborers' International Union of North America - Local S7 - Maine AFL-CIO - Maine Building & Construction Trades Council - Maine Education Association - Maine Gun Safety Coalition - Maine People's Alliance - Maine State Nurses Association - MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 - National Nurses United - National Education Association - North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters - NPMHU 205 - Our Revolution - Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund - Reproductive Freedom for All - SMART — International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Southern Maine Labor Council - Sunrise Movement - Teamsters Local 340 - UAW Region 9A - UBC & JA Local 349 - UFCW Local 1445 - UNITE HERE - New England Joint Board - United Steelworkers ##### Statewide elected officials and legislative leadership - **Beth Edmonds,** former Maine Senate President - **Dave Lemoine,** former State Treasurer - **Don Alexander,** former Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice - **Hannah Pingree,** former Maine Speaker of the House, Democratic nominee for Governor - **Henry Beck,** former State Representative and State Treasurer - **Jeff McCabe,** former State House Majority Leader - **Joe Perry,** State Treasurer - **Joseph M. Jabar,** former Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice - **Justin Alfond,** former Maine Senate President - **Mark Balfantz,** former State Board of Education member - **Mattie Daughtry,** Maine Senate President - **Michael Carpenter,** former Maine Attorney General - **Pat McGowan,** former Conservation Commissioner - **Ryan Fecteau,** Maine Speaker of the House - **Teresa Pierce,** Maine Senate Majority Leader ##### State legislative leaders - **Adam Goode,** former State Representative - **Ambureen Rana,** State Representative - **Amy Roeder,** State Representative - **Andy O'Brien,** former State Representative - **Anna D. Blodgett,** former State Representative - **Barney McGowan,** former State Representative - **Benjamin Chipman,** former State Representative and State Senator - **Ben Collings,** State Representative - **Bob Saucier,** former State Representative - **Brownie Carson,** former State Senator - **Bruce Bryant,** former State Senator - **Charles Skold,** former State Representative - **Chris Kessler,** State Representative - **Christine Powers,** former State Representative - **Colleen Madigan,** former State Representative - **Daniel Ankeles,** State Representative - **Dan Shagoury,** State Representative - **Danny Martin,** former State Representative - **Dave LaFountain,** former State Senator - **Dave McCrea,** former State Representative - **Deane Rykerson,** former State Representative - **Diane Denk,** former State Representative - **Donald Gean,** former State Representative - **Donna Bailey,** State Senator - **Drew Gattine,** State Representative - **Ed Pineau,** former State Representative - **Eddie Dugay,** former State Representative - **Erin Sheehan,** former State Representative - **Geoff Gratwick,** former State Senator - **Gerard P. Conley, Jr.,** former State Senator - **Grayson Lookner,** State Representative - **Jennifer DeChant,** State Representative - **Jill Duson,** State Senator - **Jim Boyle,** former State Representative and State Senator - **Jim Dill,** State Representative - **Jim Handy,** former State Representative - **Joe Rafferty,** State Senator - **John Martin,** former State Representative and State Senator - **John Nutting,** former State Representative and State Senator - **John Patrick,** former State Senator - **Judy Paradis,** former State Representative and State Senator - **Justin Chenette,** former York County Commissioner, State Representative, and State Senator - **Ken Theriault,** former State Representative - **Kevin O'Connell,** former State Representative - **Kilton Webb,** State Representative - **Kim Monaghan,** former State Representative - **Kristi Mathieson,** State Representative - **Laura Supica,** State Representative - **Linda Valentino,** former State Senator - **Maggie O'Neil,** former State Representative - **Marc Malon,** State Representative - **Margaret Craven,** former State Senator - **Mark Bryant,** former State Senator - **Mark Lawrence,** State Senator - **Marshall Archer,** State Representative - **Matt Beck,** State Representative - **Michele Meyer,** State Representative - **Mike Sylvester,** former State Representative - **Mike Tipping,** State Senator - **Morgan Rielly,** State Representative - **Nicole Grohoski,** State Senator - **Nina Milliken,** State Representative - **Paul Gilbert,** former State Representative - **Paul Volenik,** former State Representative - **Poppy Arford,** State Representative - **Rebecca Millett,** former State Representative and State Senator - **Dr. Richard Evans,** former State Representative - **Robert Duplessie,** former State Representative - **Ronald Russell,** former State Representative - **Samuel Zager,** State Representative - **Scott Cuddy,** former State Representative - **Sean Faircloth,** State Representative - **Sean Flaherty,** former State Representative - **Seth Berry,** former State Representative - **Severin Beliveau,** former State Representative and State Senator - **Sharon Treat,** former State Senator - **Sophie Warren,** State Representative - **Stacy Brenner,** State Senator - **Susan Deschambault,** former State Senator - **Valli Geiger,** State Representative ##### Municipal and county leaders - **Alicia Barnes,** RSU 18 School Board member - **Andrew Zarro,** former Portland City Council member - **Anna Bullett,** Portland City Council member - **April Fournier,** Portland City Council member - **Carl Sheline,** Mayor of Lewiston - **Charlotte Warren,** former State Representative and Mayor of Hallowell - **Chris Brennick,** Chair of Selectman, Rumford - **David Morse,** Mayor of Westbrook - **Eric Sanders,** Mayor of Belfast - **Joanne Twomey,** former Mayor of Biddeford - **Joe Hanslip,** former York County Commissioner and Sanford City Council member - **John Quinn,** Orono Town Councilor - **Kate Sykes,** Portland City Council member - **Kelly Roderick,** Oakland Town Council member - **Kevin Freeman,** former Presque Isle City Council member - **Luke Jensen,** Lewiston School Committee Member at Large - **Mallory Cook,** Bangor School Board member - **Mark Dion,** Mayor of Portland, former State Representative and State Senator - **Matthew Hochman,** former Bar Harbor Town Council member - **Natasha Irving,** Midcoast District Attorney - **Penny Jordan,** Cape Elizabeth Town Council member - **Roy Gedat,** former Oxford County Treasurer - **Sam Burdick,** Waterville City Council member - **Samantha Paradis,** former Mayor of Belfast - **Sarah Nichols,** former Mayor of Bangor - **Todd Chretien,** candidate for Portland City Council - **Wes Pelletier,** Portland City Council member ##### Community leaders - **Chris Hastedt,** co-founder, Maine Equal Justice Partners - **Jason Shedlock,** Candidate for HD 120, President of Maine Building Trades Union and the Southern Maine Labor Council - **Jordan Wood,** former candidate for Maine's 2nd Congressional District - **Maulian Bryant,** former Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador - **Nirav Shah,** former Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention - **Tony Buxton,** former Maine Democratic Party Chair **Troy Jackson is proud to have the support of more than 100 Maine leaders in every corner of the state, dozens of local and national labor unions, and organizations from all around the state and country that are fighting for our shared values.** --- ## Priorities URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/priorities Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ###### ISSUES & POSITIONS ## TROY'S POLICY PRIORITIES --- ## News URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ###### news & press ## THE LATEST NEWS --- ## Events URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/events Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ###### JOIN US AT AN EVENT NEAR YOU ## UPCOMING CAMPAIGN EVENTS --- ## Volunteer URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/volunteer Early voting is underway through October 29. Election Day is November 3. GET VOTING INFO ###### JOIN TEAM TROY ON THE GROUND ## SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER [Upcoming events](/db23fd4e-fa9b-41f7-a750-0d8af499b7e0) It's all hands on deck to win in November and defeat Susan Collins. **Sign up using the volunteer interest form below and our team will reach out.** [Or click to see upcoming events.](/db23fd4e-fa9b-41f7-a750-0d8af499b7e0) ###### MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT TROY ## Chip in to help get out the vote across Maine --- ## Vote URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/vote ###### VOTING INFORMATION & RESOURCES ## MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE FOR TROY ###### Election Day #### November 3 Polling places open on Tuesday, November 3 between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, and close at 8:00 pm. Anyone in line by 8:00 PM on Election Day can register and vote. [Find your polling place here.](https://iwillvote.com/locate/?state=ME) ###### Early In-Person Voting #### October 5 to October 29 You can vote early in-person [at your municipal clerk's office](https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/find-a-municipal-clerk-or-registrar) between Monday, October 5 and Thursday, October 29. Check your municipal clerk's office hours for In-Person Absentee Voting availability. ###### Mail-in Voting #### Request by October 29 To vote by mail, your absentee ballot request must be received by the close of business on Thursday, October 29. [Voters can request absentee ballots online here.](https://absenteeballotrequest.sos.maine.gov/) ##### Check if you're registered to vote ##### Register to vote ##### Request a mail ballot ##### Early voting locations IWILLVOTE.COM MAINE.GOV/VOTE ## --- ## News: One Month Since Entering The Race, Troy Connects With Mainers, Leads Polls, Mobilizes Grassroots URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/one-month-since-entering-the-race-troy-connects-with-mainers-leads-polls-mobilizes-grassroots **PORTLAND, ME** — One month into his campaign for U.S. Senate, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson has met with thousands of voters across Maine and has [taken](https://scholars.unh.edu/survey_center_polls/981/) the lead in polling, with the majority of Mainers [reporting](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) concerns with how often Susan Collins votes with Donald Trump. In just 30 days, more than 100,000 grassroots donors have contributed to Jackson’s campaign. Over 1,000 Mainers [joined](https://mainedems.org/more-than-1000-mainers-sign-up-for-mdp-volunteer-kickoff-with-troy-jackson/) Jackson for the Maine Democratic Party’s volunteer kickoff earlier this month, showing a surge of grassroots support for his campaign. Over the past 30 days, Jackson has rallied momentum and met with thousands of Mainers across the state at packed events in [Lisbon Falls](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2091646307299459578?s=20), [Portland](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/maine-democrat-troy-jackson-rallies-supporters-in-portland-for-us-senate-run/97-8e973c5d-660e-4b18-84fd-a9bb348a1555), [Winslow](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2091646307299459578?s=20), [Augusta](https://www.wmtw.com/article/troy-jackson-attends-opening-maine-democrats-augusta-office/73505328) and [Belfast](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-troy-jackson-compete-votes-weekend-campaign-trail-73-days-before-election-day/97-d9147bbe-7583-45e9-9fd1-2a3a54bbb40b). “I’ve never seen this type of momentum in the state of Maine,” **said Jackson**. “People are sick and tired of the government that we have because of Susan Collins, and they want change.” “In one short month, we’ve built a kick-ass operation that’s reaching across Maine, connecting with voters and sharing the story of a logger from Allagash who has spent his career fighting for working people,” **said Campaign Manager Hillary Barrett.** “Come November, every Mainer will know that Troy Jackson will always fight for them while Susan Collins has spent years siding with Donald Trump and Washington’s wealthy and well-connected.” **Recap of Troy’s First Month as Nominee:** [AP: How Troy Jackson went from Maine logger to the Democratic nominee for Senate against Susan Collins](https://apnews.com/article/maine-troy-jackson-susan-collins-senate-election-079c2d5ba0a2b572d2c79a6c6a9138e8) [WAGM: Jackson says class, wealth, background separates him from Collins in Senate race](https://www.wagmtv.com/2026/08/21/jackson-says-class-background-separates-him-collins-senate-race/) [Portland Press Herald: Maine voters say Susan Collins votes with Trump too often in Fox News poll](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) [WGME: Troy Jackson says Sen. Collins is not willing to challenge Pres. Trump](https://wgme.com/news/local/troy-jackson-says-senator-susan-collins-is-not-willing-to-challenge-president-donald-trump-maine) [NEWS CENTER MAINE : Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson reintroduced himself to voters and supporters in Waldo County](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-troy-jackson-compete-votes-weekend-campaign-trail-73-days-before-election-day/97-d9147bbe-7583-45e9-9fd1-2a3a54bbb40b) [Washington Post: Democratic voters who used to back Susan Collins aren’t so sure anymore](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/08/democratic-voters-who-used-back-susan-collins-arent-so-sure-anymore/) [WMTW: Troy Jackson attends opening of Maine Democrats' Augusta campaign office](https://www.wmtw.com/article/troy-jackson-attends-opening-maine-democrats-augusta-office/73505328) [NBC: How a decades-old logger blockade is shaping Troy Jackson’s pitch in Maine’s Senate race](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/decades-old-logger-blockade-shaping-troy-jacksons-pitch-maine-senate-rcna593620) [Newsweek: New Maine Senate Poll Shows Susan Collins Slipping as Midterms Loom](https://www.newsweek.com/new-maine-senate-poll-shows-susan-collins-slipping-as-midterms-loom-12316806) ### Troy Jackson has met with thousands of voters across Maine and has [taken](https://scholars.unh.edu/survey_center_polls/981/) the lead in polling, with the majority of Mainers [reporting](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) concerns with how often Susan Collins votes with Donald Trump. --- ## News: Troy Jackson, Bangor Daily: “Mainers Depend On The Promise Of Social Security. I Intend To Keep It.” URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-bangor-daily-mainers-depend-on-the-promise-of-social-security-i-intend-to-keep-it **PORTLAND, ME** — In a new [op-ed](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/11/opinion/opinion-contributor/maine-troy-jackson-promise-of-social-security-joam40zk0w/), fifth-generation Mainer and logger and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson lays out his commitment to protecting and strengthening Social Security for current and future retirees. Susan Collins in contrast has [repeatedly voted to weaken](https://mainebeacon.com/collins-record-shows-pattern-of-weakening-social-security/) Social Security and has even been [honored](https://mainebeacon.com/collins-honored-by-anti-aarp-group-that-pushed-to-privatize-social-security-end-health-care-subsidies/) by an anti-AARP group that pushed to privatize social security and convert Medicare to a voucher system. “Now, some of the richest people in the country are trying to kill Social Security. I won’t stand for it. I’ve fought against these same billionaires in Maine, and if I’m elected this November to the U.S. Senate, I’ll take that fight to Washington,” **Troy wrote in the Bangor Daily News.** “People who work hard their entire lives should be able to retire with dignity. They should be able to afford food, medicine, and a roof over their heads without wondering whether the benefits they spent decades earning will be there. Social Security is a promise. I intend to keep it.” [Bangor Daily News: Opinion by Troy Jackson: Mainers depend on the promise of Social Security. I intend to keep it.](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/11/opinion/opinion-contributor/maine-troy-jackson-promise-of-social-security-joam40zk0w/) - *A lot of Maine seniors know exactly what I’m talking about. They worked their entire lives, paid into Social Security with every paycheck and planned their retirement around the promise that the program would be there when they needed it.* - *Now, some of the richest people in the country are trying to kill Social Security. I won’t stand for it. I’ve fought against these same billionaires in Maine, and if I’m elected this November to the U.S. Senate, I’ll take that fight to Washington.* - *Here’s my plan for Social Security, to make sure it’s there for current and future retirees. First, we put Social Security on firmer financial ground by scrapping the cap. [...] And second, I support increasing the benefits that retirees receive rather than cutting them.* - *I believe the debate in Washington should be about how to strengthen retirement security, not how much we can ask retirees to give up. I will never support raising the retirement age. [...] And I will never support privatizing Social Security.* - *Protecting retirement security also means addressing the costs seniors face and the choices Washington makes about where to spend money.* - *When I was in the Maine Legislature, I stood up to then-Gov. Paul LePage when he raided the state employee pension. I voted to increase the income tax pension deduction for retirees, and I fought to expand access to Medicare Savings Programs, which can help eligible Mainers with premiums and other out-of-pocket costs.* - *People who work hard their entire lives should be able to retire with dignity. They should be able to afford food, medicine, and a roof over their heads without wondering whether the benefits they spent decades earning will be there.* - *Social Security is a promise. I intend to keep it.* ### In a new [op-ed](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/11/opinion/opinion-contributor/maine-troy-jackson-promise-of-social-security-joam40zk0w/), fifth-generation Mainer and logger and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson lays out his commitment to protecting and strengthening Social Security for current and future retirees. --- ## News: At Packed Town Hall In Gorham, Troy Jackson Answers Questions On Mainers’ Minds, Calls Out Collins URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/at-packed-town-hall-in-gorham-troy-jackson-answers-questions-on-mainers-minds-calls-out-collins *Additional photos and b-roll available* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7c37zn26xe83efnzhwo0t/AF8Z8t1RoZd-oow7sUHCrvY?rlkey=s0m18085vq9kb5t72hlqf66yp&st=vluagzvb&dl=0) **GORHAM, ME** — Last night, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson hosted his second town hall in Gorham, Maine. With nearly 400 Mainers in attendance, Jackson engaged with voters, took questions, and called out Susan Collins for selling Maine out – from advancing Trump’s health care cuts and confirming Brett Kavanaugh to backing the war in Iran and voting with Trump 96% of the time. Jackson has repeatedly invited Senator Susan Collins to join him at his town halls. Tonight in Gorham, Jackson saved a seat for her onstage, although she did not show up – **continuing her 25-year streak of avoiding public town halls. ** “What I'm seeing in this campaign right now is people are coming together to try and change a government that is not working for them,” **said Jackson.** “That's why I'm running: people are working harder and harder than ever, and they're getting less and less. Together we’re going to change that.” The event in Gorham was the second in a series of town halls and community conversations Jackson will hold with Mainers across the state in the coming weeks. Jackson will hold his next town hall Saturday in Jay, with additional events to be announced. Senator Collins is welcome at those, too. ### Troy Jackson hosted his second town hall in Gorham, Maine. With nearly 400 Mainers in attendance, Jackson engaged with voters, took questions, and called out Susan Collins for selling Maine out. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Campaigns Across Southern Maine, Holds Solidarity For Seniors Town Hall URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-campaigns-across-southern-maine-holds-solidarity-for-seniors-town-hall *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ctpuzrlpb1if99ycwferk/ADylRr47p8xnUtMuAj2KgQ4?rlkey=sqygg8z2cap87frwwgu22eow8&st=smvtqe4q&dl=0) **SOUTHERN MAINE** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent Sunday traveling across southern Maine, holding a ‘Solidarity For Seniors’ Town Hall, joining York County Democrats for their annual lobster bake, and celebrating the opening of the Maine Democratic Party’s Portland field office. “I’ve been waiting a long time for a movement like this in Maine, and I am damn proud to be a part of it,” **said Jackson.** “When I get to Washington, I promise I will fight for a government that works for working people — the folks who keep this state and nation running.” Troy joined the Maine Democratic Party for their office opening in Portland, highlighting his appreciation for the volunteers and supporters who’ve joined this movement. In York, Troy joined the York County Democrats for their Annual Neil Rolde Celebration Lobster Bake along with Matt Dunlap and Hannah Pingree. Troy ended Sunday at his ‘Solidarity for Seniors’ Town Hall. Jackson recommitted to protecting and strengthening Social Security for current and future retirees, especially as Susan Collins [repeatedly voted to weaken](https://mainebeacon.com/collins-record-shows-pattern-of-weakening-social-security/) Social Security and has even been [honored](https://mainebeacon.com/collins-honored-by-anti-aarp-group-that-pushed-to-privatize-social-security-end-health-care-subsidies/) by an anti-AARP group that pushed to privatize social security and convert Medicare to a voucher system. This was Jackson’s fourth town hall – four more than Susan Collins has had in 25 years. ### Troy Jackson spent Sunday traveling across southern Maine, holding a ‘Solidarity For Seniors’ Town Hall, joining York County Democrats for their annual lobster bake, and celebrating the opening of the Maine Democratic Party’s Portland field office. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Garners Attention Nationwide Campaigning To Bring A Working Class Voice To U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-garners-attention-nationwide-campaigning-to-bring-a-working-class-voice-to-us-senate **PORTLAND, ME** — Throughout the week, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson has been spreading his message of a more affordable Maine to all who will listen including town hall audiences of hundreds of Mainers. While Susan Collins, the No-Show Senator, continues to hide from voters and avoid accountability for her 30-year record selling out Mainers, Troy is making his values known — he answers to the people, not to billionaires. Last night, with over 400 Mainers in attendance, Jackson engaged with voters, took questions, and called out Susan Collins for selling Maine out – from advancing Trump’s health care cuts and confirming Brett Kavanaugh to backing the war in Iran and voting with Trump 96% of the time. Check out the local coverage below: [NewsCenter Maine: Maine Democrat Troy Jackson holds second town hall in his U.S. Senate campaign](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-democrat-troy-jackson-holds-second-town-hall-in-his-us-senate-campaign-nearing-upcoming-elections/97-b8c1d3f3-6c32-4e06-8d43-8d75d039481a) - *“I always knew that I was going to be standing up for working class people that needed someone to have their back, that would give them a voice,” Jackson said in his remarks. “We have a lot of power when we come together.”* - *“People from one end of the state to the other are coming out, demanding a change in government, you know, standing up when it’s so hard to stand up,” Jackson said. “Because people in this state know the government has to change.”* - *“These two [town halls] are two more than Susan Collins has done in the last 25 years,” Jackson said. “Everyday people should be able to stand in front of their elected officials and get their questions answered and make their thoughts known.” * [WGME/FOX 23: Maine Senate race stays hot ahead of midterms](https://wgme.com/news/local/democratic-nominee-for-senate-troy-jackson-speaks-with-voters-in-gorham-maine-politics-election-republican-senator-susan-collins) - *"The price of everything is high. There are two things I think we can do to lower them. The federal government needs to get more involved to help overall and we need to get out of Iran," Jackson said.* - *Jackson spoke about abolishing ICE, universal healthcare, and his opponent Senator Susan Collins. "In my mind, Susan Collins has failed us and failed that family. ICE has to be eliminated," Jackson said.* Troy Jackson joined [MS NOW’s Jen Psaki](https://youtu.be/Lpw2JGqnTIk?si=pU4MkucQDMjJNY9L) and brought down the hammer on Susan Collins’ wretched record siding with billionaires over Mainers. Watch the full interview [here](https://youtu.be/Lpw2JGqnTIk?si=pU4MkucQDMjJNY9L) or see the highlights below: - *“[Susan Collins] is more than happy to stand with them in D.C. fighting for tax cuts for Elon Musk, taking away our health care, doing tariffs, doing the Iran war, giving $70 billion dollars to ICE and putting people like Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court to take away Roe v. Wade — But when it comes time for Mainers to actually see who she does stand with,* ***she doesn't want to come to Maine****. I mean, that's not just the worst.* ***That's the biggest hypocrite I've ever seen in my life****.”* - *“She's all bought in on the extreme right wing of this party. She's showing it now consistently with her votes, and that's why Mainers know that* ***she's with Trump 96% of the time, and are sick of her acting like she's a moderate when everything she does is a right wing extremist.****”* - *“****When we were struggling loggers back when I was 29 years old, Collins was in her first term, and we were on the other side of billionaire landowners, and she stood with the billionaire landowners.*** *She always stands with the billionaires. So anything she says about me is no shock to me because again,* ***she fights for wealthy people, and I fight for everyday people****.”* Troy joined [The Contrarian](https://www.contrariannews.org/p/troy-jackson-maine-senate-susan-collins-medicare-all-elon-musk), to talk about his background as a logger who has experienced firsthand the disenfranchisement of the working class in this state, and his demand for a government that works for everyday Mainers. Watch the full interview [here](https://www.contrariannews.org/p/troy-jackson-maine-senate-susan-collins-medicare-all-elon-musk) or see the highlights below: - *“I watched a lot during my life growing up how* ***people with a lot of power in the logging industry held people back, held communities back****, and when I started working the industry myself, same thing I watched happen…****that's really where my eyes, at 29 years old, got open to the fact that government doesn't work for people that don't have the bigger checkbooks. Ever since then I've been trying to change that, to be the voice for everyday people****.”* - *“We are in crisis here in Maine with health care, and what you're seeing with the tariffs, what you're seeing with the Iran War, all these things are how she caters to Donald Trump and the wealthy. I've known her most of my life.* ***She's not someone that stands up for everyday working class people, and I know that firsthand****.”* - *“****Too many of us are struggling with healthcare, don't have healthcare at all,*** *and I think this would be an awesome way to make people's lives better.* ***So I'm going to fight hard for it****.”* Troy hopped on “[The Lever](https://www.levernews.com/how-troy-jackson-can-put-collins-career-on-the-chopping-block/)” with David Sirota to discuss his plan to make the government work for everyday people, not the billionaires that Susan Collins answers to. Watch the full podcast [here](https://www.levernews.com/how-troy-jackson-can-put-collins-career-on-the-chopping-block/), or see below for the highlights: - * “****I really believe I'm gonna win this election,*** *and it's not because it's Troy Jackson, not because they got a better candidate in the past or anything like that.* ***It's because people are sick of the government…They want change****. And I'm excited to be part of this moment to get the things that I care about…this is something way bigger than I've ever seen.”* - ***“[Trump] has made it so much worse. So in two short years, people do have buyer remorse,*** *and, and you see it across the state that, people are sorry they voted for him. They don't believe in him.”* - *“When you look at my background these are the things I've been fighting for. I mean,* ***I've been pushing back against billionaires since I was an 11-year-old kid, standing up for everyday working-class people that didn't believe they could do it*** *on their own and I was willing to do that.”* Earlier this week, Troy [published an Op Ed](https://katiecouric.com/news/opinion/troy-jackson-op-ed-changing-mind-abortion-rights/) on his journey to becoming one of the strongest reproductive rights advocates in Maine by listening to the women around him. Read the full story [here](https://katiecouric.com/news/opinion/troy-jackson-op-ed-changing-mind-abortion-rights/) or see highlights below: [Troy Jackson: What Listening to Women Taught Me About Reproductive Freedom](https://katiecouric.com/news/opinion/troy-jackson-op-ed-changing-mind-abortion-rights/) - *I listened to women in my life and women I represented. I listened to health care providers. I listened to colleagues in the legislature. And the more I listened, the clearer something became to me: abortion is health care. And the decision about whether and when to have a child belongs to a woman — not to me, and not to any man, judge, or politician sitting hundreds of miles away.* - *And when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, we didn’t wait around to see what would happen next. As Senate President, I helped lead the fight to ensure Maine remained a place where reproductive freedom would be protected. I sponsored one of the strongest abortion protection laws in the country, which stripped away criminal penalties targeting abortion care and protected the ability of doctors to provide care based on their medical judgment — not the judgment of politicians.* - *Susan Collins was recently asked whether, knowing everything that happened after Kavanaugh's confirmation, she regrets her vote. She said she does not. I keep coming back to that answer. Because there's a profound difference between saying, “I was wrong, I listened, I learned, and I changed,” and looking at the consequences of a decision that helped strip millions of women of a fundamental freedom and saying you would not change a thing. I know which kind of leader I want to be.* ### Troy Jackson has been spreading his message of a more affordable Maine to all who will listen including town hall audiences of hundreds of Mainers. Troy is making his values known — he answers to the people, not to billionaires. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Calls Out Susan Collins’ For Vote To Confirm Another Anti-Abortion Judge URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-calls-out-susan-collins-for-vote-to-confirm-another-anti-abortion-judge #### Collins has repeatedly voted to confirm anti-abortion judges including Brett Kavanaugh who overturned Roe v. Wade **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson released the below statement calling out Senator Susan Collins for her vote to confirm anti-abortion advocate Matthew Byrne to a U.S. District Court seat in Ohio. The vote follows her extensive record of confirming judges who are clear they will roll back reproductive rights if they have the opportunity. Collins previously voted to confirm Neil Gorsuch and cast the decisive vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. They went on to overturn Roe v. Wade. When asked about her consequential vote to confirm Kavanaugh, Collins said [she did not regret it](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/17/us/politics/susan-collins-defends-kavanaugh-vote.html). “I wish I could say that I’m surprised, but this is the latest in a long line of votes Senator Collins has taken attacking reproductive rights in this country,” **said Jackson.** “Collins voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite pleas of reproductive rights advocates — then *Roe* fell, and she said she didn’t regret her vote. All the while, I was in the Maine Senate where we passed some of the strongest protections for abortion access in the country because I believe these decisions belong to women, their families, and their doctors — not politicians. Mainers are tired of Collins’ lies and broken promises. I’m running for Senate to keep radical anti-abortion extremists out of our courts and make damn sure politicians never again get to take this freedom away from Mainers.” **While Susan Collins has repeatedly voted to roll back reproductive rights and** [confirm anti-abortion judges](https://mainebeacon.com/continuing-trump-era-pattern-collins-votes-to-confirm-judge-with-history-of-restricting-abortion/)**, Troy has fought to protect and expand access to abortion in Maine: ** - As Senate president, Jackson sponsored one of the strongest abortion laws in the country. [Portland Press Herald, [7/19/23](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/19/mills-signs-law-expanding-abortion-access/)] - Jackson immediately condemned the Dobbs ruling and pledged that Maine Senate Democrats would fight attempts to undermine abortion rights. [Maine Monitor, [5/3/22](https://themainemonitor.org/susan-collins-suggests-she-was-misled-other-maine-politicians-react-to-leak/)] - Both [Planned Parenthood](https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/planned-parenthood-action-fund-endorses-troy-jackson-for-us-senate?source=28e03f5f-e18a-4cd6-993a-04b049c89570) and [Reproductive Freedom for All](https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/at-women-for-troy-launch-reproductive-freedom-for-all-backs-troy-jackson-for-us-senate?source=28e03f5f-e18a-4cd6-993a-04b049c89570) endorsed Jackson for Senate, naming him a champion for reproductive rights. - **Waiting periods and forced ultrasounds:** Jackson opposed[LD 1229](https://www.legislature.maine.gov/130th-roll-calls), which would have imposed a 48-hour waiting period, and[LD 1614](https://legislature.maine.gov/131st-roll-calls), which would have required an ultrasound, biased counseling and a 48-hour waiting period. - **Public and private insurance coverage:** As Senate President, Jackson helped enact[LD 820](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/chapters/PUBLIC274.asp), requiring MaineCare and private insurance plans covering prenatal care to cover abortion services. He later opposed[LD 494](https://legislature.maine.gov/131st-roll-calls), which sought to eliminate state funding for abortion services not covered under the federal Hyde Amendment. - **Contraception and emergency contraception:** Jackson sponsored[LD 1954](https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?paper=SP0691&PID=1456&snum=130), requiring state-regulated insurance plans to cover FDA-approved prescription contraceptives without out-of-pocket costs. He also backed[LD 2203](https://legislature.maine.gov/131st-roll-calls), expanding coverage to federally approved nonprescription oral and emergency contraceptives. - **Abortion access after Dobbs:** Jackson cosponsored[LD 1619](https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-signs-legislation-empowering-women-doctors-make-reproductive-health-care) after Roe was overturned. The law removed criminal penalties specific to abortion care and placed decisions about abortion later in pregnancy in the hands of women and licensed physicians applying the appropriate medical standard of care. - **Protecting patients and providers:** Jackson backed[LD 227](https://legislature.maine.gov/bills/display_ps.asp?PID=0&paper=HP0148&snum=131), Maine’s shield law protecting reproductive-health patients and providers from hostile actions initiated by other states. ### “I wish I could say that I’m surprised, but this is the latest in a long line of votes Senator Collins has taken attacking reproductive rights in this country,” **said Jackson.** --- ## News: Jackson Spends Another Weekend On The Trail Connecting With Mainers, Holds Fourth Town Hall URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-spends-another-weekend-on-the-trail-connecting-with-mainers-holds-fourth-town-hall **PORTLAND, ME** — This past weekend, fifth-generation Mainer and logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson campaigned across Maine hearing directly from voters on the way their lives have been impacted by the Trump administration’s broken economy, and promising to build a government that works for working people. On Saturday, Troy met with workers, union members, and voters at Democratic office openings in Rockland and Bangor, and attended a tailgate event at the University of Maine Orono football game for the Maine Black Bears. On Sunday, Troy held a ‘Solidarity For Seniors’ Town Hall, joined York County Democrats for their annual lobster bake, and celebrated the opening of the Maine Democratic Party’s Portland field office. **HERE’S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT IT:** [Biddeford Gazette: Troy Jackson rouses Democrats at Biddeford campaign event](https://biddeford-gazette.com/2026/09/14/news-troy-jackson-rouses-democrats-at-biddeford-campaign-event/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUU_YNwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAGJyaWQRMXJRVFR4aVdlRGRnOTQwdmpzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe9lNOaK7ybStMgTYh9Q8gRGlTtR3er5IOOcx0VF2uFFLXWx8CDLxHT3giXAk_aem_9w-4FtLkCC0TmlKcNHDDJw) - *More than 260 people packed the gymnasium at the Biddeford Community Center on Sunday evening for a chance to hear Democrat Troy Jackson talk about his campaign to oust Republican Susan Collins from her U.S. Senate seat.* - *The event was labeled as a “Solidarity with Seniors” town hall-style meeting, focused primarily on issues impacting seniors and a troubled health care system that has experienced deep service cuts in some parts of Maine.* - *Jackson took center stage to a rousing chorus of applause from an audience dominated by senior citizens. “Working people – everyday people are not powerless,” Jackson told the crowd. “When we come together, we can change things.”* - *The candidate said his opponent is being supported by big-money corporate interests who don’t want to lose tax breaks and their control of the economy, describing them as “afraid of everyday Americans.” “We’re not from the left, and we’re not from the right,” Jackson said. “We’re from the bottom, and they can’t stand that.”* [Midcoast Villager: Jackson Rallies Volunteers at Campaign Stop in Rockland](https://www.midcoastvillager.com/news/politics/jackson-rallies-volunteers-at-campaign-stop-in-rockland/article_bd57e96f-8b13-476e-8f82-588f1c651ee6.html) - *Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson made a campaign stop Saturday morning, Sept. 12 in the city to call for electing candidates who will get government to work for the people and not the billionaires.* - *"This race is very simple to me. Ever since I was a little boy, I've watched power and influence hold people back," Jackson said about why he got into politics by running for the Maine Legislature.* - *"In this race, it's very clear that Sen. Collins has completely forgotten about who has elected her. She's doing tax cuts for the wealthiest people like Elon Musk. Elon Musk has money flowing into this state, going against me, going against Matt Dunlap, going against all of us, so that he can keep people in power who will continue the cycle," Jackson said.* - *Thirty-three thousand people have lost health insurance this year from the cuts to subsidies for people with insurance through the Affordable Care Act. "That's the worst thing to be, to see our health care system crumble so that a handful of people can get more," Jackson said.* [The Free Press (University of Southern Maine Student Journal): Troy Jackson holds a town hall in Biddeford, sparks community discussion](https://usmfreepress.org/2093/news/troy-jackson-holds-a-town-hall-in-biddeford/) - *Jackson has criticized Collins for what he describes as a lack of traditional public town halls, while using his own town halls to emphasize accessibility and direct voter engagement. “This is our fourth town hall; more than Susan Collins has done in the past 25 years,” Jackson had said.* - *Jackson began by acknowledging that it had been exactly two months since Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Biddeford. “The only thing he did wrong, in some people’s eyes, was getting up that day and going to work,” he said of Guerrero’s death.* - *Healthcare remained a major topic throughout the town hall. “Why are the billionaires deciding who is worthy of healthcare?” Jackson asked. “It isn’t poor people, it isn’t immigrants who are holding my healthcare back; it’s the rich people.”* [Maine Newsroom: Troy Jackson explains how he’d protect Mainers' Social Security](https://mainenewsroom.substack.com/p/troy-jackson-explains-how-hed-protect) - ***Troy Jackson:* ***People want to privatize [Social Security], people want to take it away, people want to raise their retirement age. I don’t want to do any of that. That’s something that everyday people pay into and depend on. It’s a commitment that was made and I’m not going to break that.* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***I think what we should be doing is making it so that there’s no cap. So that everybody has to pay the same amount based on their income, and then we can make sure it’s whole, but also raise benefits. Because the people on Social Security that depend on it can’t live in a state or a country like what we have right now. * - ***Troy Jackson:*** *Those ads that Susan and the Republicans are running are protecting millionaires and billionaires once again, because that’s what they do. * ### Troy Jackson campaigned across Maine hearing directly from voters on the way their lives have been impacted by the Trump administration’s broken economy, and promising to build a government that works for working people. --- ## News: HUFFPOST: Collins Faced An FBI Investigation Over Dark Money. It’s Still Flowing To Her Campaign. URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/huffpost-collins-faced-an-fbi-investigation-over-dark-money-its-still-flowing-to-her-campaign ##### Campaign Legal Center: “That’s dangerous from a corruption perspective because that could very well be a situation like what we see with Susan Collins and Navatek.” **PORTLAND, ME** — Barely one week after bombshell reporting from [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) exposing Susan Collins at the center of an alleged pay-for-play scandal, Huffpost [revealed](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-collins-faced-an-fbi-investigation-over-dark-money-its-still-flowing-to-her-reelection-campaign_n_6abd5e87e4b02a789b327709) that super PACs backing Collins are raking in campaign contributions from dark money groups and over $7 million from undisclosed donors hiding behind fake non-profits and shell companies. Experts suggest there could be schemes at play where donors are funneling money through dark money and shell groups to support Senator Susan Collins in dealings similar to that of Navatek, as exposed by [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation). **Read the whole piece** [here](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-collins-faced-an-fbi-investigation-over-dark-money-its-still-flowing-to-her-reelection-campaign_n_6abd5e87e4b02a789b327709) **or see highlights below: ** [HUFFPOST: Susan Collins Faced An FBI Investigation Over Dark Money. It’s Still Flowing To Her Reelection Campaign.](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-collins-faced-an-fbi-investigation-over-dark-money-its-still-flowing-to-her-reelection-campaign_n_6abd5e87e4b02a789b327709) - *Before President Donald Trump effectively disbanded it, the FBI’s anti-corruption unit investigated Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in a potential pay-to-play scheme involving a government contractor who went to jail for concealing a $150,000 donation to help her 2020 campaign by passing it through a nonprofit.* - *The same kind of dark-money contributions that led to the now-scuttled investigation haven’t dried up. Two super PACs backing her current reelection campaign, including one run by Scott Reed, the operative at the center of the ProPublica story, have received $7.4 million in undisclosed contributions from nonprofits that appear to exist solely to hide donors’ identities.* - ***“When you see millions funneled through an entity going to different committees but no transparency about where the money originated from, that’s dangerous from a corruption perspective because that could very well be a situation like what we see with Susan Collins and Navatek,”* ***Ghosh said.* - *After Kao made his shell donation — but before public records could reveal it — a staffer for Reed’s consultancy sought Kao’s phone number so Collins could thank him for his dark-money donation.* ***“This is a perfect illustration that dark money is only dark for the general public,” Ghosh said. “It is not dark to the folks that are orchestrating the scheme.”*** - *The $7.4 million in unknown contributions helping Collins now, however, is masked behind an intricate web of conservative dark money groups that appear to exist solely to hide the true identity of their donors.* - *Pine Tree Results PAC, run by Reed and funded by Collins through a joint fundraising committee, is the biggest recipient of these dark-money donations. [...] Reed previously ran the 1820 PAC and personally solicited the $150,000 contribution from Kao in 2020 after Kao contributed to Collins’ campaign and said he wanted to contribute more as he lobbied her office for help winning federal contracts, according to ProPublica. * - *Stronger America, Inc. is a political nonprofit that appears to solely back Collins’ reelection campaign. Paul Cooksey, a longtime GOP operative and former Senate committee counsel, runs it, and it has spent more than $11 million on advertising to boost Collins, according to the New York Times. Collins attended a fundraiser for the nonprofit in 2026 at a D.C. townhouse owned by Oracle, the data giant owned by billionaire Republican donor Larry Ellison, the Times reported.* - *Unlike Kao’s donation, the source of nearly all of this spending is unknown to the public. But as the ProPublica reporting showed, lawmakers know it helps elect them.* - *“It’s quite disturbing that we’re asked to participate in a democratic process, but we as voters are deprived of this very important information,” Ghosh said. “It is genuinely a big problem that we don’t know who’s behind $2 billion in spending.”* ### *Campaign Legal Center: “That’s dangerous from a corruption perspective because that could very well be a situation like what we see with Susan Collins and Navatek.” * --- ## News: Read What They’re Saying: Mainers Outraged By Susan Collins’ Failure To Show Up For Them URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/read-what-theyre-saying-mainers-outraged-by-susan-collins-failure-to-show-up-for-them ##### *Bangor Daily News: “A vote for Susan Collins is a vote for Donald Trump” * ##### *Central Maine: “United States senators, too, need that backbone. It’s no longer clear to me that Collins has it.”* **PORTLAND, ME** — Mainers from across the state are outraged by Susan Collins as she fails every day people again and again by voting with Trump 96% of the time, making corrupt deals to enrich herself, taking dark money from out-of-state billionaires, rolling back reproductive rights, enabling Trump’s rogue ICE agents to roam our neighborhoods, and leaving veterans behind. **Read what Mainers are saying: ** [Bangor Daily News: A vote for Susan Collins is a vote for Donald Trump](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/08/15/opinion/letters/letter-a-vote-for-susan-collins-is-a-vote-for-donald-trump-joam40zk0w/) - *In my view,* ***Collins has the title but President Donald Trump makes the decisions, so a vote for Collins is a vote for Trump.*** ***If you want a senator to represent Maine, I suggest you vote for Troy Jackson.*** [Central Maine: ProPublica reminds us to shine a light on dark money](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/29/propublica-reminds-us-to-shine-a-light-on-dark-money-jordan-wood/) - ***Collins’ office steered millions in Navy contracts to Navatek****, a defense contractor, while her campaign* ***and her super PAC collected money from its CEO, Martin Kao****. And when Kao’s money broke the law, the people around her didn’t reject it. They helped hide it. Twice.* - ***We need a Congress that will pass laws to force super PACs and dark money groups to disclose their donors****, match small-dollar donations with public funds like we do here in Maine, and* ***stop super PACs from operating as arms of the campaigns they support****.* ***Susan Collins has voted to block these reforms. Troy Jackson has pledged to champion them.*** - *I grew up in Lewiston, the son of a teacher and pastor.* ***The people I grew up with don’t have shell companies or know super PAC fundraisers. We expect the people we send to Washington to work for us, not big-money donors.*** [Central Maine: Susan Collins’ vote for abortion foe does not add up](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/17/susan-collins-vote-for-abortion-foe-does-not-add-up-steve-collins/) - *Collins told reporters in June that when she looks at judicial nominations, she considers a nominee’s “qualifications, their integrity, their background and their experience in reaching a decision.” At the same time,* ***she said she didn’t regret putting Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, where he soon helped toss Roe v. Wade into the garbage dump.*** - ***Mainers can forgive a senator for making a mistake. But Collins has doubled down, here.*** - ***United States senators, too, need that backbone. It’s no longer clear to me that Collins has it.*** [Lewiston Sun Journal: Collins’ words on healthcare don’t match her actions](https://www.sunjournal.com/2026/08/28/collins-words-on-healthcare-dont-match-her-actions-letter/) - ***Sen. Collins voted to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act*** *to the Senate floor.* ***It will cut crucial Medicaid funding*** *for rural American hospitals by more than $150 billion.* ***That bill cut Affordable Care Act subsidies for working Americans****, driving up the cost of health insurance so it was no longer affordable for many.* - ***Sen. Collins voted to confirm numerous anti-choice justices and judges to lifetime terms.*** *Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch are the most visible of these, but there are others.* - ***In 2022, Collins voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act that would have restored the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law.*** - ***She voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr.*** *to lead the Department of Health and Human Services,* ***despite his history of vaccine skepticism****. […]* ***Under his guidance, dangerous diseases and parasites have reemerged as threats to the American public.*** - *Susan Collins’ claims of supporting healthcare in Maine are not reflected in her actions.* ***Maine needs a senator who does more than “talk” about healthcare. It’s time for a change.*** [Kennebec Journal: Susan Collins is Out of Touch on Affordability Issues](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/21/susan-collins-is-out-of-touch-on-affordability-issues-letter/) - ***Sen. Susan Collins*** *talks about all she does for Maine.* ***She*** ***doesn’t talk about what’s happening to the rising costs we face daily. Oil prices are over $100 per barrel* ***and the prices of products we use— diesel, gasoline and jet fuel — have soared.* ***Diesel is about $6 per gallon today.*** - *The cost of refining diesel into gas at the pump is about four times higher than normal.* ***President Trump’s “war of choice” with Iran and the war in Ukraine have destroyed substantial refining capacity.*** *It won’t be replaced soon.* ***Who does it hurt? Anyone who uses diesel fuel to carry out their work*** *— fishermen, farmers, truckers and shippers, among others.* ***And there’s no relief in sight.*** - ***President Trump promised to bring prices down and to end “forever wars.”* ***We’re told that everything is great.*** *I haven’t seen it yet* ***and I no longer expect it.* - ***I’m voting for Troy Jackson. He gets it.* ***I want a senator that* ***knows how hard it is for people to make ends meet and to hold this president accountable.*** *I hope everyone will join me.* ### *Bangor Daily News: “A vote for Susan Collins is a vote for Donald Trump” * *Central Maine: “United States senators, too, need that backbone. It’s no longer clear to me that Collins has it.”* --- ## News: Across The State, Mainers Are Backing Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/across-the-state-mainers-are-backing-troy-jackson-for-us-senate #### Letter to the Editor Portland Press Herald: “The throughline in Troy Jackson’s story is an unflinching solidarity with the everyday working people of Maine” **PORTLAND, ME** — Mainers from across the state are sharing their support for fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson. In letters to the editor, supporters are standing behind Troy’s working-class credentials, amplifying his values and sharing their trust that Troy will fight for them once he gets to Washington. **In Central Maine:** [Troy Jackson would be the Senate’s most working class voice](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/08/31/troy-jackson-would-be-the-senates-most-working-class-voice-opinion/) - *However, it’s our Democratic nominee, Troy Jackson, who offers such an exciting opening for meaningful change.* ***Jackson’s working class background and his roots in organized labor would make him one of the strongest voices for working people in the U.S. Senate.*** - *Troy Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash.* ***His path to becoming a politician is rooted in his fellow loggers’ struggle for better pay and working conditions****, a battle waged against the largest corporate landowner in the state.* - ***When the blockade failed to produce results, Jackson decided it was time to fight for change within the halls of power.*** *He was elected in 2002 and served 20 years in the Maine Legislature, including six as Senate president. Jackson would go on to* ***sponsor the bill that ultimately secured collective bargaining rights for Maine loggers****. Beyond that victory,* ***his tenure in the Legislature contains many accomplishments that point to a willingness to fight for working class interests****.* - ***The throughline in Troy Jackson’s story is an unflinching solidarity with the everyday working people of Maine.*** *It’s not surprising that Jackson has earned the endorsement of several Maine labor unions, while Susan Collins has the backing of a slew of billionaires.* ***He has always been willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with ordinary people in order to win greater dignity and economic security for all of us.*** **In the Portland Press Herald:** [Troy Jackson has earned our trust](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/26/troy-jackson-has-earned-our-trust-opinion/?utm_campaign=newbot-pressherald.com_combined&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawUWxZ5wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAGJyaWQRMXpLVG94b3FLR2FhN01jc05zcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeSoIic-raaGirKnrzDchUAvme6SDi43j3K4UjJbEc_IOhGAQibgvlJ5g4QLY_aem_cEfsogA-E-5qjGVYMzgt3A) - ***[Troy] championed a livable wage, fair workers’ compensation, security for Maine retirees, benefits for firefighters and their families and supported both public and private service employees.*** *It didn’t matter how long a public hearing or work session would last,*** *he would not stop until the legislation met the needs of those he served.*** - ***He never let a call from a constituent who had a concern or need pass by his desk unanswered****, irrespective of whether or not they had voted for him.* - ***He continued his fight for Maine workers*** *by sponsoring the Buy American, Build Maine bill, supported paid family and medical leave, promoted offshore wind projects that protected the environment and honored the men and women involved.* - *As Troy’s sphere of influence increased, so did his depth of understanding and his compassion. * ***He led the fight for Maine’s indigenous people*** *through all three of his sessions as Senate president.* ***He pioneered universal free lunches*** *for all school-aged children,* ***supported early childhood and pre-K programs*** *and* ***increased protections for victims of sexual misconduct on college campuses****.* - ***His views matured and expanded*** *with regard to women’s reproductive rights, reasonable gun safety laws and gender issues.* ***I witnessed this authentic growth as he listened, discussed and learned from a broader electorate.*** *He maintains an open mind and doesn’t let his ego get in the way of good decision-making.* **In the Portland Press Herald:** [It’s the billionaire class vs. the rest of us. That’s why Troy Jackson is the only choice.](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/23/its-the-billionaire-class-vs-the-rest-of-us-thats-why-troy-jackson-is-the-only-choice-opinion/) - *This is why Troy Jackson is my guy, and probably the most relatable candidate I’ve had the opportunity to support in my life.* ***There is no replacement for lived experience, and Troy has lived it.*** ***Not only that, but he came out the other side having broadened his mind beyond just the injustices that affected him personally, and made the connection that injustice anywhere affects us all,*** *because it is all part of the broader system of oppression and profit-seeking plaguing our country.* - *I fully trust that* ***whatever Troy does will always be with the working class in mind****, because* ***he’s proved that by his decades here in Maine fighting against corporate power*** *for our rights and benefits. I encourage everyone, whether right, left, or undecided, to listen to his message with an open mind and choose him as your candidate in this year’s election. As Troy says: it’s not left vs. right, it’s top vs. bottom, and we’re rising.* **In the Bangor Daily News:** [Troy Jackson is the ‘bare knuckles brawler’ we need in Washington](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/12/opinion/letters/letter-troy-jackson-is-bare-knuckles-brawler-we-need-in-washington-joam40zk0w/) - *I read an article in which Charlotte Warren, a former Democratic state representative from Hallowell, said “****Troy and I are bare knuckle brawlers. We believe in what we believe in, and we’re going to fight for it.” That is in sharp contrast to Susan Collins’ consistently beige “I am concerned.”*** - *I went to Jackson’s Gorham town hall. A woman stood up and said “I love this man.” She explained she had worked with him.* ***She had seen how hard he works — he stays above and beyond the normal working hours in the Legislature just as he says he did in the Maine woods.*** - ***We need Troy Jackson’s hard-working “bare knuckle brawler” to stand for the people in Maine.*** **In the Boothbay Register:** [Troy Jackson is a champion of the people](https://www.boothbayregister.com/article/troy-jackson-champion-people/273311) - ***Troy Jackson is a quiet, respectful, hard-working Mainer who has championed the needs of working and middle-class Mainers since he got into the legislature.*** *I know this because I served with him in the legislature, and saw him in action day after day.* - *Jackson, on the other hand, among other things,* ***wants to create a fair tax system* ***that asks the wealthy to pay their fair share. He wants to* ***expand access to health insurance*** *for all Mainers and all U.S. citizens. He wants to* ***rein in ICE*** *and create a solid immigration system based on law. He wants to* ***create a working minimum wage****, and create initiatives to build affordable housing. He wants ordinary people to be able to afford a decent life in our country.* **In the Portland Press Herald:** [Maine needs candidates who will reverse the decline of organized labor](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/07/maine-needs-candidates-who-will-reverse-the-decline-of-organized-labor-opinion/) - *U.S. Senate candidate* ***Troy Jackson … [has] pledged to support the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act****, which would repeal the most damaging parts of Taft-Hartley, crack down on union busters and level the playing field to give workers a fair chance to join a union if they desire.* - *Year after year polls show public support for unions is at near record highs, crossing political, age and demographic lines****. It’s time to end this 80-year experiment and return bargaining power to the American worker. In November, let’s elect candidates who will give us a shot at the American Dream.*** ### *Letter to the Editor Portland Press Herald: “The throughline in Troy Jackson’s story is an unflinching solidarity with the everyday working people of Maine”* --- ## News: MSEA-SEIU Joins Growing List Of Unions Endorsing Labor Champion Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/msea-seiu-joins-growing-list-of-unions-endorsing-labor-champion-troy-jackson-for-us-senate **PORTLAND, ME** — Today the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989, endorsed fifth-generation Mainer and logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. The endorsement comes as Troy campaigns for Senate with a strong focus on his honest roots as a union member and working-class Mainer who got his political start organizing for loggers in The County. Troy has spent his life standing shoulder to shoulder with working Mainers, and he’s ready to take that fight to Washington. “I’m damn proud to have earned the endorsement of the Maine Service Employees Association, representing over 13,000 service workers across the state,” **said Jackson.** “In Trump’s broken economy, working people are putting in more hours for less pay while people like Susan Collins benefit from stock trading. I got into politics organizing loggers because the people doing the work deserved a fair shake, and that’s what I’ve fought for ever since. In the Senate, I’ll stand with working people fighting for better wages, safer workplaces, the right to organize, and a government that works for them instead of the wealthy and well-connected. It’s time we brought some working-class power to Washington.” “Troy  has always listened to my issues and concerns,” **said MSEA-SEIU Retiree Member Robyn Egan of Windham**, who worked for 37 years for the Maine Department of Corrections. “He has worked with me to find solutions that have benefited myself, my family and my union brothers and sisters. I am supporting Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate and believe he will work diligently for all Maine citizens.” “Too often, workers lack a voice and are afraid to speak up for fear of losing their jobs and livelihood. Over the last few years, we have all witnessed the hoarding of wealth and the exploitation of hardworking people at the hands of greedy politicians—both nationwide and in our own state,” **MSEA-SEIU Member Shane Lewis of Bangor**, a housing navigator for Preble Street said. “Troy Jackson has always been an advocate for healthcare, workers' rights, dignity, and a livable wage in the face of an ever-increasing cost of living. **MSEA-SEIU Retiree Member Ginette Rivard of Caribou** said Jackson represented her and her fellow citizens well in the Maine Senate. “Troy is a proven champion for Maine people. In his years in the Maine Senate, he has consistently taken on corporations, including Big Pharma, with the goal of making life better for all of us,” said Rivard, who serves as a retiree director on the MSEA-SEIU Board of Directors and as chair of the MSEA-SEIU Retirees Steering Committee. “As my senator during this time, I have found him to be accessible and a persistent advocate for all of us. He is a man of integrity who sets high standards for himself. In Troy, Maine will have a true representative in the U.S. Senate.” MSEA-SEIU’s endorsement adds to the growing coalition of more than forty unions backing Jackson’s campaign for Senate — a reflection of the broad support he has built from working people across Maine. Jackson has paired that grassroots enthusiasm with strong fundraising and [polling showing him in a competitive position](https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-fourth-polling-blow-since-jackson-launched-senate-run-maine-12423123) to defeat Susan Collins this November. **Labor endorsements include:** - AFL-CIO — American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations - AFSCME — American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - AFSCME Council 93 - AFT — American Federation of Teachers - Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 6 - ATU — Amalgamated Transit Union - CWA — Communications Workers of America - CWA Local 1400 - Eastern Maine Labor Council - IAM — International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - IBEW — International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - IBEW Local 104 - IBEW Local 567 - IFPTE — International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers - Interior Systems Union Local 352 - International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW) Local 7 - International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 4 - International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) DC 35 - IUOE — International Union of Operating Engineers - IUPAT — International Union of Painters and Allied Trades - Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) Local 327 - Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA!) Local 976 - LiUNA — Laborers' International Union of North America - Local S7 - Maine AFL-CIO - Maine Building & Construction Trades Council - Maine Education Association - Maine State Nurses Association - MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 - National Nurses United - National Education Association - North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters - NPMHU 205 - SMART — International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Southern Maine Labor Council - Teamsters Local 340 - UAW Region 9A - UBC & JA Local 349 - UFCW Local 1445 - UNITE HERE - New England Joint Board - United Steelworkers ### oday the Maine Service Employees Association, SEIU Local 1989, endorsed fifth-generation Mainer and logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. --- ## News: Fox News Poll: Jackson Leads Collins As Majority Say She Votes With Trump Too Often URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/fox-news-poll-jackson-leads-collins-as-majority-say-she-votes-with-trump-too-often **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson is leading five-term incumbent Susan Collins by two points in a new [Fox News poll](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) of Maine voters — the latest survey to show Jackson ahead in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. The poll, conducted August 6 – 10 among 1,000 registered voters, finds **Jackson leading Collins 48% to 46%**. The survey also shows significant concern about Collins’ support for President Donald Trump’s agenda. **Fifty-five percent of Maine voters say they are very or extremely concerned that Collins votes with Trump too often**, including majorities of independents, moderates, and rural voters. Trump has a net favorability rating of **-20 points** in the state. [Portland Press Herald: Maine voters say Susan Collins votes with Trump too often in Fox News poll](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) - *… the poll contains good news for Jackson. A majority of voters surveyed said they’re concerned about Collins’ voting record in support of President Donald Trump’s agenda. And Democrats are more enthusiastic about the midterms than Republicans* - *The Fox survey found that 55% of voters said they were concerned that Collins votes too often with Trump, who had a -20 point net favorability rating in the Pine Tree State. That concern was shared among self-described independents (52%), moderates (56%) and voters in rural areas (51%.) Independents make up nearly a third of the Maine’s electorate.* - *Collins has voted with Trump some 95% of the time — one of the lowest rates among Republican senators.* - *… for now, voters are viewing Jackson more favorably than Collins.* [Newsweek: New Maine Senate Poll Shows Susan Collins Slipping as Midterms Loom](https://www.newsweek.com/new-maine-senate-poll-shows-susan-collins-slipping-as-midterms-loom-12316806) - *Maine voters appear to be paying close attention to her ties to the president. The poll shows that 55 percent are extremely or very concerned that Collins votes too often with Trump.* - *A fifth-generation logger from northern Maine and former president of the Maine Senate, Jackson has attempted to emphasize his working-class roots and experience representing rural communities. His background could help him appeal to voters who may not normally support a Democratic Senate candidate, particularly in northern and rural parts of the state.* - *Jackson's early advantage is notable given the unusual circumstances surrounding his entry into the race, but the close margins suggest the contest remains wide open.* **###** Troy Jackson is leading five-term incumbent Susan Collins by two points in a new [Fox News poll](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) of Maine voters — the latest survey to show Jackson ahead in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races. --- ## News: Jackson Kicks Off Labor Day Weekend With A Packed Day Meeting With Working Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-kicks-off-labor-day-weekend-with-a-packed-day-meeting-with-working-mainers *Additional photos and b-roll available* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/3cne1j2d4hcfbjtgp9zsh/AG5RVVBKy2kAW_c7S1cN8EM?rlkey=5hic363d3r19j81hhdf9vl320&st=bxuvlkey&dl=0) **MAINE** — Yesterday, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson, kicked off Labor Day Weekend with events across Maine where he shared his roots as a union member and commitment to fighting for working people in the U.S. Senate. The day included Jackson’s third town hall which Susan Collins again did not attend despite Jackson’s invitation. “I’m proud to stand in solidarity with my union brothers and sisters today and every day,” **said Jackson.** “This weekend is all about coming together, celebrating the strides made by the labor movement, and recommitting to continuing to push forward. When working people come together, we can accomplish anything.” Jackson started the morning in Kittery meeting with union members and leadership for coffee and conversations. In Wells, Jackson joined residents of a mobile home park and the Maine Labor Climate Council for a roundtable discussion about the issues working Mainers are facing. Then, Jackson toured a welding facility with People’s Inclusive Welding which helps underrepresented communities get involved in the Trades. Jackson traveled to Jay where he held his third town hall at the site of the historic Jay labor strike. Jackson took questions from the crowd and saved a seat for Susan Collins to do the same, although she did not show. Jackson ended the night with labor karaoke. He joined union members and Mainers singing about work. ### Troy Jackson, kicked off Labor Day Weekend with events across Maine where he shared his roots as a union member and commitment to fighting for working people in the U.S. Senate. The day included Jackson’s third town hall which Susan Collins again did not attend despite Jackson’s invitation. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Meets With Union Workers, Tours American Roots Clothing Factory URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-meets-with-union-workers-tours-american-roots-clothing-factory *Additional photos and b-roll available* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/uss32rlif8r3t2fplvqwn/AP9cNm_ecnqx6zCFvY0G9PQ?rlkey=wf7itnex1xrxiiqw6mkb49htj&st=lux3ha48&dl=0) **WESTBROOK, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former President of the Maine Senate, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson met with union workers and toured the American Roots manufacturing facility in Westbrook on Friday morning. While Susan Collins puts billionaires and corporate interests first, Troy is focused on building an economy that works for all Mainers. “American Roots is a great example of what Maine can do when we invest in our communities and create opportunity right here at home,” **said Jackson.** “The workers here – and workers across Maine – deserve a senator fighting for them ensuring their hard work pays off. While Susan Collins is helping billionaires and special interests get richer, I’m fighting for Maine.” “As a small business owner, I know firsthand that we need a leader in Washington who isn’t afraid to stand up for Mainers when it matters the most. Susan Collins has shown us time and again she’s not that leader,” **said American Roots President and COO Whitney Waxman.** “While she’s sold out Mainers again and again and put corporations and billionaires first, Troy has been working for us here in Maine to lower costs, protect our jobs, and strengthen our unions. I’ve known Troy Jackson for many years, and I know we can trust him to fight for us.” The American Roots workforce is made up of skilled garment workers and proud members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 366. Jackson has consistently advocated for workers and unions during his time in the Maine Legislature. Lowering costs, protecting good paying jobs, and ensuring hard work pays off for all Mainers are central themes of his campaign for U.S. Senate. **###** Troy Jackson met with union workers and toured the American Roots manufacturing facility in Westbrook on Friday morning. While Susan Collins puts billionaires and corporate interests first, Troy is focused on building an economy that works for all Mainers. --- ## News: Troy Jackson’s Authentic, Hard-Working Roots Resonate with Voters, Make Him the Right Pick for Maine URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jacksons-authentic-hard-working-roots-resonate-with-voters-make-him-the-right-pick-for-maine **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former President of the Maine Senate, and Candidate for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson has garnered national attention for his journey from union organizing as a logger in ‘The County’ to becoming Maine’s Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate. All across Maine, voters are recognizing Troy’s authenticity and lived experience that make him the most qualified candidate and while Susan Collins fights for the interests of the ultra wealthy, Troy fights for Maine. [AP: How Troy Jackson went from Maine logger to the Democratic nominee for Senate against Susan Collins](https://apnews.com/article/maine-troy-jackson-susan-collins-senate-election-079c2d5ba0a2b572d2c79a6c6a9138e8) - *Jackson’s campaign has focused on his ties to Aroostook County, a sprawling, wooded region known as “The County” to Mainers. It’s where Jackson, 58, says he watched hard-working people struggle to get ahead, fueling his fight against billionaires and corporations. It also is the place that has elected Jackson to the Legislature while supporting Republican Donald Trump for president.* - *“Everyone in [logging] works hard for our families. We did follow the rules. But the harder we worked, the more that companies took from us,” Jackson said during his nomination acceptance speech at a party convention in Bangor. “And further behind we would fall.”* - *Jackson has repeatedly argued that he will be a strong Senate candidate because he has kept his legislative seat as a Democrat while the region steadily became more Republican, including when Aroostook County swung for Trump.* [Washington Post: Democratic voters who used to back Susan Collins aren’t so sure anymore](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/08/08/democratic-voters-who-used-back-susan-collins-arent-so-sure-anymore/) - *Jackson has said he hopes to win over voters by contrasting his record with hers. He’s also slammed her for supporting billions of supplementary funding for ICE. A super PAC aligned with Senate Democrats is attacking her on the issue on the air, saying she wrote the bill that funded ICE.* - *Overall, 49 percent of likely voters said they planned to vote for Jackson, with 46 percent backing Collins, and 3 percent saying they are undecided.* [Portland Press Herald: Opinion: A vote for Troy Jackson will help restore American democracy](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/08/a-vote-for-troy-jackson-will-help-restore-american-democracy-opinion/) - *He directly challenges the basic flaw of America today: the massive flow of wealth from ordinary citizens to the already disgustingly rich who control the media, the stock market, the corporations and every other economic and societal power center.* - *I knew Troy as a fellow Democratic state legislator while I served in the Maine Legislature…He was repeatedly elected to the Senate presidency, based on his political skills, honesty and reliability. His colleagues respected him, as did his normally Republican-leaning hard-working, no-nonsense constituents. * - *Troy is no phony…His roots are authentically working class from The County; his family has long toiled as back-breaking fellers of giant trees in the northern forests. This is as physically hard as it gets, and his understanding of the exploitation of the working class flows from his and his forefathers’ experience. He began his political career with his well-earned fierce opposition to the forces that sought to decimate his fellow American loggers by the profit-driven importation of Canadian loggers and exportation of our timber.* **###** All across Maine, voters are recognizing Troy’s authenticity and lived experience that make him the most qualified candidate and while Susan Collins fights for the interests of the ultra wealthy, Troy fights for Maine. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Fights for Rural Health Care, Veterans and Working Families Across Maine URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-fights-for-rural-health-care-veterans-and-working-families-across-maine **PORTLAND, Maine —** Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson traveled across southern and Midcoast Maine this weekend, joining Mainers fighting to preserve rural health care, demand accountability from federal immigration authorities, support Maine veterans, and build a government that works for working people—not billionaires and powerful corporations. On Saturday morning, Jackson joined nurses, patients and community members in Portland calling on MaineHealth to keep the labor and delivery unit at Miles Memorial Hospital open. [WATCH](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2084305137913287057?s=20)**:** “We’re told we can’t afford to keep labor and delivery care in rural Maine, but Susan Collins always seems to find the money to give billionaires another tax break,” Jackson said. “MaineHealth must vote to keep Miles Labor & Delivery open. Lincoln County deserves better. We all do.” Jackson then traveled to Biddeford, where he joined Maine veterans and community members at an event organized by the Maine Veterans Alliance, Common Defense and Maine Veterans for Peace. Jackson called for accountability following recent ICE activity in Maine and condemned the massive expansion of an agency operating with too little transparency or oversight. “Veterans served this country because they believed in something bigger than themselves—not so the government could violate the rights and dignity they fought to defend,” Jackson said. “What weakens public safety is a government that demands trust while refusing accountability.” Jackson also contrasted his record of fighting to protect Maine’s rural veterans’ homes with Collins’ support for legislation providing tens of billions of dollars to dramatically expand ICE operations. On Sunday, Jackson joined hundreds of Democrats, community leaders and working families at the Lincoln County Democratic Committee’s annual lobster bake in Waldoboro. Jackson discussed his upbringing in a fifth-generation logging family, his record of standing up to corporate interests and the working-class movement he is building to defeat Susan Collins. “For too long, working people have been told to settle for less while the people at the top take more,” Jackson said. “Mainers are getting crushed by the cost of health care, housing, groceries and heat. The people I met this weekend aren’t asking for special treatment. They are asking for a government—and a senator—willing to fight as hard for them as Susan Collins fights for billionaires and corporate special interests.” Jackson continued: “That’s what this campaign is about. It’s about bringing together people from every part of Maine who work hard, play by the rules and are tired of being ignored. The people of Maine are ready for a senator who will stand beside them and fight back. **###** --- ## News: Read All About It: Troy Jackson, The Right Candidate For Maine All Along URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/read-all-about-it-troy-jackson-the-right-candidate-for-maine-all-along **PORTLAND, ME —** Lifelong Mainer, 5th-generation logger, and former President of the Maine Senate Troy Jackson is gaining national attention for his rapid grassroots momentum and success in the polls just over a week after securing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine. Across the state and the nation, folks are taking note of Jackson as “[the right candidate for Maine all along](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/01/troy-jackson-maine-senate-election-democrats/91106702007/)." ***See what they’re saying: *** [Maine Public: Troy Jackson wins the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. Susan Collins](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-07-25/troy-jackson-wins-the-democratic-nomination-to-challenge-sen-susan-collins) - ***Hundreds of Democratic delegates from across Maine chose Jackson — a logger and former Maine Senate president* ***— to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins this fall in a pivotal race that both parties regard as key to control of the Senate.* - ***Jackson pledged to work toward universal health care, to defend workers' rights and reproductive rights, and to stand up to the Trump administration*** ***and to what he says is a "billionaire class"*** *that is getting wealthier and wealthier on the backs of lower- and middle-class Americans.* - *A fifth-generation logger, Jackson represented far northern Maine for 20 years in the Maine House and Senate,* ***winning term after term as a Democrat even as the region turned increasingly Republican****. He served as Senate president for six of those years.* [USA Today: Troy Jackson was the right candidate for Maine all along](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2026/08/01/troy-jackson-maine-senate-election-democrats/91106702007/) - ***Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from the northern part of the state,*** *is as progressive as Platner,*** *has political experience as the state’s former Senate president and has zeroed in on defeating Republican Sen. Susan Collins*** *in November.* - ***Not only is Jackson a true working-class man, but he’s also a bona fide progressive****. A member of the 2016 presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, Jackson is calling for Medicare for all, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ending the war in Gaza.* - ***Jackson is clearly a candidate with experience and progressive values****.* - *He wants to get dark money out of politics and keep members of Congress from trading stock.* ***He clearly has a vision of what the Democratic Party could be.*** [Maine Morning Star: Troy Jackson officially clinches Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nomination](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/07/25/troy-jackson-officially-clinches-maine-democratic-u-s-senate-nomination/) - *Momentum behind Jackson’s campaign was also underscored earlier this week by the* ***more than $1 million his campaign says it has raised since launching his Senate bid. *** - *As president of the Maine Senate…****Jackson voted for several bills to expand abortion access*** *— earning 100% ratings from Planned Parenthood’s Maine chapter and the LGBTQ+ rights group Equality Maine.* - *As a legislator, Jackson also* ***championed bills to reduce drug prices, expand child care, provide free school meals and strengthen labor standards, including providing loggers and haulers the right to bargain together****, among others. He has also claimed to hold the state record for most bills vetoed, which he touts as evidence of* ***fighting for progressive policies despite pushback.**** * [NPR: Democrats in Maine formally nominate Troy Jackson as their new U.S. Senate candidate](https://www.npr.org/2026/07/25/nx-s1-5902982/democrats-maine-senate-race) - *Jackson, a fifth-generation logger from northern Maine, is running on an economic populist message…* ***rejecting the Democratic establishment and focusing on affordability concerns, backing policies like Medicare for All and raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy and large corporations.*** [Portland Press Herald: Troy Jackson has the stuff to bridge Maine’s geographic, cultural divides ](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/24/troy-jackson-has-the-stuff-to-bridge-maines-geographic-cultural-divides-opinion/) - *But*** *Jackson’s political identity offers a rare bridge across Maine’s geographic and cultural divide.*** *By cutting into deep rural deficits, winning over coastal split-ticket voters and holding the southern suburban base****, he might just represent a path to victory built not on dividing Maine, but on unifying it.*** [NBC News: Democrats nominate Troy Jackson to replace Graham Platner in must-win Maine Senate race](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/maine-senate-race-democrats-poised-nominate-troy-jackson-challenge-sus-rcna588711) - *Supporters of Jackson, a former logger and longtime legislator from Allagash, a tiny town at the northern tip of the state, believe* ***he will have unique appeal to working-class voters*** *and cut into Collins’ margins in rural Maine.* [MS NOW: Troy Jackson shows strong small-dollar numbers in first day as Senate nominee](https://www.ms.now/news/troy-jackson-small-dollar-fundraising-maine-senate) - ***Troy Jackson****, the newly minted Democratic Senate nominee in Maine,* ***raised roughly $2 million from about 30,000 donors in the first 24 hours after his nomination Saturday****, according to figures his campaign shared Sunday night.* ***It’s an early surge of small-dollar cash*** *for a candidate many in his own party had dismissed as a lackluster fundraiser.* [Financial Times: Can Democrats win over the working class?](https://www.ft.com/content/0eec21be-80c4-4fca-991a-32fbd58cc653?syn-25a6b1a6=1) - ***Maine Democrats rallied around Troy Jackson****, a gruff, fifth-generation logger without a four-year university degree, as Platner’s replacement. A longtime acolyte of Vermont senator Bernie Sanders,* ***Jackson embraces a populist economic platform that includes Medicare for All and taxing billionaires****.* [New York Times: In Maine, Democrats Pick Troy Jackson to Replace Platner in Senate Race](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/25/us/politics/troy-jackson-maine-senate-democrats-platner.html) - *Mr.*** *Jackson carries much of the progressive politics*** *that powered the movement that lifted Mr. Platner from political obscurity.* ***A former logger who entered politics in the late 1990s organizing against Canadian workers crossing the border to work for lower wages than Americans****…* - *As the State Senate president, Mr.* ***Jackson ushered through one of the nation’s most permissive abortion laws****, allowing the procedure at any point in a woman’s pregnancy with a physician’s consent.* [Bangor Daily News: Troy Jackson has raised $2M for his US Senate bid](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/07/27/politics/elections/maine-election-senate-troy-jackson-fundraising-2m/) - ***Jackson has a track record of winning races in the St. John Valley, a former Democratic stronghold that’s now deep red, and a history of fighting for pro-labor policies.*** - *A University of New Hampshire poll released last week* ***gave Jackson a slight edge over Collins*** *in a theoretical matchup, with 2% of voters still undecided. * **###** --- ## News: Troy Jackson on MS NOW’s “The Weeknight” URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-on-ms-nows-the-weeknight [Troy Jackson:](https://youtu.be/EzkK3RkOgKY?si=Vq_K2iav8EGM6B1b) *“We’re going to make sure in November, that Susan realizes that we are not the idiots that she makes us out to be.”* **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former President of the Maine Senate, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senator Troy Jackson joined [MS NOW’s “The Weeknight”](https://youtu.be/EzkK3RkOgKY?si=Vq_K2iav8EGM6B1b) to discuss his fight for Mainers abandoned by Trump’s and Susan Collin’s broken economy and reckless policies that put billionaires and corporations first. Watch the full interview [here](https://youtu.be/EzkK3RkOgKY?si=Vq_K2iav8EGM6B1b), and see below for highlights. [MS NOW’s “The Weeknight”](https://youtu.be/EzkK3RkOgKY?si=Vq_K2iav8EGM6B1b)**: ** **On his fight for everyday Mainers:** - *Everyone knows, Republicans and Democrats, that they're getting left behind in this economy. And they want somebody to fight for them…****it has to be somebody that's not afraid to push back against the establishment and I'm certainly willing to do that. I got a long history of it.*** *That's really what we all want is* ***somebody to do what's right for people that are struggling and need somebody in their corner.*** - *Back in ‘98, a small group of us that didn't really understand politics reached out to our elected officials when Susan Collins was in her first term.* ***When it came down to us against the billionaire landowners here in Maine, she didn't want to have anything to do with us.*** ***That's what prompted me to run for the legislature to begin with – to try and give a voice to everyday working class Mainers.*** - ***You know, as far as working hard, as fifth-generation logger, I'm pretty used to that. That's been in my DNA.*** **On Trump’s broken economy:** - *I've never seen this type of energy.* ***It's based off of frustration and anger of a government that is absolutely not working for them.*** *We're watching people like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos get great big tax breaks while here in Maine we’re losing our healthcare system.* ***We’re in crisis…all the while we watch Susan Collins giving Donald Trump everything he wants****, being a rubber stamp,* ***voting with him 96% of the time****, giving him 70 billion dice to go out and do whatever they want under Trump’s direction. * - *There’s no end to the amount of things that are out of people’s reach right now, and for anyone who can’t understand that…they are clueless.* ***They don’t know what it’s like for everyday Americans, everyday Mainers. But I tell you what, they’re going to find out in November.*** **On Susan Collins’ lack of leadership:** - *I think it's just more of the weak sauce that Susan Collins has been giving us for a long time now.* ***She counts the votes, knows when she’s needed, and when she's not, she throws a bone like this. But it makes no difference.*** - *It’s clear to me that* ***96% of the time she’s with Trump****. She gives us that 4% of useless votes when they’re not needed and that’s the problem.* ***People in Maine aren’t stupid.*** *We know better. And* ***we’re going to make sure in November, that Susan realizes that we are not the idiots that she makes us out to be.*** - *It was like* ***Kavanaugh – she could have stopped that. She could have stopped the income tax cuts for the wealthy on the back of our health care system. She could have stopped ICE.* ***We had a gentleman murdered here three weeks ago in Biddeford, in her home state after she told us she used her influence to get ICE out of Maine, which is absolutely not true.* **### ** [Troy Jackson:](https://youtu.be/EzkK3RkOgKY?si=Vq_K2iav8EGM6B1b) *“We’re going to make sure in November, that Susan realizes that we are not the idiots that she makes us out to be.”* --- ## News: New TV AD Highlights Troy Jackson’s Working Class Roots URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-tv-ad-highlights-troy-jacksons-working-class-roots **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, the Jackson for Maine campaign released a [new TV ad](https://us.list-manage.com/pvMvbTgm5rc?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e)highlighting how Troy Jackson’s working-class upbringing shaped his lifelong fight for working people across Maine. In the ad, **“Grocery Store,”** Jackson’s mother, Colleen McBreairty, reflects on raising Troy as a teenage parent, the struggles their family faced, and how those experiences drove him to fight for families like theirs. *“Troy was born to two teenage parents, and we struggled a lot,”* ***says McBreairty in the ad.*** *“He didn't use that as an excuse. He used that as fuel to make things better for other people.”* **WATCH “**[GROCERY STORE](https://us.list-manage.com/19TYMQFpZhL?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e)**”**: Read the full ad script: *Troy was born to two teenage parents, and we struggled a lot. He didn't use that as an excuse. He used that as fuel to make things better for other people.* *Troy never talks about what he's done. But somebody will come up to me in the grocery store or someplace in town, and they'll say, “Troy, helped me get a sewer. Troy helped me get my mother into a nursing home.”* 
 *If you need help, he's gonna be there for you. That is who he is. * *I'm Troy Jackson, this is my mom, and I approve this message.* ###### ### Today, the Jackson for Maine campaign released a [new TV ad](https://us.list-manage.com/pvMvbTgm5rc?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e)highlighting how Troy Jackson’s working-class upbringing shaped his lifelong fight for working people across Maine. --- ## News: Troy Launches Women for Troy, Hits The Airwaves, And Highlights Record Of Fighting For Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-launches-women-for-troy-hits-the-airwaves-and-highlights-record-of-fighting-for-mainers **PORTLAND, ME** — It was another packed week on the campaign trail, with Troy launching **Women for Troy** alongside Reproductive Freedom for All, taking the fight directly to Susan Collins across national television, and highlighting the working-class record that has defined his career. From reproductive freedom and health care to Trump’s tariffs and Collins’ failure to use her power on behalf of Maine, Troy made the same case everywhere he went: **Washington is working just fine for billionaires and special interests. It’s everyday Mainers who are getting left behind.** *[Additional b-roll and photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kejismi5t19yx3ke2q3bs/ALu0NzAhCAxle1DqOaQquuA?rlkey=3yppftigsjcf131x7inefjc9o&st=hpyrdv8g&dl=0)*]* On Wednesday night, Reproductive Freedom for All [announced their endorsement](https://reproductivefreedomforall.org/news/reproductive-freedom-for-all-endorses-troy-jackson-to-represent-maine-in-the-u-s-senate-2/) of Troy Jackson at the launch of the Women for Troy coalition. Supporters from across southern Maine gathered in Brunswick to hear Troy speak on his commitment to uplifting and uniting the voices of Maine women, alongside RFFA president and CEO, Mini Timmaraju, and president of the Maine AFL-CIO, Cynthia Phinney. See local coverage of the event below: [NewsCenter Maine: Maine Democratic US Senate candidate Troy Jackson launches 'Women for Troy' political race in Brunswick](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-democratic-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-launches-women-for-troy-poltiical-race-brunswick/97-506c56b9-b9ce-4b01-8257-59d985678e05) - *“The government is supposed to work for everyday people,” Jackson told the crowd. “There's always money for bombs. There's always money for income tax cuts. There's always money for other things. But there's never any money for the everyday people. That's what this race to me is about."* - *Phinney said, “This is what we want in a legislator -- someone who listens, learns, and follows through on what they learn.”* - *Jackson said, “We have a chance to take someone that votes with Trump 96% of the time, that gives income tax cuts to the billionaires, that you know, puts $70 billion into ICE, a rogue agency that literally murdered a man in Biddeford for nothing more than going to work.”* [WMTW: 'Women for Troy' event held to rally female support, discuss reproductive rights](https://www.wmtw.com/article/women-for-troy-event-held-to-rally-female-support-discuss-reproductive-rights/73538321) - *Speakers at the event, which included Maine AFL-CIO president Cynthia Phinney, said Jackson is the right candidate to champion the rights of Maine women and took aim at Sen. Susan Collins for her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which they claimed led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.* - *Jackson also knocked Collins for voting with President Donald Trump over 90% of the time and said she has not used her power to help Maine people on affordability, and has instead supported Trump's agenda.* [Spectrum News Maine: Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson launches statewide appeal to women](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2026/08/27/maine-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-launches-statewide-appeal-to-women) - *Former state Sen. Rebecca Millett (D-Cape Elizabeth), co-chair for the Women for Troy coalition, said the event marked the beginning of conversations with women across Maine…“He has a heart that is big and accepting,” she said. “Welcoming all of us with our imperfections, as one who is comfortable with his own. He’ll go to the mat for you. For us.”* - *“We have one candidate who understands the moment, who knows how to meet the moment,” said Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All. “Then we have someone else who’s desperately clinging to power and abusing it and taking the whole country down with her.”* - *“There’s always money for bombs, there’s always money for income tax cuts, there’s always money for other things but there’s never any money for everyday people and that’s what the race for me is about,” he said.* On Thursday night, Troy joined [Lawrence O’Donnell on MS NOW’s The Last Word](https://youtu.be/wRMhIO9t3Do?si=O1U5rDCe3w3FTQiN) to call out Trump and Collins for their tariffs and tax cuts, making life harder and less affordable for everyday Mainers. Watch the full interview [here](https://youtu.be/wRMhIO9t3Do?si=O1U5rDCe3w3FTQiN), or see below for highlights: - *“[Susan Collins] loves to crow about how she's the chair of appropriations. It's such a powerful position,*** *but she's absolutely unwilling to use that power to stop [Trump] from doing things that are hurting states like Maine****, and that really is the issue...* ***it really is a joke*** *that you know she won't use that power. The only way she uses it is to make sure that Donald Trump gets what he wants.”* - *“****She could actually help people in the state of Maine with her position there, but instead, she gave Elon Musk and others tax breaks.*** *Those tax breaks come off of Medicaid.*** *Our healthcare system is crashing here in Maine****. We're losing hospitals, we're losing birthing centers, nursing homes.* ***People are losing their health insurance because there are no subsidies, just so Elon Musk and other people could have more money****.”* - *“It's really quite striking, and the little communities up where I live depend on that cross-border shopping, little mom-and-pop stores, they're not coming. We have a natural resource sector here in Maine with forestry, farming, and fishing. A lot of our parts come out of Canada. A lot of our products go to Canada, and that's all been a real huge issue.* ***And just for everyday people, groceries, the price of products are going up. This is a tax on the consumers here in Maine, and we're feeling it****, and it's really become really challenging. So, I absolutely disagree with this. I think it's I think it is stupid.* ***These broad-based tariffs are killing the state, and it's going to be hard to put it back together****.”* Tuesday, Jackson joined Ari Melber on [MS NOW’s “The Beat”](https://youtu.be/IgIuoU2gGA0) to highlight how Susan Collins has failed her constituents time and time again, siding with Trump and her billionaire donors when Mainers need her most. Troy vows to bring the voice of the working class to Washington. Watch the full interview [here](https://youtu.be/IgIuoU2gGA0), or see below for the highlights: - *“And that's the problem is that* ***she's completely forgot who she's representing****, and so I feel like this is not so much about Troy Jackson. It's about* ***people in Maine that are upset. They're mad. They know the government's not working for them, and they want to change.”*** - *“****[Susan Collins] voted for the big beautiful bill.*** *She's trying to walk away from that, but she did. She's Chair of Appropriations –* ***she could have stopped that, And what we have now, because of that, is we have a crisis here in Maine of our healthcare system****: hospitals closing, birthing centers closing, nursing homes, people losing their health insurance, and it's only going to get worse because of the way they designed it.”* - *“I am about trying to make sure that people know what her record is. I'm happy to stand on mine…****[Susan Collins] won't even get out and talk to people about her record, and I don't blame her because all she cares about is Elon Musk and people that have billions of dollars and keep funding her campaigns****.”* - *“I got a 20-year record in the Maine legislature.* ***Working-class people, middle income people, poor people know exactly what I've been fighting for****…Middle income people need a break. They need a break from Susan Collins. That's who I am. That's who I've been fighting for, and I'll continue.”* Jackson spoke to Mike Nellis on his substack, [Endless Urgency](https://endlessurgency.com/p/susan-collins-is-concernedbut-still), to promote his platform of expanding opportunity for working Mainers and slamming Susan Collins for her consistent efforts against the interests of Maine people. Watch the full interview [here](https://endlessurgency.com/p/susan-collins-is-concernedbut-still), or see below for highlights: - *“[Susan Collins] crows that she's the chair of appropriations, she has all this power, but she never uses it in a way that actually is helpful. Where is she on these tariffs? She's concerned. Where is she on the Iran war? She's concerned.*** *She's the chair of appropriations. She could stop a lot of these things just by shutting off funding for that, or somehow standing up to Trump. But she's not going to because she's voting with him 96% of the time****.”* - *“They're watching how she carries on with this weird game of counting votes and then throwing a bone every once in a while. The big beautiful bill, she says, "Well, I didn't vote for that.”* ***Well, you let it out of committee, which is as bad as voting for it, and that's why our health care system is in crisis here****. It just goes on and on, and I think the belief that* ***she thinks we're stupid, that we don't understand what's going on, but people do.****”* - *“****All these people that are elected are making decisions about other people's healthcare while they're on government-sponsored healthcare,*** *deciding who else is worthy. Well,* ***I think everybody's worthy, and I actually think it would be so much better for our country*** *and, like you said, for small business owners to not have to worry about trying to supply that to their workers.”* On Tuesday, Troy [spoke with Brian Tyler Cohen](https://youtu.be/lS9tam5g3RM?si=z1VngAF8prJdKTZ0) about his record of fighting for the issues that affect everyday Mainers as Maine Senate President, compared to Susan Collins’ record of siding with Trump and billionaire elitists. Watch the full interview [here](https://youtu.be/lS9tam5g3RM?si=z1VngAF8prJdKTZ0), or see below for highlights: - *“I got a long history.* ***I know what my record is, and I'm proud of it. But what I haven't been fighting for is billionaires like Susan has****, and that's what the difference is going to be in this election.* ***I'm fighting for Mainers. I always have. I always will. She's fighting for wealthy elitists from some other part of the world****.”* - *“[Mainers] are watching how she plays this weird little game of how [Susan Collins] counts the votes and then throws people a bone 4% of the time when they don't need her.* ***But any time that they need her, she's right there…She says that she has power, but she won't use that power to actually do anything to check Trump****.”* Troy's commitment to stepping in and leading Maine’s working class movement was highlighted in [the American Prospect](https://prospect.org/2026/08/28/troy-jackson-is-looking-forward-democrats-senate-maine/) Friday morning, arguing Troy poses the biggest challenge to Senator Collins in her career. Read the whole story [here](https://prospect.org/2026/08/28/troy-jackson-is-looking-forward-democrats-senate-maine/), or see the highlights below: - *“I think a lot of it’s born out of frustration,” Jackson said. “****People should have health care, prescription drug coverage, child care.*** *I mean, in Maine, we’re really in trouble with nursing home elder care. We’ve lost about 40 percent of our nursing homes. Housing has become a major issue,*** *and making sure that people have abortion access****.”* - *“She’s supposed to be the most powerful U.S. senator in the whole place, as chair of Appropriations. People know. They understand the government better than she wants to believe,” Jackson said. “****To spend 30 years and get to that position to just give up all of your power to Donald Trump is just the most ridiculous thing in the world.****”* - *If you’re imagining Jackson as a folksy, kind man from rural Maine, that is also the feeling I got from him during our interview…* ***If Democrats were looking for a working-class hero without a lot of baggage, they’ve found it in Jackson.*** *The polls show he currently has a narrow lead over Collins. Maybe this will be the year Collins’s long reign finally comes to an end.* ### It was another packed week on the campaign trail, with Troy launching **Women for Troy** alongside Reproductive Freedom for All, taking the fight directly to Susan Collins across national television, and highlighting the working-class record that has defined his career. --- ## News: Hours Before Lewiston Town Hall, Troy Jackson Still Waiting On Susan Collins’ RSVP URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/hours-before-lewiston-town-hall-troy-jackson-still-waiting-on-susan-collins-rsvp #### Will Collins break her 25-year streak without a public town hall and finally answer Mainers’ questions directly? **LEWISTON, ME** — With only hours until Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson takes the stage for his first town hall of the general election, Susan Collins still hasn’t RSVP’d. Last week, Jackson invited Collins to join him at tonight’s town hall and answer questions directly from Mainers. **If Collins shows up tonight, it would be her first public town hall in 25 years.** “From union halls and picket lines to diners and community events, Troy Jackson has been traveling Maine, talking directly with voters about how he’ll fight for working people in Washington. Tonight, he’ll take their questions and answer for where he stands,” **said campaign spokesperson Dan Gottlieb.** “Susan Collins has spent 25 years avoiding public town halls and hiding from her constituents while voting for a record Mainers deserve answers about. The invitation is still open. It’s time for the No-Show Senator to finally show up.” **SUSAN COLLINS MUST ANSWER FOR HER RECORD:** - Susan Collins [backed](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/03/04/2026/senator-collins-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution) Trump’s war in Iran that has [increased](https://wgme.com/news/local/in-maine-officials-say-fuel-prices-jumped-41-since-the-war-in-iran-began) the cost of gas and energy. - Collins [voted](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/susan-collins-democrats-are-fighting-tv-ad-war-votes-trumps-medicaid-c-rcna594736) against an [amendment](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/05/us/politics/senate-budget.html) to prevent Trump's tariffs from increasing the cost of groceries and everyday goods. - Collins has repeatedly [defended](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/19/susan-collins-and-the-70-billion-mistake-editorial/) ICE and [granted](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/07/19/susan-collins-and-the-70-billion-mistake-editorial/) $70 billion in ICE funding with [no](https://newrepublic.com/article/213839/susan-collins-ice-funding-trump-worry-dems) [guardrails](https://newrepublic.com/article/213371/trump-ice-maine-screws-susan-collins). - Collins has a consistent pattern of voting to [weaken social security](https://mainebeacon.com/collins-record-shows-pattern-of-weakening-social-security/). - Collins[voted to confirm Kavanaugh](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00223.htm), leading to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, despite pleas and warnings from Mainers and [said again this summer that she does not regret that vote](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-brett-kavanaugh-vote-graham-platner-maine-senate-race/97-b2ec9709-ce9a-4bc3-a213-18d771ca1931). - Collins played a key and “[pivotal](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-06-30/as-vote-nears-sen-king-calls-trump-budget-bill-irresponsible-while-collins-remains-undecided?link_id=4&can_id=b800056cdc2f7ec92bed12a7d148c309&source=email-collins-confirms-two-more-anti-choice-judges&email_referrer=email_2955715&email_subject=freudian-slip-susan-collins-appeared-to-take-credit-for-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act&&)” role in passing the OBBBA – voting to advance the bill and then once Republicans had the votes, she voted against final passage. **For 25 years, Mainers have been waiting for Susan Collins to answer their questions at a public town hall.** **Tonight, she has another chance.** ### With only hours until Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson takes the stage for his first town hall of the general election, Susan Collins still hasn’t RSVP’d. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Joins MS NOW’s “The Weekend” To Highlight His Fight For Maine Workers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-joins-ms-nows-the-weekend-to-highlight-his-fight-for-maine-workers [Troy Jackson](https://us.list-manage.com/11WOPhVGBYg?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e)***:*** *“[Susan Collins] doesn't do town halls. She won't answer people. She's not being a representative, and I don't know why you want to be in a position like that if you're not willing to talk to people about the issues that are affecting them.”* **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined [MS NOW’s “The Weekend”](https://us.list-manage.com/6NIaXaM1Qyd?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e) to call out Susan Collins for siding with Trump over Mainers and vow to fight for the working class people of Maine when he gets to Washington. Watch the full interview [here](https://us.list-manage.com/19VxYi3Ru0A?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e), and see below for highlights. [MS NOW’s “The Weekend”](https://us.list-manage.com/GnwxTwZA5OU?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e)**: ** **On Susan Collins choosing Trump over Mainers:** - *“I think what's different about this time, is* ***Susan Collins put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, knowing damn well that they were going to overturn Roe v. Wade****. Now six years later, people in Maine know that, they know that she lied about that.* ***She plays this weird game of counting votes and throwing a bone every once in a while, but 96% of the time, she's voting with Trump. And people are upset in Maine****.”* - *“****She told us then that she used her power as appropriations chair to get ICE out of Maine. Well, clearly that was a lie****. That wasn't true, because a young man just going to work Monday morning, like all of us as a working class have to do, was murdered in the streets of Biddeford. And that's all you can call that.* ***It was a murder, and that's on Senator Collins. She had the ability to stop that 70 billion. She had the ability to stop ICE, and she didn't because she scared Donald Trump****, and she wasn't going to push back him.”* **On the momentum in Maine: ** - *“I've never seen this type of momentum in the state of Maine. I've been paying attention for a long time, waiting for everyday working class people to step up and get out of line because I know how hard that is. But they are now because* ***they're sick and tired of the government that we have****,* ***and they want to change****. And it's not about Troy Jackson, I know that […]* ***It’s about these issues that are so important to Mainers that need to change, that have to change****.”* ### Troy Jackson joined [MS NOW’s “The Weekend”](https://us.list-manage.com/6NIaXaM1Qyd?e=211131f44a&c2id=02532a87e6e2b44a0f40ec409049810e) to call out Susan Collins for siding with Trump over Mainers and vow to fight for the working class people of Maine when he gets to Washington. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Meets With Mainers Across Washington And Waldo Counties URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-meets-with-mainers-across-washington-and-waldo-counties **MAINE, US** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson met with voters in Machias, Belfast, Northport, and Franklin to talk about the challenges facing working families and his commitment to build a government that puts everyday people ahead of billionaires and corporate special interests. As Jackson travels the state listening to Mainers and laying out his plans to lower costs and fight for working people, Susan Collins continues to side with Donald Trump and the billionaires benefiting from his agenda. “What I'm seeing everywhere I go is a new energy and momentum fueled by people who know our government hasn’t been working for them for a long time,” **said Jackson.** “It’s everyday people who are standing up and demanding something different — a government that fights for everyday working class people instead of handing more tax breaks to billionaires. That’s what this campaign is about.” [Additional photos [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/djvmkfg7d4833dz9ixbmy/AAgzSRUiebR_0Np_BwNBPN4?rlkey=sjnnv71bweyeya1z6atro75qt&st=h9t397uu&dl=0)] In Machias, Jackson joined supporters at a Maine Democratic Party office opening where he addressed volunteers. [Additional photos [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/djvmkfg7d4833dz9ixbmy/AAgzSRUiebR_0Np_BwNBPN4?rlkey=sjnnv71bweyeya1z6atro75qt&st=h9t397uu&dl=0)] In Belfast, Jackson rallied volunteers at a Maine Democratic Party office opening and shared his vision for Maine. [Watch [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krvEH3zgvEs)] In between stops, Jackson joined [MS Now’s Connect with Jacob Sorboroff](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krvEH3zgvEs) to talk about how Susan Collins is selling out Mainers and has voted with Donald Trump 96% of the time. During the interview, Troy also [challenged](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2094142087478620169?s=20) Susan Collins to join him at town halls this week. - **Jacob Sorboff:** *Let's just start with this independent moniker that Susan Collins likes to give herself. Actual independents make up nearly a third of the electorate in your state. This sort of symbolic independence, as Susan Collins feigns, from Trump does not seem to be – I've been mentioning, I spent some time in your state this summer – It doesn't seem to be washing with voters this time around, at least to me. Is that your sense as well? And if so, why is that?* - **Troy Jackson:** *[…] Over the last six years, people in this state are seeing point blank how she plays this game of counting votes and then throwing one every once in a while. But they know that 96% of the time she's voting with Donald Trump to make people's lives in this state harder. Things like tax cuts for the wealthy, Elon Musk. [...] But what we do care about is our health care system is crashing here in Maine. We're losing nursing homes, birthing centers, hospitals because of the big beautiful bill and it's going to get worse. […] Tariffs, Iran war, Roe versus Wade, all these things. Susan Collins is the chair of appropriations, and she likes to crow about that. She could have stopped all of that, but she refuses to because she's scared to death of angering Donald Trump, and voters in this state know that.* [Additional photos [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/djvmkfg7d4833dz9ixbmy/AAgzSRUiebR_0Np_BwNBPN4?rlkey=sjnnv71bweyeya1z6atro75qt&st=h9t397uu&dl=0)] In Northport, Jackson joined supporters at the Waldo County Democratic Party’s summer picnic. [Additional photos [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/djvmkfg7d4833dz9ixbmy/AAgzSRUiebR_0Np_BwNBPN4?rlkey=sjnnv71bweyeya1z6atro75qt&st=h9t397uu&dl=0)] In Franklin, Jackson met with Mainers at the Franklin County Democratic Party Potluck where he talked with voters about his commitment to fighting for Maine in the U.S. Senate. ### Troy Jackson met with voters in Machias, Belfast, Northport, and Franklin to talk about the challenges facing working families and his commitment to build a government that puts everyday people ahead of billionaires and corporate special interests. --- ## News: Over Labor Day Weekend, Jackson Barnstormed Maine With 13 Campaign Events, Standing With Workers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/over-labor-day-weekend-jackson-barnstormed-maine-with-13-campaign-events-standing-with-workers **MAINE** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent Labor Day weekend crisscrossing Maine, driving more than 850 miles to attend 13 campaign and community events and meet with workers, union members, and voters across the state. A longtime union member who first entered politics after organizing loggers in northern Maine, Jackson spent much of the weekend at labor-focused events and gatherings with working Mainers. Jackson’s Labor Day weekend swing drew coverage from local and national media. See highlights below: [Boston Globe: Organized labor inspired Troy Jackson’s political career. Now, he’s counting on it to help him beat Susan Collins.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/09/nation/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine/) - *But inside the union hall of the United Steelworkers Local 9, Jackson needed no introduction. Arriving for a cookout last Sunday, he seemingly knew everyone wearing the shirt or hat of their union as he shared hamburgers and inside jokes. That’s because while Platner earned the support of the labor movement, Jackson has lived it. * - *His ties with organized labor in Maine span decades, beginning when he was a pre-teen in the remote north woods of Allagash, watching his logger father participate in a strike. “That really was the beginning for me of understanding more about working class issues and how we get left behind,” Jackson told the Globe in Skowhegan.* - *After becoming a logger himself, he experienced firsthand what he believed were unfair actions by big conglomerates that wanted to use cheaper Canadian labor over Maine workers — and then ran for office out of outrage. Along the way, he joined five unions; he currently is a dues-paying member of three, the biggest national unions representing engineers, machinists, and painters. * - *“For him, it’s not a transactional relationship,” Francis Eanes, the executive director of the Maine Labor Climate Council, said at a Lewiston brewery where supporters sang karaoke to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” “He’ll leave the campaign trail and come to our organizing events. He’ll be the first one on the picket line, even at 5 a.m., before the camera people show up.”* - *Jackson’s diagnosis of Democrats’ recent woes with the working class is simple: “Overall, we quit talking about economics,” he said. He acknowledged that some voters fled the party in favor of the GOP over perceptions that Democrats had gone too far on social issues […] “But we kind of quit talking about everyday working class issues, and that’s where the problem is.”* [Politico: Troy Jackson and Susan Collins take very different approaches to a major campaign weekend](https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/07/maine-senate-campaign-strategy-collins-jackson-01066822) - *He spoke of his upbringing in the logging industry, his struggles of working long hours and still feeling like he couldn’t provide for his family and how he entered the labor movement and politics to fight for the working class. He drew applause by promising to push back on the Iran war, ICE and President Donald Trump’s tax cuts.* - *…His weekend itinerary included a dozen public events, from Kittery at the southern tip of the state, to Orono, roughly 150 miles north and home to the University of Maine — and focused on tying Collins to Trump and framing the election as a choice between the working people and the billionaire class.* - *“What I know is that people across the state want to change. And it isn’t me. It isn’t because of Troy Jackson, they want change,” he said. “And I’m very excited to be just part of this, because this movement is happening.”* [AP: Midterm elections head into the home stretch as candidates hit Labor Day events](https://apnews.com/article/house-senate-elections-labor-day-maine-michigan-texas-bf59e0d457677ae19b84536d96031a47) - *Troy Jackson was a longtime labor activist and logger before he unexpectedly became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine. On Monday, he returned to a union hall to tell workers they need to go to the polls this fall — to raise the minimum wage, expand family medical leave and show support for one another.* - *“Labor Day has never been just another holiday,” Jackson told several hundred union members at a Southern Maine Labor Council event Monday in Portland. “Today, here with the people I’ve fought alongside for years, I want to make a pledge about exactly what I’m going to do in the United States Senate.”* [News Center Maine: Maine Democrats at the top of the ticket reinforce each other’s message on Labor Day](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/maine-democrats-at-the-top-of-the-ticket-reinforce-each-others-message-on-labor-day/97-4f574570-4dff-48dc-af4c-ecd8d3e1f430) - *During his two decades in the Maine State Legislature, Troy Jackson was state senate president for six years, from 2019-2024, when he shepherded laws providing paid family and medical leave, stipends for child care workers, and free school breakfast and lunch for all students regardless of financial need. Jackson said, “It’s time we have someone who’s going to think big for working people.”* - *His platform now includes advocating for Medicare for all, a $20 an hour federal minimum wage, and paid vacation time for full time workers. He said, “Every full-time worker in America should have guaranteed paid time off in addition to paid sick leave and family leave. We passed paid family medical leave in Maine, and there’s no damn reason workers in every other state shouldn’t have the same basic dignity.”* - *Jackson attacked the voting record of his opponent, Republican Senator Susan Collins. “You can’t vote for Donald Trump 96% of the time and then turn around and claim to care about working class families,” he said. “It’s not just that she votes with Trump. It’s that she votes against us.”* [Portland Press Herald: Troy Jackson takes on affordable housing issue at mobile home park in Wells](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/05/troy-jackson-takes-on-affordable-housing-issue-at-mobile-home-park-in-wells/) - *“When we come together, we can do great things — you’ve shown it right here,” Jackson told a few dozen residents, who gathered Saturday morning in Diane Whiteside’s backyard, sitting in fold-out lawn chairs and drinking Dunkin’ coffee.* - *On the federal level, Jackson said “I will lend my voice every day,” and he told resident Lynzy Kosmes that he is “one hundred percent” willing to go after the out-of-state companies buying and running Maine’s parks.* - *[Troy Jackson] told reporters later that he looks forward to the upcoming debates, and that he plans to ask Collins “why she votes with Donald Trump 96% of the time, why we’re in Iran wasting money there while we don’t have a health care system,” and “why she’s not willing to use her powers as chair of appropriations to pushback on ICE, to push back on tariffs.”* [WGME: Inclusive welding school in South Portland draws Troy Jackson during Labor Day tour](https://wgme.com/news/local/inclusive-welding-school-in-south-portland-draws-troy-jackson-during-labor-day-tour) - *Labor Day honors workers across the U.S. and pays tribute to the labor movement. It's a point of passion for Troy Jackson. This Labor Day weekend, Jackson is making his way across the state to meet working Mainers.* - *On Saturday, Jackson spent time with "People's Inclusive Welding," a hands-on inclusive welding training facility in South Portland. "Making people feel included is how we are going to do a lot better across this state and country," Jackson said.* [Portland Press Herald: Jackson, Pingree appeal to workers at Labor Day breakfast](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/07/jackson-pingree-appeal-to-workers-at-labor-day-breakfast/) - *[Troy Jackson] highlighted some of his campaign priorities at Monday’s event, including bringing down the cost of prescription drugs, strengthening Social Security and raising the minimum wage to $20.* - *“I learned a long time ago that working people can win fights that nobody expects us to win when we stand together and when the people we elect remember whose side they’re supposed to be on,” Jackson said. “We’re with you, Troy,” a man in the audience shouted in response.* [News Center Maine: Collins, Jackson focus on Maine workers during Labor Day weekend campaign stops](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/maine-senate-race-susan-collins-troy-jackson-labor-day/97-57f4fc2b-a46e-453f-9b9f-83a0270d088e) - *Jackson argued Maine needs higher-paying, more secure jobs and blamed the Trump administration's policies for labor industries facing struggles in the state. “You know, we don't really have an administration that supports union jobs, which is part of the reason why so many workers are leaving Maine,” Jackson said.* - *Jackson later visited Blueberry Ridge Mobile Home Park in Wells, where residents raised concerns about rising rents and drinking water…“This is a major issue, the greed that's happening right now in this county, that people like you in these mobile parks are facing,” Jackson said.* - *Jackson also criticized Collins, arguing she has not done enough as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to challenge the Trump administration. "She's afraid to go up against Donald Trump and Elon Musk and those scumbags because they're helping pump so much money into her campaign," Jackson said.* [WVII (FOX Bangor): Troy Jackson and His U.S. Senate Campaign's Latest Visit Was in Orono](https://www.foxbangor.com/news/local/troy-jackson-and-his-u-s-senate-campaigns-latest-visit-was-in-orono-with-the/article_6eb40e07-f278-4870-8ea2-4eed188a8ace.html) - *"I didn't want to see people feel like the government was broke, people was trying to railroad the movement, and that's why I jumped in. Because more than anything I want this to continue, because it's been something I've been waiting a long time for."* - *"I think we all know who he stands with and who he's trying to fight against. It's not so much people as it is systems, institutions, and money," said Maine Rep. Amy Roeder (D - Bangor). "We've seen unions get taken out by greedy companies that throw money at union-busting workers. People who have been working their whole lives just to get ahead know Troy Jackson. And if they don't, they will."* [WABI: Maine Democrats, AFL-CIO gather in Brewer to kick off campaign canvassing](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/09/07/maine-democrats-afl-cio-gather-brewer-kick-off-campaign-canvassing/) - *Jackson, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, advocated for better health care access as well as housing and union jobs. He also stressed the importance of conversations with Maine voters to promote their policies ahead of the November election.* - *“This is where a lot of the work that changed people’s lives are going to happen, because either we’re going to have to wait two more years, or to get Republicans to join us and actually understand that this world is not working for everyday people. I think in November they’re going to find that out, that their policies have not been making sure that voters in their states are going to be out there,” said Jackson.* ### Troy Jackson spent Labor Day weekend crisscrossing Maine, driving more than 850 miles to attend 13 campaign and community events and meet with workers, union members, and voters across the state. --- ## News: Mainers Respond To Collins’ Pay-to-Play Scandal Grows, Demand Further Investigations URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/mainers-respond-to-collins-pay-to-play-scandal-grows-demand-further-investigations **MAINE, USA —** In the wake of an investigation by [ProPublica](https://us.list-manage.com/r3Am10mzG6c?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) exposing Susan Collins at the center of a pay-to-play scheme and a [second report](https://us.list-manage.com/q67k4pjxThU?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) finding that several claims Collins and her representatives made in response to its original investigation were “incorrect,” “misleading” or “not accurate,” Mainers are speaking out, expressing their outraged with the corruption allegations that have engulfed Collins and her cronies. **See the latest Op-Eds and Letters to the Editor Below: ** [Portland Press Herald: Opinion: Susan Collins’ fundraising tactics sure look crooked to me](https://us.list-manage.com/yJ7enhK6Tdq?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - *The project, funded by a budget provision pushed by Collins, may have helped UMaine and Navatek — but didn’t mean anything to our Navy, the ostensible beneficiary.* - *A cheap lunch led to millions of taxpayer dollars for a shady contractor that ultimately had little to offer the Navy.* ***Collins raked in hundreds of thousands to promote her campaign. *** - *We’ve known for years that Navatek ran a crooked operation — its former CEO is in federal prison — and that it had ties to Collins. What ProPublica added to the tale are stunning details that paint Collins and her staff as in on the action and the confirmation the FBI had launched an investigation into her connections to Navatek — an investigation that died when President Trump took office and he fired nearly everyone who had a hand in it.* - *Suddenly, though, we have a plausible explanation for the reluctance of Maine’s senior senator to stand up to Trump’s tyrannical moves: The president protected her reputation by eliminating personnel behind the FBI probe. At most, he may have shielded Collins from facing federal criminal charges.* - ***Everybody, and that includes Sen. Collins, should agree that further investigation is needed now.*** [Portland Press Herald: Letter: Susan Collins brings home the bacon. For whom?](https://us.list-manage.com/VAfcbioQTQO?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - *Sen. Susan Collins campaigns on her Appropriations Committee clout and the money she brings home to Maine. It’s good for Mainers to know who bought that clout. * - *According to Sept. 22 reporting by ProPublica, in 2019, Martin Kao, the CEO of government contractor Navatek, met with the head of Collins’ super PAC, who was soliciting a big donation. Kao reportedly later told the FBI that Navatek offered such a donation in exchange for Collins supporting tens of millions more in federal funding.* - *If that’s Collins “bringing home the bacon,” Mainers deserve to know before the midterms whether the conduct ProPublica reports would constitute criminal bribery and further, whether the use of her clout was for the benefit of Mainers and the American people, or for the benefit of her reelection campaign.* [Letters from an American, Heather Cox Richardson: September 23rd](https://us.list-manage.com/zCeDt2Db02d?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - *ProPublica published a blockbuster story reporting that the anti-corruption group of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) for engaging in a pay-to-play scheme in which defense contractor Navatek made illegal donations to her 2020 campaign and later got multimillion-dollar contracts from the government. Collins is the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.* - *And yet, the story continues, when he returned to the White House in 2025, Trump fired the investigators building the case and largely stopped investigating public corruption.* - *Collins’s deputy chief of staff Annie Clark said Collins’s office “vigorously” denies allegations of bribery and pay-to-play, but she did admit that “the Collins campaign disgorged the illegal contributions that Martin Kao had made without our knowledge.” Emails suggest that, in fact, her office did know about the deal. After a $150,000 donation, a staff member from her office emailed a lobbyist for Navatek to ask for Kao’s phone number, writing: “Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”* - *The bribery angle of this story is huge. So, too, is that the story suggests that Trump, at least, might perceive that he has something to hold over Collins’s head to keep her behind his actions, even when they have dramatically weakened her power at the head of Appropriations.* [The Briefing with Jen Psaki: Midcoast Villager Editor Alex Seitz-Wald Comments On Collins’ Corruption Allegations](https://us.list-manage.com/F7lhG6dAN5x?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - ***Alex Seitz-Wald:* ***This is the first time in my about a year and a half with the Midcoast Villager that I've ever seen a single story dominate basically every major news outlet in Maine like this. * - ***Alex Seitz-Wald:* ***Readers up and down the coast and the interior are seeing this story as they're checking their news about their local town councils and everything. And beyond the integrity issues and the corruption allegations that are obvious, this gets at the core of who Susan Collins is in her own story, which is an appropriator. [...]* ***But it makes you wonder maybe about the flip side of that, which is she's been in Washington for almost 30 years. Who has she been working for? *** - ***Jen Psaki:* ***One interesting thing that stood out to me in the ProPublica, [...] was the fact that several people who were implicated still remain inside Susan Collins's inner circle. I know they're denying the story, but that's- I've been on a lot of campaigns. It kind of surprised me. * - ***Alex Seitz-Wald:* ***From my reporting with the people that I've spoken to with the Collins campaign, they think they didn't do anything wrong, so they don't think there would be any reason for these people to be pushed out. * [MS NOW: Opinion: Susan Collins’ brush with an FBI probe shows how Trump has enabled public corruption](https://us.list-manage.com/11OEGS5ebMp?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - *According to a new investigation from ProPublica, Sen. Susan Collins narrowly escaped being embroiled in an FBI bribery probe into defense contracts, lawmakers and large campaign contributions. For that, she can thank the Trump administration’s commitment to making America a place where the wealthy, connected and morally flexible can get away with almost anything. The good news is that if we’re determined enough, we can undo the damage that has been done.* - *Collins’ fundraiser made a request: The company should make a six-figure donation to help the senator in her re-election bid. The executives said they would pony up — if Collins helped them get more contracts.* - *As chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Collins has enormous power over where government funds are spent. According to ProPublica, “The senator’s office steered government contracts worth millions toward the company while her campaign was pumping Kao and his network for donations, according to emails seen by ProPublica. Sometimes they cut checks within 24 hours of the annual defense spending bill, which funds military contracts, clearing a key Senate hurdle.”* - *The investigation into Kao’s claims never went ahead. It was part of a wider purge at the DOJ, in which attorneys, prosecutors and FBI agents who had ever investigated Trump, the Jan. 6 insurrection, Russia’s interference in the 2020 election or other matters Trump would prefer not to have a light shined on them could expect to be pushed out or fired.* - *Kao went to jail for multiple crimes, but the investigation into the broader system his allegations prompted was one of the casualties of the Trump administration’s new permissiveness toward corruption and white-collar crime.* - *There will always be corrupt officials who seek to use public office for their own gain. But they will only do what they think they can get away with. Yes, we should bolster our degraded norms against the kind of personal profiteering Trump has engaged in. But even more important is to create a system that makes unethical behavior not just as shameful, but as illegal. And one in which people know that when they break the law, they’ll be punished.* ### In the wake of an investigation by [ProPublica](https://us.list-manage.com/r3Am10mzG6c?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) exposing Susan Collins at the center of a pay-to-play scheme and a [second report](https://us.list-manage.com/q67k4pjxThU?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) finding that several claims Collins and her representatives made in response to its original investigation were “incorrect,” “misleading” or “not accurate,” Mainers are speaking out, expressing their outraged with the corruption allegations that have engulfed Collins and her cronies. --- ## News: Jackson Wins First Debate As Collins Refuses To Take Accountability For Kavanaugh Vote URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-wins-first-debate-as-collins-refuses-to-take-accountability-for-kavanaugh-vote [Bangor Daily News](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/06/politics/elections/susan-collins-troy-jackson-first-debate/)*: Susan Collins won’t say Kavanaugh vote was a mistake in 1st debate with Troy Jackson* [CNN](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/politics/maine-senate-debate-susan-collins-troy-jackson-takeaways)*: Takeaways: Trump and abortion rights take center stage in first Maine Senate debate* **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth generation Mainer and Democratic Nominee Troy Jackson won last night’s debate, “[relentless[ly] going after Collins’ record](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/06/4-takeaways-from-the-first-debate-between-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson/),” holding her accountable for her record voting with Trump 96% of the time, and confirming Brett Kavanaugh who overturned Roe v. Wade. Major moments of the debate came as Collins refused to admit she made a mistake voting to confirm Kavanaugh and later when Troy compared Susan Collins to an “[arsonist](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107610959670075555?s=20)” who sets a fire and then wants credit for bringing a cup of water. In a major misstep, Collins — a multimillionaire — claimed that once upon a time, 32 years ago, she could very briefly relate to Mainers struggling to afford health care. **What Mainers are seeing about Jackson’s stand out performance: ** [New Republic: “We Can’t Eat Road Salt”: Susan Collins Crashes and Burns in Debate ](https://newrepublic.com/post/216316/susan-collins-senate-debate-tariffs) - *In the first of four televised debates, Collins struggled to defend her efforts to rein in President Donald Trump’s disastrous policies.* - *“I didn’t mock the fact that she got road salt back, I mocked the fact that, what about everything else? We can’t eat road salt,” Jackson said. * [CNN: Takeaways: Trump and abortion rights take center stage in first Maine Senate debate](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/politics/maine-senate-debate-susan-collins-troy-jackson-takeaways) - *“Sen. Collins is like an arsonist who set the fire and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out,” Jackson said.* [Bangor Daily News: Susan Collins won’t say Kavanaugh vote was a mistake in 1st debate with Troy Jackson](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/06/politics/elections/susan-collins-troy-jackson-first-debate/) - *Jackson opened before even introducing himself by noting that Maine women begged Collins to vote against Kavanaugh, who later joined the 2022 majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. He pressed further when the candidates got to question each other. “What will it take for you to admit you’re ever wrong?” Jackson said.* - *“I don’t owe Trump, I don’t owe billionaires nothing,” Jackson said. “But I do owe the people of Maine everything.”* [WGME/FOX23: Sen. Collins refuses to say if she made a mistake in voting to confirm Justice Kavanaugh](https://fox23maine.com/news/beyond-the-podium/maine-senator-susan-collins-refuses-to-say-if-she-made-a-mistake-in-voting-to-confirm-justice-brett-kavanaugh-roe-v-wade) - *Republican Senator Susan Collins refused to answer if she thought confirming U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was a mistake.* [MS NOW: ‘What will it take for you to admit you were wrong?’: Jackson attacks Collins on Kavanaugh vote ](https://www.ms.now/liveblog/susan-collins-troy-jackson-maine-senate-debate-2026-live-updates#live-blog-1388184) - *“Tonight is about who you stand with when it matters. Eight years ago today, Maine women went to D.C. and begged Sen. Collins not to confirm Brett Kavanaugh,” Jackson said. “But she did it anyways. Even though they begged her. He helped overturn Roe vs. Wade, and today she says she has no regrets, and I would wonder for everyone, including myself, would you trust her to pick the next Supreme Court justice?* [Portland Press Herald: Live Update](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/06/susan-collins-and-troy-jackson-debate-for-the-first-time/#1cc0bd5a-69a1-4f84-bd9f-3bba23612339) - *To touch on the optics of the debate or the tone so far, Collins has repeatedly gotten defensive when Jackson has criticized her. It feels safe to say Jackson has been more on offense rather than defense* [The Washington Sun: Collins and Jackson Trade Blame on High Costs in Maine Senate Debate](https://www.washingtonsun.com/campaigns/collins-jackson-debate-maine-senate-affordability?redirected=notus_org) - *A testy point Tuesday revolved around a recent ProPublica report that said the FBI had investigated claims against Collins for a pay-to-play bribery scheme with a defense contractor based on the detailed confession of the former CEO of the company. * - *“[The Trump] administration dismantled the investigation,” Jackson said. “Now she votes for Donald Trump 96% of the time. I don’t owe Trump. I don’t owe the billionaires nothing.”* [Daily Beast: Must-Win Republican Senator Roasted for Bonkers Debate Answer](https://www.thedailybeast.com/must-win-maga-candidate-susan-collins-roasted-for-bonkers-debate-answer/) - *Jackson then pointed out that Collins “has been a government employee her entire life, she’s always had healthcare, she’s always had a steady income coming in. That’s not the way it is for most of us; healthcare is a real challenge and she’s made it worse by advancing the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’”* - *After his comments, Collins waved her finger to correct Jackson, saying, “First of all, I have not been insured my whole life.” She then stated, “I spent a year, when I was running for governor in 1994, where I could not afford health insurance. So Troy, you’re just out-and-out wrong on that.”* - *Jackson pulled a quizzical expression on his face after Collins’ remarks.* [Daily Kos: Susan Collins’ debate disaster highlights GOP’s midterms crisis](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/10/7/800108731/elections/susan-collins-debate-disaster-troy-jackson/) - *Troy Jackson, Collins’ Democratic challenger, repeatedly pointed out during the debate that despite her ad campaign and political spin identifying herself as politically independent, she has frequently voted alongside Trump to push his right-wing legislation and nominees.* [HuffPost: Susan Collins' Boast About Her Biggest Success Backfires Immediately](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-collins-road-salt-debate_n_6ac5af85e4b0613dcc571cc9) - *Then, she [Susan Collins] was reminded of all the things she hadn’t done, including taking a stand against Trump on the issue. Jackson replied that she hadn’t done enough.* - *“I didn’t mock the fact that she got road salt back. I mocked the fact that – what about everything else?” he said. “We can’t eat road salt.”* [CNN: Laura Coates Live: Midcoast Villager Managing Editor Alex Seitz-Wald Praises Jackson’s Debate Performance](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xyn4c7s8hi67dggmjhqzd/CNN-Laura-Coates-Live-Midcoast-Villager-Managing-Editor-Alex-Seitz-Wald-Praises-Jackson-s-Debate-Performance?rlkey=9gkkor23avjy4ghcchcvxr8u6&st=lmtxn44r&dl=0) - ***Alex Seitz-Wald:* ***Troy Jackson did what he needed to do. He passed the threshold test. [...] He showed that he could hold his own on stage against this titan of the U.S. Senate of Maine politics and Susan Collins.* - ***Alex Seitz-Wald:* ***Jackson is kind of making the case, that's nice that you bring money home for Maine, but let's zoom out and look at the bigger picture and what's going on nationally. About Trump, about fuel prices up 80% over last year. Heating is a big deal in Maine as winter comes, and that's where he's focusing his argument that that's not enough. That crumbs that you're bringing back to Maine.* [MS NOW: Money, Power, Politics: David Weigel on the Maine Senate Debate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/duw5oozxvac4uhk2mgodp/MS-NOW-Money-Power-Politics-David-Weigel-on-the-Maine-Senate-Debate?rlkey=kh9fse6csyej30i4rezcb6ia5&st=05zblmnf&dl=0) - ***Dave Weigel:* ***He was able to bring it back to his populist message, which is that the point of getting power is to redistribute the wealth of the richest people in the country, the Elon Musk's to Mainers, and it was very effective. * - ***Luke Broadwater:* ***I agree with Dave that Jackson really held his own last night. [...] So three more debates. I'm thinking that you know this only helps Troy Jackson.* - ***Ken Altshuler:* ***Troy did a good job saying, "Wait a minute, the energy prices is because of a war in Iran. And your president, Donald Trump, the person you voted for 96 percent of the time, he's the one who started this war. He's the one driving up costs. He talked about gas prices on the Canadian border. He talked about diesel fuel. So he was very effective. He mentioned Donald Trump's name 20 times, and that's exactly what he has to do: tie Susan Collins into Donald Trump.* [NBC: Decision 2026: Sahil Kapur’s takeaways from the first Maine Senate debate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bpyt88da261zkipoav3z6/NBC-Decision-2026-Sahil-Kapur-s-takeaways-from-the-first-Maine-Senate-debate?rlkey=60o6c02gyd5jo3202vdxr79wh&st=dm85yhx0&dl=0) - ***Sahil Kapur:* ***Jackson said [funding Collins brought in] was a pittance to what Maine has compared to what Maine has lost on her watch over several decades in Washington. And he noted that she has voted with President Trump more than 95% of the time. That, in his view, she's failed to stand up to him on the Iran war, on tariffs, on a fatal ice shooting in Maine earlier this year. * - ***Sahil Kapur:* ***[Collins] did dodge two questions about whether she would stand with the president if he visited Maine. Jackson, in the midst of all that, sought to puncture that historical strength for her, saying in his closing statement that power means nothing if you won't use it when the people may need it.* ### [Bangor Daily News](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/06/politics/elections/susan-collins-troy-jackson-first-debate/)*: Susan Collins won’t say Kavanaugh vote was a mistake in 1st debate with Troy Jackson* [CNN](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/06/politics/maine-senate-debate-susan-collins-troy-jackson-takeaways)*: Takeaways: Trump and abortion rights take center stage in first Maine Senate debate* --- ## News: NEW: Voters Are Tired Of Susan Collins’ Broken Economy Making It Harder For Mainers To Get By URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-voters-are-tired-of-susan-collins-broken-economy-making-it-harder-for-mainers-to-get-by **MAINE, USA —** New reporting from the [New York Times](https://us.list-manage.com/hCFbBA2wn9S?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) reveals Maine independent voters’ frustration with rising costs and worsening conditions under Susan Collins and Donald Trump’s leadership, making it harder and harder for everyday Mainers to get by. The voters recall how life has changed during Collins’ 30 years in the U.S. Senate, and express their excitement for change. Voters like Andrew McRichards and Joe Reid point to Jackson’s commitment to protecting expanding health care access as their motivation to hit the polls in November, and are frustrated by Collins who enabled Trump's $1 trillion cuts to Medicaid. Others, like Hannah Reid, cite Troy’s dedication to ending the rogue ICE agency that has terrorized Mainers — the same department that Susan Collins has voted to give $70 billion without guardrails, leading to the murder of Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford earlier this year. **Watch the full video** [here](https://us.list-manage.com/57pxp4i0oOT?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf)**, or see below for the highlights: ** [New York Times: In Maine, Swing Voters May Hold Key to Victory](https://us.list-manage.com/5kjGEsTO5rN?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - ***Narrator:* ***We're in Kennebec County in Maine. It's a swing county in one of a handful of races that could determine the control of Congress. Republican Susan Collins is a five-term senator locked in a tight race against Democrat Troy Jackson, a former state legislator. * - ***Narrator:* ***About a third of Maine's voters are independents who, along with moderates, have been crucial to electing Collins in the past. But voters' growing frustration with the economy and Collins's voting record could be a turning point this year. [...]* - ***Jon Reid:* ***I'm not going to vote for Susan Collins this year. [...]* - ***Hannah Reid:* ***I'm going to be voting for Troy because I don't think Susan Collins is going to be helping us. [...]* - ***Andrew McRichards:* ***I would be voting for somebody who puts health care kind of front and center.* - ***Troy Jackson [embedded]:*** *If you believe in your heart that health care is a right, stand with us.* - ***Joe Reid:* ***Colin's platform this year is that she gave all this money to hospitals. [...] Totally opposite of what's in your face. Hospitals are closing down. Critical care units are closing down. Returning units are closing down. [...]* - ***Narrator:* ***The race has also exposed the candidate's stark divide on immigration after an ICE agent shot and killed a Colombian man at a traffic stop here in July. [...] [Collins] has repeatedly voted to fund ICE, while Jackson has called for the agency to be dismantled.* - ***Troy Jackson [embedded]:* ***We're going to do something to get rid of ICE.* - ***Hannah Reid:* ***They're murdering people out on the streets. [...]* - ***Joe Reid:* ***They can do anything they want and not be held accountable, and that is scary.* - ***Narrator:* ***If Maine swings blue, it will be the first time in 32 years the state has a Democratic senator. Early polls show Jackson leading by a thin margin, but he will need to pick up as many independent voters as possible to secure a victory.* ### New reporting from the [New York Times](https://us.list-manage.com/hCFbBA2wn9S?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) reveals Maine independent voters’ frustration with rising costs and worsening conditions under Susan Collins and Donald Trump’s leadership, making it harder and harder for everyday Mainers to get by. --- ## News: Across Maine, Troy Jackson Meets With Supporters, Shares His Vision to Put Working People First URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-met-with-supporters-at-stops-across-maine-including-community-events-in-lisbon-falls-portland-winslow-and-belfast-and-a-canvass-launch-for-the-maine-democratic-party-in-augusta **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson met with supporters at stops across Maine, including community events in Lisbon Falls, Portland, Winslow and Belfast, and a canvass launch for the Maine Democratic party in Augusta. “'I’ve never seen this type of momentum in the state of Maine,” **said Jackson**. “And I've been paying attention for a long time, waiting for everyday working class people to step up and get out of line because I know how hard that is. But they are now because they're sick and tired of the government that we have because of Susan Collins, and they want change.” In Lisbon Falls, Troy met with union workers and supporters and shared his working class roots and dedication to labor. In Portland, Troy shared his commitment with local Mainers to always fighting for Maine while Susan Collins puts billionaires first. In Winslow, Troy met with members of the Maine chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby at a garden party, where he heard from supporters about environmental and climate concerns. In Belfast, supporters gathered to hear Troy speak about his campaign and the momentum behind it. [NEWS CENTER MAINE : Maine Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson reintroduced himself to voters and supporters in Waldo County](https://us.list-manage.com/B1k_ELk7xnC?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - *Jackson said, “There’s always money for bombs. There’s always money for tax cuts for Elon Musk. There’s money everywhere, but when you actually start talking about healthcare for the actual taxpayers, the actual people in this country, they start acting like you have three horns on your head.”* - *Jackson said, “I’m just blown away by this argument that I’m the most powerful person, the chair of appropriations, but I don’t actually use that power to help the state of Maine.”* In Augusta, Troy rallied volunteers before they headed out to knock doors for candidates up and down the ballot. [WMWT: Troy Jackson attends opening of Maine Democrats' Augusta campaign office](https://us.list-manage.com/lBPkBnsgZWl?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) - *Jackson mentioned the strength he's felt within his supporters and the success he's seen so far can't be credited to him individually, but to the work they've done together. * - *"I don't want to be the guy out front," explained Jackson. "I want to be the guy shoulder to shoulder with all of you because, that to me, is how we're going to change this country, how we're going to get the things that we want, is people feeling like we're all pulling the same way."* ### Troy Jackson met with supporters at stops across Maine, including community events in Lisbon Falls, Portland, Winslow and Belfast, and a canvass launch for the Maine Democratic party in Augusta. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Continues Building Momentum With Four New Polls Showing His Lead Against Susan Collins URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-continues-building-momentum-with-four-new-polls-showing-his-lead-against-susan-collins **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson continues to lead polling against Susan Collins. Four different polls over the past week show that Mainers are tired of Susan Collins voting with Trump 96% of the time and putting billionaires first. Troy Jackson is campaigning across the state, speaking with voters about his promise to lower costs across the board, put Mainers before corporations and billionaires, and protect the rights and freedoms that we are entitled to. **Read the Poll results below: ** [AARP Poll: Incumbent Susan Collins Trails by Slim Margin in Maine Senate Race](https://www.aarp.org/government-elections/maine-election-poll-2026/) **50% Jackson, 47% Collins ** - *The former state Senate president is leading against Collins 50 to 47 percent [...].* - *Jackson leads by 25 points among voters under 50.* - *Eighty-seven percent of voters 50-plus describe themselves as “extremely” motivated to vote, including 89 percent of those 65 and older. Meanwhile, 73 percent of voters younger than 50 say they are extremely motivated, including just 69 percent of those under 35.* - *Asked about the issues that will factor most into their vote in the midterms, 84 percent of 50-plus voters cited the rising cost of everyday items such as groceries and gas, followed by the future of Social Security (81 percent) and the cost of health care (80 percent).* - *Those are important issues nationwide but especially in Maine, where 23.5 percent of residents are 65 and older — the highest share among all states, says Noël Bonam, AARP Maine state director.* [University of Massachusetts: Maine Poll: Jackson Slightly Ahead in U.S. Senate Race](https://www.uml.edu/news/press-releases/2026/09242026-maine-poll.aspx) **48% Jackson, 43% Collins** - *The survey of 650 likely Maine voters shows Jackson, a former state Senate president, is up by five points with the support of 48% of respondents, compared with 43% for Collins [...].* - *“Susan Collins wins elections in Maine by getting Democrats and independents to vote for her. It’s her superpower. But this year, rising prices, an unpopular war and an unpopular president are looking like electoral kryptonite. [...],” said John Cluverius, director of survey research for the Center for Public Opinion at UMass Lowell and an associate professor of political science.* [University of New Hampshire: Pine Tree State Poll](https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2006&context=survey_center_polls) ** 51% Jackson, 47% Collins** - *51% of likely voters say they would vote for Jackson if the election were held today, 47% say they would vote for Collins* - *51% have an unfavorable opinion of [Susan Collins].* [Wedgewood Polls: 2026 Maine General Election](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/1ea91lbbbsx94m3wnwhvh/Wedgewood_Polls_ME_Survey.pdf?rlkey=fsv7hlry5rpquwq0fxawth5r9&st=rxielhpn&dl=0) **52% Jackson, 48% Collins** - *Senate President Troy Jackson leads five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins 52% to 48%, a 4-point margin [...]. Collins, first elected in 1996, faces her most competitive reelection test in over a decade in a race both parties view as pivotal to Senate control.* ### Troy Jackson continues to lead polling against Susan Collins. Four different polls over the past week show that Mainers are tired of Susan Collins voting with Trump 96% of the time and putting billionaires first. --- ## News: Troy Connects With Maine Voters On The Trail And On The Airways URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-connects-with-maine-voters-on-the-trail-and-on-the-airways **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for US Senate Troy Jackson spent the week hearing directly from voters as he campaigns to bring his Maine working class perspective to Washington. After 30 years of Susan Collins selling out Mainers for tax cuts for billionaires and supporting Trump’s reckless agenda that’s gutting health care, raising costs, and taking away reproductive rights, Mainers are rallying around Troy’s promise to fight for them and put them first. [[@TroyJackson207](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2090550340861010388?s=20)] Supporters packed into Supper Club, a local Portland bar, to meet with Troy and speak with him about his commitment to fighting for Maine Wednesday night. The room was filled from wall to wall with excitement and energy. See local coverage below: - [News Center Maine:](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/maine-democrat-troy-jackson-rallies-supporters-in-portland-for-us-senate-run/97-8e973c5d-660e-4b18-84fd-a9bb348a1555) *“I’m telling people across this country, this movement that’s happening in Maine, the fact that* ***so many people show up on a Wednesday night to hear a guy talk from Allagash****, I mean that's not about Troy Jackson.* ***That’s about the issues that are affecting all of us, and we’re not going to stand for it anymore****,” Jackson said.* ** ** - [WGME:](https://wgme.com/news/local/troy-jackson-says-senator-susan-collins-is-not-willing-to-challenge-president-donald-trump-maine) *Jackson used the event to draw a contrast with Republican Senator Susan Collins, arguing she's not using her power as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to push back on the Trump administration…“****She lets ICE have what they want, she voted for the tax cuts for Elon Musk…she lets the war in Iran [continue], all those things you can stop with the power of the purse****, that she crows that she has power on,* ***but she doesn't use it because she's not willing to go up against Donald Trump****."* [Local Bangor news channel WVII](https://youtu.be/JQodWHpNlkY) brought Troy on to talk about the rapid momentum of the campaign and the energy that he’s seeing in voters across the state. - ***Grace Blanchard:*** *Former Maine Senate President says he has been capitalizing on the burst of energy from democrats.* - **Troy Jackson [embedded interview]:** I don't know if you can keep up with the energy actually. There's momentum in the state like I've never seen before. - ***Grace Blanchard:*** *The fifth-generation logger says if elected, his top priority would be to fight for affordable healthcare for all.* [Presque Isle’s WAGM](https://www.wagmtv.com/2026/08/21/jackson-says-class-background-separates-him-collins-senate-race/) spoke with Jackson on how his working class roots as a logger in northern Maine influence his priorities as he campaigns to bring the voice of working class Mainers to Washington. - *He said that when it comes to class, wealth and government, his background differs from Collins’ beyond their shared home county. “I mean, I’m further north than Senator Collins, but I think that’s where the comparisons end,” Jackson said. “You know,* ***Senator Collins is from a very wealthy, affluent family****, which I don’t begrudge her. I mean, I don’t begrudge anyone like that, but* ***I’m working class. I’ve had to fight and, you know, do everything I could to make a living in the logging industry****. I still am not at all wealthy. And, again, I mean,* ***I think it’s who we’re representing****.”* On Thursday, Troy hopped on the [Find Out Podcast](https://findoutpodcast.substack.com/p/troy-jackson-on-how-he-will-beat) with Mainer Tim Fullerton to reinforce his unwavering commitment to his policy platform of Medicare for All and retiring Susan Collins so she can’t continue to vote no on bills she could've stopped cold. - ***Troy Jackson:* ***I think Susan thinks that voters in Maine are stupid. That we don't know what her playbook is, but after that many years, people know it very well. And that's part of what's going on here, is people are upset with her that she keeps playing this weird game.* ** ** - ***Troy Jackson:* ***She voted against it when it got on the floor, but she could have stopped it from getting the floor. That's that's the deal. That same thing with ICE funding. [She] could have stopped that. [She] could’ve stopped the tariffs. [She] could stop all that stuff by putting your foot down, and that's something that I 100% believe in. I may be a Democrat, but I fought with Democrats as much as Republicans on these issues, and*** *I won't turn my back on the people I care about based on party loyalty. And Susan's not about that.*** ** ** - ***OhThatsRich:* ***He crushed the questions like a regular human answers questions, instead of a…stump-speech politician answers questions and I deeply appreciate that. * ** ** - ***Tim Fullerton:* ***Troy is Maine. You hear it, he acts like it, I know so many people like him… He has won as a democrat in red areas of the state…That’s why it matters.* [[@SiriusXMProg](https://x.com/SiriusXMProg/status/2090204569967960248)]** ** Troy joined [Sirius XM Progress](https://x.com/SiriusXMProg/status/2090204569967960248) to talk with Mainer Joe Sudbay his fight to dismantle Trump and Susan Collins’ corrupt government that favors billionaires and corporations over working people. See below for the highlights: - *“A lot of these issues I dealt with in the Maine legislature People said, "Well, this is a federal thing; you can't do this here.* ***Well, all right, then I’m going to go to the U.S. Senate and fight for things that everyday people need in Maine****.”* ** ** - *“****There's no billionaires that are ever going to stand up for Troy Jackson. They're in Susan Collins' court because she does what they want. And that's what this race is about****. They're scared that we're going to flip the seat. They're not going to have that rubber stamp anymore because…I don't give a s*** about those people.* ***I care about everyday people****.”* ** ** - *“She could have stopped ICE.* ***She could have stopped everything as chair of appropriations. But she's not because she votes with Trump 96% of the time.* ***That's who she cares about.* ***She cares about the people that are bankrolling her****, that are making sure that she gets some big stock transactions and things like that.”* ** ** - *“But what you're seeing right now in Maine, I think it's born of frustration of not having the government that they deserve, and Susan Collins being certainly someone that could have done something about that, but chooses not to.* ***So you're seeing people across the state that are demanding change. So I feel really good about it****.”* ###### ### Troy Jackson spent the week hearing directly from voters as he campaigns to bring his Maine working class perspective to Washington. Mainers are rallying around Troy’s promise to fight for them and put them first. --- ## News: Jackson Stands With Residents Protesting Out-Of-State Private Equity Firms Increasing Costs URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-stands-with-residents-protesting-out-of-state-private-equity-firms-increasing-costs ##### Troy Jackson: “Private equity has been buying up our lives, making it harder for people in this country under Susan Collins' watch.” **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined Blueberry Ridge Mobile Home Park residents in Wells for their Fight for Our Homes conversation. [Jackson called attention to the unlivable conditions](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2100609862468063384?s=20) residents told him they are facing after out-of-state private equity firms bought out the park, raising rents and neglecting essential services to residents. “They shouldn't be able to buy or sell anything until they fix the damn water,” said one resident, pointing to the greedy firms that have been allowed to swoop in and take advantage of Mainers under Susan Collins’ watch. Jackson told residents that he would take on corporations that put profits ahead of the people who live in their communities. Read the full video script below: ***Troy Jackson:* ***Private equity that doesn't give a shit about us, wants to make as much money as they can, and they are right now. I mean, no one would drink that. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm here in Blueberry Ridge Mobile Home Park. It's in Wells, Maine. This is what they showed me was their water that they're getting. * ***Blueberry Ridge Resident:* ***They shouldn't be able to buy or sell anything until they fix the damn water.* ***Troy Jackson:* ***Two thirds of our largest mobile home parks have been bought up by private equity. Private equity has been buying up our lives, making it harder for people in this country under Susan Collins' watch. That is something that when I'm in the U.S. Senate, I'm going to take on because that's what I do, and I can't stand this bullshit anymore.* ### [Troy Jackson:](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2100609862468063384?s=20)** ***“Private equity has been buying up our lives, making it harder for people in this country under Susan Collins' watch.”* --- ## News: Following Packed Labor Day Weekend, Troy Jackson Shores Up Sweeping Support Across Key Unions URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/following-packed-labor-day-weekend-troy-jackson-shores-up-sweeping-support-across-key-unions #### “When workers stand together, we can’t – and won’t – be stopped.” **PORTLAND, ME** — Following Labor Day weekend, fifth-generation Mainer and logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson has shored up support from key unions across Maine and the country. The unions represent hundreds of workers across Maine who have seen Jackson’s commitment to workers’ rights firsthand during his time as Senate President. “I’m damn proud to have earned these endorsements from my union brothers and sisters. For far too long workers have been getting screwed by Washington. But the tide is turning and it’s starting here in Maine,” **said Jackson.** “As a longtime union member, I know what it’s like to be sold out by politicians and Susan Collins who side with corporations, not us. Let me be clear: I will always have the back of working people whether it’s on the picket line, at the bargaining table, or in the U.S. Senate, because when workers stand together, we can’t – and won’t – be stopped.” Jackson, a member of five different unions over the years including IUPAT, IUOE, UAW, IAM & LiUNA, has been endorsed by more than 20 different unions as he runs for U.S. Senate. **Labor endorsements include:** - Maine Building Trades Council - Southern Maine Labor Council - Eastern Maine Labor Council - United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9A - Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 6 - International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW) Local 7 - United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 - United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 349 - Interior Systems Union Local 352 - North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters - Millwrights Local 1121. - Communications Workers of America (CWA) - CWA Local 1400 - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - IBEW Local 567 - IBEW Local 104 - International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) - IUOE Local 4 - AFL-CIO - Maine AFL-CIO - Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!) - LiUNA! Local 327 - LiUNA! Local 976 - International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) - IUPAT Local DC 35 - International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) - International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) - American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) - International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) - American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - UNITE HERE - American Federation of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) ### Troy Jackson has shored up support from key unions across Maine and the country. The unions represent hundreds of workers across Maine who have seen Jackson’s commitment to workers’ rights firsthand during his time as Senate President. --- ## News: In Jam-Packed Labor Day Weekend Across The State, Jackson Meets Mainers & Celebrates Solidarity URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/in-jam-packed-labor-day-weekend-across-the-state-jackson-meets-mainers-celebrates-solidarity *Additional photos and b-roll available*[here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/h673esyso3pf5sq5a1vj6/AGX8l8VUFKaqGTZX9LyAkTE?rlkey=ptdu02ldwvd7dt129damujaw4&st=w9oguwg6&dl=0) **MAINE** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent the second day of his jam-packed labor day weekend celebrating the workers and organizers who fight for fair pay, good benefits, and safe conditions for working people across Maine. From breakfasts and meet and greets to canvass launches and contra dances, Troy spent Sunday spreading his vision for working class Mainers as someone who understands solidarity not just as a word, but as a way of life. Troy was joined by nurses at the end of their night shift for an Off the Clock Breakfast in South Portland where they discussed the policy priorities of the Maine Nurses Association. In the afternoon, Troy chatted with working Mainers about the struggles they are facing in Trump and Collins’ economy during the Central Maine Labor Council’s Labor Day Picnic in Skowhegan. Continuing in Skowhegan, Troy joined the Somerset County Democrats for their midterms canvass launch and the opening of the newest Maine Democratic Party office, highlighting the volunteers and canvassers dedicated to electing leaders like Troy who fight for working people. Next, Troy stopped in Orono to meet with students, teachers, and community members for a meet and greet hosted by the Maine Education Association where they talked about his vision for strengthening public education and fighting for teachers’ in the U.S. Senate. To close out the day, Troy joined members of the University of Maine Graduate Workers Union at a contra dance in Orono, celebrating the hardworking students and the power of organizing. ### From breakfasts and meet and greets to canvass launches and contra dances, Troy spent Sunday spreading his vision for working class Mainers as someone who understands solidarity not just as a word, but as a way of life. --- ## News: 19th News: Jackson Record Of Fighting For Repro. Rights Garners Support From Former Collins Voters URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/19th-news-jackson-record-of-fighting-for-repro-rights-garners-support-from-former-collins-voters **PORTLAND, ME** — Following the successful launch of his [Women for Troy Coalition](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-democratic-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-launches-women-for-troy-poltiical-race-brunswick/97-506c56b9-b9ce-4b01-8257-59d985678e05) and securing the [endorsement of Reproductive Freedom For All](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/26/abortion-rights-group-endorses-democrat-troy-jackson-in-critical-maine-senate-race), Troy Jackson is earning the support of women across the state who are turning away from Susan Collins — pointing to her long record of selling out Maine women to vote with Donald Trump 96% of the time and confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite pleas of reproductive rights advocates. Following the fall of *Roe v. Wade,* while Troy was instrumental in passing the nation’s strongest protections and expansion of reproductive rights in Maine, Susan Collins said she didn’t regret her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. Maine women who once supported Collins say that she has lost their trust, citing the Kavanaugh vote and her acting as a rubber stamp for Donald Trump, [the 19th News reports](https://19thnews.org/2026/09/susan-collins-women-voters-kavanaugh-roe-v-wade/). Read the full story [here](https://19thnews.org/2026/09/susan-collins-women-voters-kavanaugh-roe-v-wade/), or see below for the highlights: [The 19th: Women who remember life before Roe are turning away from Susan Collins](https://19thnews.org/2026/09/susan-collins-women-voters-kavanaugh-roe-v-wade/) - *The 19th spoke to five women voters over 60 in Maine, several of whom expressed concern about the consequences abortion bans could have on their descendants. None of them called abortion her sole reason for voting against Collins, but* ***all highlighted the senator’s vote for Brett Kavanaugh, who played a critical role in the 2022 decision to overturn Roe, as a breaking point in their ability to trust her. Several said they believe she has prioritized President Donald Trump’s interests rather than those of the state.*** - *“****Susan Collins had convinced Mainers she was pro-choice****. The Kavanaugh vote was very problematic for her, and* ***her numbers have never been the same since****,” Celinda Lake, a veteran Democratic pollster, told The 19th earlier this summer.* - *“It’s heartbreaking as an older person to think, this is what the last chapter of my life is going to be —* ***watching the future my children have to live through become darker and darker instead of brighter and brighter,****” said Elizabeth Leonard [...] Collins’ support for Kavanaugh has influenced Leonard’s vote, she said, but so has* ***the senator’s broader voting record, which Lenoard described as being “hand in glove” with Trump.*** - ***Sarah Mahoney, who lives in Arrowsic, Maine, voted for Collins in 2008*** *— an election in which she also voted for Barack Obama. She was struck at the time, she said, by Collins’ record as a Republican who supported abortion rights. Voting for her felt like a vote for a less polarized country.* ***Now, Mahoney, 65, is “mortified” by that vote****. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe, she found herself thinking about what it would mean to be a young woman in Dallas, the city where she lived as a 20-something in the 1980s, and where she got a legal abortion.* ### Following the successful launch of his [Women for Troy Coalition](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-democratic-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-launches-women-for-troy-poltiical-race-brunswick/97-506c56b9-b9ce-4b01-8257-59d985678e05) and securing the [endorsement of Reproductive Freedom For All](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/26/abortion-rights-group-endorses-democrat-troy-jackson-in-critical-maine-senate-race), Troy Jackson is earning the support of women across the state who are turning away from Susan Collins. --- ## News: After Winning Debate, Jackson Joins MS NOW, Takes Questions From Mainers At Local Portland Bar URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/after-winning-debate-jackson-joins-ms-now-takes-questions-from-mainers-at-local-portland-bar ***While Susan Collins refused a town hall style debate, Jackson ended the night directly answering Mainers questions*** **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson [joined MS NOW](https://youtu.be/xWTVeTPOduw) for a live interview with Jen Psaki at a local Portland bar following his successful performance on the debate stage. Jen and Troy discussed the highlights of the debate and took questions from the live audience on the issues that matter most to them, including reproductive rights and Maine’s economy. Jackson had pushed for town hall-style debates, but Collins refused – continuing her 25-year streak of avoiding direct questions from Maine voters. In the [discussion](https://youtu.be/xWTVeTPOduw), Troy and Jen highlighted the defining moments of the debate, including Susan Collins refusing to admit she made a mistake by voting to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court on the anniversary of that very vote. Watch the full interview [here](https://youtu.be/xWTVeTPOduw), or see highlights below: **On Troy’s message to Mainers: ** - *I'm determined to get to the U.S. Senate, so I can fight [...] for a government that you know I believe we can be proud of. You know, something that people know that they can have health care, they can have prescription drugs, child care, elder care. I mean, right now, I mean,* ***I think people are broken by the belief*** *that you know the real belief* ***that this government does not work for them****, and fundamentally, it's wrong, and it and it is. I mean, i****t's a government that works for the wealthiest people in this country, and you know people feel like they've been left behind****, and they are.* ***That's a big deal for me, to make sure that everyday people have somebody in their corner. That's who I am, and that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to be in their corner every day of the week.****” * **On Susan Collins endangering reproductive rights and Troy’s fight to protect them:** - *“****I don't know that Susan Collins ever really cared to be for a woman's right to choose****. We had Roe v. Wade, so it was easy, convenient for her to be able to say that. But* ***she's put 60 anti-abortion judges onto the bench. She definitely was the deciding vote for Kavanaugh.****”* - *You've seen Susan Collins tonight —* ***she won't say that she's wrong****. She was wrong. I mean, 22 states have lost reproductive rights, and in Maine, if we hadn't had a strong legislature and a strong governor, we'd have been in trouble here too.”* - *“****I've been fighting for [reproductive rights] for more than a decade now. I'm very proud that we have some of the most progressive reproductive rights bills in the country.*** *We made sure that low-income women had access under Mainecare, and I will. I can promise you that I'm not going to turn my back on that, and I'm not going to put another Supreme Court justice on like Brett Kavanaugh. I'll make damn sure that that's a question that I'll ask that Senator Collins seems to have given up on.”* **On the pay-for-play scandal Collins was at the center of: ** - *“The FBI was circling around.They've got receipts, they've got checks that went to her PAC, and they were investigated. And whenever Donald Trump came back in. He got rid of the investigation, and* ***that, to me, is why he owns her now.* ***She did his bidding, or* ***she's doing his bidding because he helped her get out.”*** **On Trump coming to Maine:** - *“[Trump] wants his rubber stamp Susan Collins to win this election so she'll keep doing tax cuts, keep doing everything that the billionaire class wants, voting with him 96% of the time.* ***I'm sure he wants to try and come and save the election for her****, but I think people in Maine know that they've gone too far, and* ***it's time for a big change so that we can get government back in a way that we're proud of****.”* **On Collins enabling medicaid cuts: ** - *“****With the big bogus bill, we're losing $3 billion in health care. We're losing SNAP benefits. We're losing heating assistance. We're losing so much.* ***And she wants to crow about the fact that she advanced the bill so she could get $190 million rural health care fund. Well,* ***that's a pittance to what we're losing.****”* - *“She wants to do whatever Donald Trump wants. [...]* ***We're watching our healthcare system here in Maine crash so that Elon Musk could have more money****. And I can't understand how anyone in their right mind can actually defend that vote.”* - ***[She’s] trading our health care for Elon Musk getting tax cuts****, and for me, it's pretty clear what what went on, and and* ***it really it pisses me off.****”* ### Troy Jackson [joined MS NOW](https://youtu.be/xWTVeTPOduw) for a live interview with Jen Psaki at a local Portland bar following his successful performance on the debate stage. Jen and Troy discussed the highlights of the debate and took questions from the live audience on the issues that matter most to them, including reproductive rights and Maine’s economy. --- ## News: Jackson Promises To Protect Social Security, Lower Health Care Costs, Ensure Billionaires Pay Taxes URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-promises-to-protect-social-security-lower-health-care-costs-ensure-billionaires-pay-taxes **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson hit the airwaves yesterday, joining local news stations across the state to discuss his plan to make life more affordable for working-class people by protecting Social Security, expanding access to health care,and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. [WMTW (ABC Portland)](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lfc69lgfjnh88xc63d6a1/9.18-WMTW-TDJ-Interview.mp4?rlkey=cub2oajr217fc87xjlm3vy78q&st=y5tur6uh&dl=0)**:** - ***Jessica Gagne:* ***Democratic nominee Troy Jackson saying health care remains his top priority, proposing to lower the medicare eligibility age and negotiate prescription drug prices. [...] He's also calling for the elimination of the social security payroll tax caps to boost benefits.* - ***Troy Jackson:*** *Getting rid of the cap on social security is something that has been consistently talked about. Making sure that wealthier people pay the same rate that working class people do would definitely strengthen the social security system overall. * - ***Troy Jackson:* ***The Trump tax cuts that Senator Collins did support, I mean she votes for them 96 percent of the time, are killing our state, and that's what she's going to have to live with. * [WGME (CBS Portland):](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fjohg4rz13vf9a9mm881w/9.17-WGME-TDJ-Interview.mp4?rlkey=prvg7xrzz3b3hz5c124hf9hsv&st=m9vled4x&dl=0) - ***Gregg Lagerquist:* ***Jackson spoke with CBS 13 for a few minutes this afternoon. He says Medicare for all, essentially opening up government sponsored health care for all, could start as a phased in option, possibly with people age 55 plus. Jackson says health care is a human right. He says we're the only industrialized nation in the world without it, saying the only thing stopping that, in his words, is greed.* - ***Troy Jackson:*** *We have money for wars, forever wars. We have money for tax cuts for wealthy people. We have money to sink into ICE for Donald Trump's narcissism. But anytime you want to talk about health care, well, it's too damn expensive. It isn't. It's just that wealthy people, some wealthy people in this country, do not want to see this happen.* [WVII (FOX Bangor)](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/566wxu8o8duvm72xyywsh/91726WVIIInterviewwithTDJonhealthcare_2026-09-17_22.12.38.mp4?rlkey=acrouu4drz4ah6g4xihp1oeqd&st=fp1x63sa&dl=0)**:** - ***Matt Colson:* ***Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson has been vocal about his belief in expanding access to those programs. He shared his plans in an interview today, specifying how, if elected, he would fund this plan.* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***I think this is about prioritizing where we spend our money. The federal government has all kinds of money to do whatever it wants, like I said with forever wars or tax cuts for wealthy people, but as soon as you start talking about healthcare for people, they act like it's impossible to do. It's not impossible to do, it's impossible to get filthy rich off the system in a health care for all system.* ### Troy Jackson hit the airwaves yesterday, joining local news stations across the state to discuss his plan to make life more affordable for working-class people by protecting Social Security, expanding access to health care, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. --- ## News: In The Days Leading Up To The First Debate, Troy Jackson Holds Three Town Halls, Speaks To Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/in-the-days-leading-up-to-the-first-debate-troy-jackson-holds-three-town-halls-speaks-to-mainers **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent the days leading up to the first debate with Mainers, traveling across the state holding three town halls, two canvass launches, and a roundtable discussion. Jackson has now held seven town halls since the start of his campaign for U.S. Senate — that’s seven more than Collins has done in 25 years. [News Center Maine: Democrat Troy Jackson and Planned Parenthood tout his support for reproductive rights on eve of first debate with Sen. Susan Collins](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/democrat-troy-jackson-and-planned-parenthood-tout-his-support-for-reproductive-rights-on-eve-of-first-debate-with-sen-susan-collins/97-53676239-0d0d-4054-83c0-494388e4823a) - *Four years after Collins cast her vote, Kavanaugh was in the court majority that overturned Roe vs. Wade and the national right to abortion in the 2022 Dobbs decision. Jackson revved up a crowd that has never forgiven or forgotten.* - *“She said that she doesn’t regret that vote. Well, most everyone I know does,” Jackson said. “That’s right!” shouted an audience member.* - *Clegg praised Jackson for his leadership as state senate president in shepherding Maine laws to protect reproductive rights and expand abortion access, including the 2023 law allowing later-in-pregnancy abortion, unlike more than 20 states that have restricted or banned abortion since Dobbs.* - *Clegg said, “I find it really fascinating that Susan Collins and her campaign keep saying that these aren’t problems in Maine, but the reasons they’re not problems in Maine is because of the work you did.”* - *Maine Democrats have also pointed to more than 50 Collins' votes, since Kavanaugh to confirm other federal judges who the party identified as opposing abortion rights, including more than 20 in Trump's second term.* [WMTW: Troy Jackson rallies for reproductive rights, explains change in abortion stance](https://www.wmtw.com/article/troy-jackson-rallies-for-reproductive-rights-explains-change-in-abortion-stance/74041735) - *"It just became clear to me that I was wrong and that reproductive rights is healthcare and I always have thought that people should have healthcare," Jackson said.* - *He once again criticized Sen. Susan Collins for voting to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, saying her vote impacted women far beyond Maine after the Dobbs decision. "When she came out and said she was going to vote for him, to me it was clear that she knew what was going to happen, too," Jackson said.* - *"She thinks we are stupid that is what it comes down to. She thinks people don't understand the process that she did not know what he was going to do. Everyone in the country knew what she was going to do.”* [WGME (CBS Portland): Troy Jackson Campaigns Across the State](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/k9mv77hw7jnnjlp26nz9l/10.5-WGME.mp4?rlkey=2y5wxyvtnpk3rzqhcy71eqxix&st=lozvhvbf&dl=0) - ***Gregg Lagerquist:* ***Maine's Democratic U.S. Senate nominee stopped in Bangor Sunday afternoon, rallying supporters and volunteers before launching a local canvass. He aims to unseat Senator Susan Collins, who is campaigning for a sixth term in office.* - ***Stephanie Grindley:* ***Jackson criticized Collins's voting record, claiming Collins has repeatedly aligned with Republicans to push forward President Trump's agenda.* - ***Troy Jackson: “****You can say whatever you want, but when you support Donald Trump 96% of the time, then you support the goals that he's actually putting forward. Plus, she put those people, the secretaries on there, that told us they were going to do blanket tariffs and all that. I mean, Susan Collins is fighting for people that I don't care about. I care about Mainers. I care about working-class people, and that's the people that are getting screwed in this economy, and that's who I'm going to be fighting for.* [News Center Maine: Jackson brings US Senate campaign to Bangor ahead of first debate](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/jackson-brings-us-senate-campaign-bangor-ahead-first-debate-elections-politics-maine/97-2d595db8-50a1-47b3-9e2f-aae70684c043) - *He said his views were shaped by watching people in his community struggle to speak up for themselves. “You know, my whole life I've watched this happen. I've watched people that I cared about not being willing to stand up, and I understand why that is. It's hard. It's hard to get out of line,” Jackson said.* - *Jackson used the stop to lay out the issues he says the federal government should prioritize. “We deserve to have healthcare for everyone in this country," he said. "We deserve to have reproductive rights. We deserve to have prescription drugs. We deserve childcare. We deserve a government that's actually going to work."* - *After the event, Jackson faced questions about corruption allegations involving illegal contributions to Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins' 2020 campaign. [...] Jackson said he was not aware the report was coming. “I didn't know it was coming out,” he said. “She should worry about who she takes money from. I don't take corporate money. I don't trade votes for things like that.”* - *Virginia Manuel, a Jackson volunteer, said she believes his message is resonating with people facing economic challenges. “He is the right person at this time when so many people are hurting economically,” Manuel said.* - *Dee Clark, another supporter, said she believes Jackson would focus on the concerns of Maine residents. “We feel like the regular people of Maine have been hurting and are hurting bad,” Clark said. “I believe Troy is going to go and work for us.”* [FOX Bangor (WVII/FOX 22): Troy Jackson criticizes Susan Collins' voting record during campaign road trip](https://www.foxbangor.com/news/troy-jackson-criticizes-susan-collins-voting-record-during-campaign-road-trip/article_80eb5de7-3ce9-4da2-8d25-a0a71b7cba9f.html) - *Troy Jackson drove across Maine this weekend, leading his 'Take Action with Jackson' get-out-the-vote effort. Maine's Democratic U.S. Senate nominee stopped in Bangor on Sunday, rallying supporters and volunteers before launching a local canvass.* - *Jackson criticized Collins' voting record, claiming Susan Collins has repeatedly aligned with Republicans to push forward President Trump's agenda. "You can say whatever you want but when you support Donald Trump 96% of the time then you support the goals that he's actually putting forth," said Jackson. "I mean Susan Collins is fighting for people I don't care about. I care about Mainers, I care about working class people and that's the people that are getting screwed in this economy and that's who I'm gonna be fighting for." * [WABI (CBS Bangor): Troy Jackson campaigns in Bangor ahead of first televised debate with Sen. Susan Collins](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/10/05/jackson-campaigns-bangor-ahead-first-televised-debate-with-sen-collins/) - *Jackson said that Collins needs to stand up and take accountability [for the ProPublica report]. “She should worry about who she takes money from. I don’t take corporate money. I don’t trade votes for things like that. That’s on her. I don’t know what else to say about it, but I’m sure she is very concerned about it,” said Jackson.* - *Ahead of the first televised debate Thursday, Jackson also spoke about how he is preparing ahead of time. [...] “I am very excited to be able to be on the debate stage and talk about the things that I’ve done compared to the things that she’s done. She can defend hers, and I’ll defend mine. I’m proud of what I fought for.”* [Bangor Daily News: Troy Jackson says he ‘feels great’ ahead of upcoming debates with Susan Collins](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/04/politics/elections/troy-jackson-feels-great-upcoming-debates-susan-collins/) - *Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson said he “feels great” ahead of his upcoming debates with Republican Sen. Susan Collins. * - *At the debates, Jackson wants to talk about Collins’ voting record and issues that aren’t being discussed in political ads, he said at a canvassing event Sunday in Bangor. “Let’s actually get in front of people and talk about, you know, the issues that are affecting Mainers instead of running attack ads about people’s families,” Jackson said.* - *The Allagash native said he’s been preparing for the debates in the hours after the town halls and events he’s held. Although he didn’t say exactly what talking points or campaign issues he’s been studying, he said he expected his and Collins’ voting records to be compared. “[My] record is always something I felt very strongly about. It’s your record. So I am very excited to be up on the debate stage and talk about the things that I’ve done compared to the things that she’s done,” Jackson said.* - *When talking about Collins’ previous votes, Jackson pointed to a Bangor Daily News article showing the Republican senator votes with her party more than 90% of the time.* - *“Shame on me? Shame on her for being, you know, so corrupt. I didn’t do that. That’s on her,” Jackson said. “I don’t know what else to say about it, but I’m sure she is very concerned about it. It does look very damning, and people are going to remember November 3.”* ### Troy Jackson spent the days leading up to the first debate with Mainers, traveling across the state holding three town halls, two canvass launches, and a roundtable discussion. --- ## News: End Citizens United Endorses Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/end-citizens-united-endorses-troy-jackson-for-us-senate **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, End Citizens United endorsed fifth-generation logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. End Citizens United pointed to Jackson’s commitment to getting dark money out of politics and his decades-long record of standing with working people — from organizing fellow loggers in northern Maine to taking on corporations and powerful special interests as Maine Senate President. “I’m proud to have End Citizens United’s support in this race,” **said Jackson.** “I’ve spent my career trying to make government work for working people - not billionaires and corporations that try to buy elections. In the U.S. Senate, that’s exactly what I’ll keep fighting for. Susan Collins can keep looking out for billionaires and special interests. I’ll stand with working people every damn time.“ “Troy Jackson knows what it’s like to work hard, play by the rules, and still have the deck stacked against you,” **said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller.** “Mainers are sick of watching Senator Collins give billionaires and big corporations whatever they want while working people get stuck with higher costs and fewer economic opportunities. Troy is running to change that. He’s a proven leader who will root out corruption and put working families at the center of every decision he makes. We’re proud to endorse Troy’s people-powered campaign, and we look forward to helping him kick Susan Collins out of office.” End Citizens United endorsement adds to the growing coalition backing Jackson’s campaign for Senate. Jackson has paired that grassroots enthusiasm with strong fundraising and [polling showing him in a competitive position](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) to defeat Susan Collins this November. In April, ECU added Senator Susan Collins to its 2026[Most Corrupt Politicians List](https://www.endcitizensunited.org/mostcorrupt2026), and she received a failing F grade on ECU’s[Anti-Corruption Scorecard](https://www.endcitizensunited.org/end-citizens-united-scorecard) this year. Over her career, she has taken a stunning total of $8.5 million in corporate PAC money — the most of any politician in Maine history. She owns one of the most lucrative stock portfolios in Congress while opposing a full ban on congressional stock trading and a constitutional amendment to overturn *Citizens United*. She has also used her position to maintain tax loopholes for private equity firms, which was the top industry contributing to her 2020 campaign. ### Today, End Citizens United endorsed fifth-generation logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. End Citizens United pointed to Jackson’s commitment to getting dark money out of politics and his decades-long record of standing with working people. --- ## News: Troy Joins Maine Calling To Take Live Questions From Mainers While Collins Refuses URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-joins-maine-calling-to-take-live-questions-from-mainers-while-collins-refuses #### [Troy Jackson](https://youtu.be/VHl-Ya8ReME?si=Pb25Wz9UMNBXvX9l&t=1587): “At the end of the day, this campaign is for anyone and everyone who wants to beat Susan Collins and Donald Trump and have a government that works for them.” **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined [Maine Public Radio’s Maine Calling](https://youtu.be/VHl-Ya8ReME?si=Pb25Wz9UMNBXvX9l&t=1587) show yesterday, taking live questions from Mainers about the policy issues that matter most to them. Candidates up and down the ballot agreed to interviews on the show this week, but Susan Collins refused — continuing her 25 year streak of refusing to take unscreened questions from voters. **Listen to the full interview** [here](https://youtu.be/VHl-Ya8ReME?si=Pb25Wz9UMNBXvX9l&t=1587)**, or see below for highlights:** **On Susan Collins choosing Trump over Mainers: ** - *Well, I don't think it's good for Maine. It’s not about her position or anything like that.* ***It's about the fact that she's voting with Donald Trump 96% of the time.*** *She was making sure that the Big Beautiful Bill was passed. [...] It cut SNAP benefits, it cut $3 billion out of our Medicaid system here in Maine, [...]* ***she's losing more money than she's bringing in.*** - *Our healthcare, Iran war, tariffs —* ***all these things are costing the state way more money than Susan Collins can ever bring in.*** *[...]* ***She could have done a lot as chair of appropriations, but she's scared to death to go against Donald Trump****, and because of that, we're getting fleeced.* **On protecting Social Security for Mainers:** - *What we need to do [on social security] is* ***we need to remove the cap so that wealthy people pay in at the same rate that working class people do.*** *Not only is that going to make the Social Security fund solvent, but it would mean that we'd actually have more money to actually increase the benefits for people that have worked hard their entire life and now, in this economy, are really struggling.* ***Now that’s something that Collins absolutely is against doing, because it you know means that the billionaire class has to pay more, which is something that she seems to be fighting for all the time.*** - ***I'm not fighting for billionaires. I'm fighting for everyday working class people in Maine that have been left behind.* ***And we have to make sure that this fund is protected, not privatized, not given away to the billionaires. * **On Collins siding with her billionaire donors: ** - ***Susan Collins doesn't want to talk about her record because while I've fought to cut taxes and lower costs for Maine families, Collins has been giving tax cuts to billionaires.* ***[...]* ***Senator Collins is giving money to military contractors so that she can get money into her campaign coffers.*** *I just find the hypocrisy here is just unbelievable. [...]* ***She's making sure that a pay-for-play deal just puts money into her campaign.*** - *But I've always been for property tax reform and getting property tax money back to people.* ***It's a stark difference in this race. I mean, one person wants billionaires to have income tax cuts. I've always fought for property tax cuts.*** **On Collins refusing to answer to her record:** - *I believe that that's what a good legislator should do.* ***Senator Collins hasn't taken a direct question in 25 years. She hasn't been in a town hall. She won't come on this program.*** *I don't think if you want to be a legislator, if you want to be a U.S. Senator, that's the way that you should approach it.* ***People have a right to know how you feel on issues, and they have a right to tell you how they feel about issues.*** **On harnessing a people-powered movement in Maine: ** - ***I've been waiting a long time for a moment where everyday people could stand up and fight for a change in their government, and I think we're in it right now.* ***I've seen something that's really really exciting for me to be a part of, and it's not just happening in Maine. I think you're seeing it all across the country.* ***Not only can we win this race, but I think we can change the way that our government's going****, and I'm really excited about that.* - ***I've been getting elected in Aroostook County****, which is a moderate area – It's actually,* ***you can probably say a conservative area*** *now –* ***because I fight for economic issues for people.*** *I fight for small business owners. We fight for people that need healthcare, prescription drugs, childcare. […] For me,* ***it's about economics. It's always been about economics.*** *That's the things that I lean into the most.* - ***At the end of the day, this campaign is for anyone and everyone who wants to beat Susan Collins and Donald Trump and have a government that works for them.*** ### [Troy Jackson](https://youtu.be/VHl-Ya8ReME?si=Pb25Wz9UMNBXvX9l&t=1587)***:* ***“At the end of the day, this campaign is for anyone and everyone who wants to beat Susan Collins and Donald Trump and have a government that works for them.”* --- ## News: Former Collins Voter Disgusted By Pay To Play Corruption Scheme Demands Collins Hold Town Hall URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/former-collins-voter-disgusted-by-pay-to-play-corruption-scheme-demands-collins-hold-town-hall #### Letter to the Editor: “for the first time in over 25 years, the public should hear from her live and in person. [...] Mainers deserve to know [...] if their U.S. senator is a crook.” **PORTLAND, ME —** In a new letter to the editor in the Portland Press Herald, a former Susan Collins voter expresses his dismay with her corrupt behavior detailed in the recent [bombshell Propublica report](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation). The story exposed Collins at the center of a pay for play scheme where she provided millions in government funding to the defense contractor Navatek in exchange for campaign donations. The former supporter demanded Susan Collins answer directly to her constituents who are rightfully outraged by the report and even suggested holding a town hall — something she has failed to do for over 25 years. **Read the letter** [here](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/02/susan-collins-should-give-an-interview-to-propublica-letter/)**, or see the highlights below: ** [PORTLAND PRESS HERALD: Letter to the Editor: Susan Collins should give an interview to ProPublica](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/02/susan-collins-should-give-an-interview-to-propublica-letter/) - *I was a longtime Auburn resident and used to be a Republican.* - *Will Sen. Collins agree to do a town hall or an interview with the ProPublica journalists to discuss the facts and points detailed in the ProPublica reporting?* - *It appears her response thus far has been to have her staff blow smoke and for Collins to shoot the messenger, i.e., the journalists at ProPublica. She has essentially taken a clue from our president and yelled “fake news.”* - *But, ProPublica is a respected reporting source dedicated to holding government representatives to account. It reports that it has reviewed thousands of emails never previously revealed, and it has interviewed many persons close to the case who have corroborated much of the reporting. It has the receipts, unfortunately for Collins.* - *On the face of it, the ProPublica article is damning to Collins. Other than repeating “fake news,” how can she defend herself? I have no idea. But, for the first time in over 25 years, the public should hear from her live and in person. She should meet with voters. Failing her agreement to do so, she should sit for a thorough interview with ProPublica.* - *Mainers deserve to know, to paraphrase Richard M. Nixon, if their U.S. senator is a crook.* ### *Letter to the Editor: “for the first time in over 25 years, the public should hear from her live and in person. [...] Mainers deserve to know [...] if their U.S. senator is a crook.”* --- ## News: Planned Parenthood Action Fund Endorses Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/planned-parenthood-action-fund-endorses-troy-jackson-for-us-senate **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson, citing his decade long record of protecting and expanding abortion rights in Maine while Susan Collins [voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00223.htm), one of the three justices she supported who overturned Roe v Wade. She [said again last month that she does not regret that vote](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-brett-kavanaugh-vote-graham-platner-maine-senate-race/97-b2ec9709-ce9a-4bc3-a213-18d771ca1931). “I’m honored to have the support of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, and I’m proud to have earned a 100% voting record with Planned Parenthood for nearly a decade,” **said Jackson.** “We’ve fought together to protect abortion rights and expand reproductive health care in Maine, and when Roe was overturned, we got to work and passed some of the strongest protections for abortion access in the country. Susan Collins voted to put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, and he helped overturn Roe along with two other justices she supported. She can defend those votes all she wants. I’m running for Senate to restore the federal right to abortion and make damn sure politicians never get to take that freedom away from Mainers again.” “Troy Jackson has proven exactly what kind of champion he is for reproductive freedom,” **said Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.** “For a decade, he has stood with Planned Parenthood and helped make Maine a national leader in protecting abortion access after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Susan Collins, meanwhile, helped put three justices on the Supreme Court who overturned Roe, including Brett Kavanaugh — and she still says she has no regrets. The stakes in this race could not be clearer. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is proud to endorse Troy Jackson because Mainers can count on him to fight for their freedom, and because we need his voice in the U.S. Senate to restore and protect abortion rights nationwide.” Jackson [introduced](https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-senate-president-jackson-speaker-talbot-ross-announce-legislation-strengthen) [landmark](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/19/mills-signs-law-expanding-abortion-access/) legislation in 2023 expanding abortion protections in Maine and has earned a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood’s Maine chapter. His record stands in sharp contrast to Collins, who voted to confirm Kavanaugh and has said she does not regret that vote even after he joined the Supreme Court majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Planned Parenthood Action Fund’s endorsement comes as the Jackson campaign launched [Women for Troy](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-democratic-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-launches-women-for-troy-poltiical-race-brunswick/97-506c56b9-b9ce-4b01-8257-59d985678e05?tbref=hp), a coalition of Mainers organizing to elect a senator who will protect abortion rights, defend access to reproductive health care, and stand up to politicians trying to take those freedoms away. With control of the U.S. Senate and the future of abortion rights on the line, Maine voters will face a clear choice this November: Susan Collins helped put the votes on the Supreme Court that overturned *Roe*. Troy Jackson has spent more than a decade protecting abortion rights in Maine and will fight to restore those rights nationwide. ### Today, Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate, citing his decade long record of protecting and expanding abortion rights in Maine. --- ## News: At Women for Troy Launch, Reproductive Freedom For All Backs Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/at-women-for-troy-launch-reproductive-freedom-for-all-backs-troy-jackson-for-us-senate *[Additional b-roll and photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kejismi5t19yx3ke2q3bs/ALu0NzAhCAxle1DqOaQquuA?rlkey=3yppftigsjcf131x7inefjc9o&st=hpyrdv8g&dl=0)*]* **BRUNSWICK, ME** — Today, Reproductive Freedom for All announced their endorsement of fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson at the launch of the Women for Troy Coalition. Women for Troy is aimed at uplifting and uniting the voices of Maine women. “When Roe was overturned, I didn’t wring my hands or make excuses — I got to work,” **said Jackson.** “I helped pass some of the strongest protections for abortion access in the country because I believe these decisions belong to women, their families, and their doctors — not politicians. Susan Collins voted to put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court, and he helped overturn Roe. She can defend that vote all she wants. I’m running for Senate to restore and expand the federal right to abortion and make damn sure politicians never again get to take this freedom away from Mainers.” “There is no better state to watch for how reproductive freedom will define the midterms than Maine. Susan Collins’ vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court spelled the end of *Roe v. Wade*, and voters haven’t forgotten that betrayal,” **said Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju.** “Troy Jackson has become an unrelenting champion for reproductive freedom and spent the last decade expanding abortion access in Maine. He’s the fighter Mainers deserve, and I’m proud to join today’s launch in a race that could decide the Senate majority.” “Troy has a strong record of lowering costs, protecting health care, defending reproductive freedom, and standing up for workers – all things that help everyday people get ahead in life. The choice in this election couldn’t be more clear – Troy takes action. Susan Collins says she’s concerned but stays on the sidelines when it matters,” **said Cynthia Phinney, president of the Maine AFL-CIO.** “That’s what tonight is all about – Troy has shown up for us again and again, and we are showing up for him.” Jackson [introduced](https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-senate-president-jackson-speaker-talbot-ross-announce-legislation-strengthen) [landmark](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/19/mills-signs-law-expanding-abortion-access/) legislation in 2023 expanding abortion protections in Maine and has earned a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood’s Maine chapter. His record stands in sharp contrast to Collins, who voted to confirm Kavanaugh and has said she does not regret that vote even after he joined the Supreme Court majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Reproductive Freedom for All’s endorsement comes as Jackson launches Women for Troy, a coalition of Mainers organizing to elect a senator who will protect abortion rights, defend access to reproductive health care, and stand up to politicians trying to take those freedoms away. With control of the U.S. Senate — and the future of reproductive freedom — on the line, Maine voters will have a clear choice this November: Susan Collins helped put the votes on the Supreme Court that overturned Roe. Troy Jackson will fight to restore the rights they took away. ### Reproductive Freedom for All announced their endorsement of Troy Jackson at the launch of the Women for Troy Coalition. Women for Troy is aimed at uplifting and uniting the voices of Maine women. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Shares Vision For Maine With York County Voters, Stands With Railworkers In Portland URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-shares-vision-for-maine-with-york-county-voters-stands-with-railworkers-in-portland **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson stood with union rail workers as they called for increased safety measures at Rigby Yard in South Portland and rallied volunteers with the Seacoast Democratic party in York. [More photos here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/sinuhwtx2z1zclv8tk66e/AFO9CKGmVQ74IFVqb67lMLE?rlkey=t6nr8lmkyfw9dum2cvzhgzvca&st=eth0ta8o&dl=0) Jackson [stood](https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2026-08-27/union-leaders-call-for-better-rail-safety-in-wake-of-recent-train-derailments) with union workers at a Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation International Association, Transportation Division (SMART) press conference to advocate for rail safety, following two CSX train derailments over the last month in New England. “Bringing back yardmasters at Rigby to coordinate safe train movements and emergency response is one of the many steps CSX could take to prevent the next derailment from being a toxic one,” **said Jackson.** “I’m proud to stand with SMART and union workers today and everyday because Mainers deserve a U.S. Senator who fights for them – not the corporations that are squeezing working people in the first place.” [More photos here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/xy4m9cf584nu83f5qz36d/AIjmPntf1JwLfzkToC0_Gp8?rlkey=291ulb1hlvrbift8zgxq2l8qz&st=e9f086ob&dl=0) At an office opening for the Seacoast Democratic party Thursday night, Jackson met with volunteers and voters, highlighting the momentum behind his campaign and the importance of every Mainer who is helping him beat Susan Collins. “I’ve never seen energy or momentum like this before – it’s about all of us together and what we can do when we have a government that actually works for working people – not billionaires,” **explained Jackson.** "This is about how we retire Susan Collins, and build a better future for Maine.” ### Troy Jackson stood with union rail workers as they called for increased safety measures at Rigby Yard in South Portland and rallied volunteers with the Seacoast Democratic party in York. --- ## News: Jackson Hits Canvass Launches, Town Hall In Ellsworth, And Virtual Town Hall In Washington County URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-hits-canvass-launches-town-hall-in-ellsworth-and-virtual-town-hall-in-washington-county *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o7f3re331k547hlxlmj6n/ACkjlWUL2ZDNJWw7sSIYFC8?rlkey=qi569u8fkngsh606zqw0cuzul&st=tpjnsvwj&dl=0) **MAINE, USA** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent Sunday roadtripping across Maine as a get out the vote effort ahead of early vote beginning on October 5. At ‘Take Action with Jackson’ stops in Waterville and Bangor, a town hall in Ellsworth, and a virtual town hall with the Washington County Dems, Troy connected with supporters and volunteers highlighting their hard work and emphasizing the importance of Mainers having a plan to vote. “With early voting starting, it’s more important than ever to have folks knocking doors and talking to their neighbors about what’s at stake in this election,” **said Jackson.** “This is a movement like I’ve never seen before in Maine, and people are ready for change. With less than a month before Election day, it's crucial we make sure Mainers are registered and have a plan to vote so we can retire Susan Collins and elect a senator Mainers can trust to represent the interests of everyday people.” Troy’s first ‘Take Action with Jackson’ stop of the day was in Waterville, joining volunteers and supporters at an MDP canvass launch. For the next stop of his GOTV roadtrip, Troy visited Bangor, speaking with supporters about the importance of talking to neighbors and friends about making a plan to vote. Troy hopped on zoom for a virtual town hall with the Washington County Democrats to speak directly with Maine voters on the issues that matter most to them ahead of the election. For the final stop, Troy landed in Ellsworth for his second town hall of the day, hearing directly from voters about their priorities to take to the U.S. Senate. ### Troy Jackson spent Sunday roadtripping across Maine as a get out the vote effort ahead of early vote beginning on October 5. --- ## News: JACKSON WINS SECOND DEBATE HOLDING COLLINS’ FEET TO FIRE ON CORRUPTION SCANDALS, COST FOR MAINERS URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-wins-second-debate-holding-collins-feet-to-fire-on-corruption-scandals-cost-for-mainers #### JACKSON: “When Donald Trump wants something, Senator Collins will not stop him, and when she doesn't stop him, it hurts Mainers.” **PORTLAND, ME —** Tonight Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson won the second Maine Senate debate, highlighting the key difference between his record and Susan Collins’ record: Collins fights for Donald Trump, billionaires and big corporations — no matter how corrupt or shady — and her husband’s stock portfolio. Troy fights for Maine. From his opening statement, Jackson put Collins’ corruption front and center — from the pay-to-play scandal involving allegations she steered federal contracts to a major donor, to new questions over millions in taxpayer dollars her committee secured for military vehicles while the company behind them poured money into her campaign. Jackson made clear: after 30 years in Washington, Collins’ power is working for her donors, not Maine. Jackson also clearly showed what that’s meant for Mainers – the tax breaks she delivers to billionaires have meant health care costs skyrocket, directing taxpayer dollars to donors has meant Mainers have lost out, and funding another endless war without any oversight has only raised costs and boosted her husband’s investments. Jackson offered a contrasting option: a government that works for working people. Major moments of the night came as Jackson slammed Collins for voting with Trump 96% of the time and letting him take away her authority as a U.S. Senator and as Jackson exposed her for profiting off the Iran War. “Troy Jackson won again tonight because he made clear while he answers to Mainers, Susan Collins answers to Donald Trump and her campaign donors – no matter what,” **said campaign manager Hilary Barrett.** “At the end of the day, Mainers should be able to trust that their government is working for them. Tonight, Troy made it clear why Mainers can’t trust Susan Collins at all and the cost that her corruption has had on everyday people while reminding voters of his record delivering for Mainers.” ** TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM TONIGHT’S DEBATE: ** **1) Jackson lays out the pay-for-play corruption scheme Collins was caught in** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2108354416781017223?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** **“**Right up until 2025, the FBI was circling around Senator Collins. There are payments, there's emails, there's meetings, and then whenever Donald Trump got elected, he made the investigation go away. **Now Senator Collins is voting with Donald Trump 96% of the time. Senator Collins talks about a crook — Donald Trump is a convicted felon, 34 felon[ie]s.** She has no problem doing his bidding on that.” **2) Jackson slams Collins for voting with Trump 96% of the time and letting him take away her authority as a U.S. Senator ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2108359573648330845?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**She's voted 100 times against Trump when it didn't matter. [..] Not stopping the war in Iran, tariffs — that is the problem. That **when Donald Trump wants something, Senator Collins will not stop him, and when she doesn't stop him, it hurts Mainers.**” **3) Jackson held Collins accountable for voting for the Iran war and then profiting off of it** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2108354713162829883?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “Look what's happening because of the Iran War. [...] She could have stopped it. She's the chair of appropriations [...] She still could do something — she could use her leverage to stop this war. But instead, they're making money. **Senator Collins and her husband are making money off of this war**, [...] and that's why this doesn't stop.” **4) Jackson compares his record on reproductive rights with Susan Collins’: His record has gotten better, hers has gotten worse** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2108360466099585403?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “I made sure that Maine has some of the most progressive reproductive rights bills in the country. [...] **I'm sure Senator Collins is going to bring this up, but you know, our records have changed. I mean, mine has gotten better. Hers has gotten worse.** She's made sure that I think she's put 55 anti-abortion judges onto the courts, including Brett Kavanaugh, that she knew that he was anti-abortion and that was what he was going to do when he got there, and he did. And look, me and women begged her; they drove all the way to D.C. to actually beg her not to do that because they knew what Brett Kavanaugh was going to do. And then after she voted to put him on there, and she was the deciding vote. He took away Roe v. Wade.” **5) Collins again touts road salt while Jackson asks about all the other tariffs she’s left in place ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2108363232750743819?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “How about all the other tariffs that are on? How much money is that going to cost** the town of Presque Isle, the town of Frenchville, all the people that work in the farming, fishing and forestry industry? [...] That's what's actually going to cost people. And again, she didn't answer your question. It should have been that yes, there [are] ways that appropriations could have done something. **She has the purse; she could have used it against Donald Trump** in another way until he got off of this blanket tariff foolishness.” **And one for the road… Jackson reminds voters what his campaign is all about – fighting for everyday working people, not the billionaires and not Donald Trump. ** **[**[Watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2108360700561371405?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “What it is about is Donald Trump and Susan Collins and the band that are making life so much harder in the state.** [...] **I mean, that's what this campaign is about. It's about people that know that this government is fundamentally flawed, and Susan Collins won't do anything about it.”** ### ***JACKSON:*** *“When Donald Trump wants something, Senator Collins will not stop him, and when she doesn't stop him, it hurts Mainers.”* --- ## News: NEW AD: Mainer Calls Out Susan Collins For Advancing $1 Trillion In Medicaid Cuts URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-mainer-calls-out-susan-collins-for-advancing-1-trillion-in-medicaid-cuts **PORTLAND, ME —** Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://youtu.be/W47D0Ah0ODM) today calling out Susan Collins for advancing $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts while Jackson will protect Social Security and Medicare. In “[What Happens](https://youtu.be/W47D0Ah0ODM),” a supporter calls out Susan Collins for advancing Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, casting aside the interest of Mainers to give tax cuts to billionaires. “And her attitude is like, well, the rest of us can just go pick **** with the chickens,” he concluded. **WATCH “**[WHAT HAPPENS](https://youtu.be/W47D0Ah0ODM)**” HERE:** **Read the full transcript below: ** ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this message. * ***Supporter:* ***You want to know what happens when Susan Collins votes with Trump 96% of the time? We get cut off at the knees, that's what. * ***Supporter:* ***She casts the deciding vote for Trump's cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to give tax cuts to billionaires.* ***Supporter:* ***And her attitude is like, well, the rest of us can just go pick **** with the chickens, I guess. * ***Supporter:*** *Troy Jackson votes with Mainers, and he'll protect the Social Security and Medicare we earned.* ### Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://youtu.be/W47D0Ah0ODM) today calling out Susan Collins for advancing $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts while Jackson will protect Social Security and Medicare. --- ## News: Jackson Joins Bath Iron Works Workers For A Shift Change, Drives Contrast In The Race On Morning Joe URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-joins-bath-iron-works-workers-for-a-shift-change-drives-contrast-in-the-race-on-morning-joe **PORTLAND, ME —** This morning – following last night’s debate – fifth generation logger, former State Senate president, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate visited workers at Bath Iron Works for their shift change and then [joined Morning Joe](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hvq9k1gc4nhnei4agc3ci/ALW5Awilk7DnScKw8GupOV0?rlkey=ucrg8k2yswsazb4c5uzeaquzg&st=j6yfaw4n&dl=0) to talk about his campaign. During last night’s debate, Jackson held Collins accountable for her record voting with Donald Trump 96% of the time even when it hurts Mainers. Major moments came as Jackson and Collins sparred over the war in Iran the Collins has backed which is raising costs. Watch the full interview [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hvq9k1gc4nhnei4agc3ci/ALW5Awilk7DnScKw8GupOV0?rlkey=ucrg8k2yswsazb4c5uzeaquzg&st=j6yfaw4n&dl=0), or see highlights below: **On why Troy’s running: ** - *“That's why I jumped in, because I didn't want to see that momentum go away. And look like last night before the debate my son and his partner brought my first grandchild in, and you know she's only like two weeks old. I mean, holding her, I mean, it really capsulized everything I've been doing for the last 30/35, years, about why this is important. I mean,* ***everyday people need someone in their corner, and I'm going to do that. I'm going to fight for everyday people, not just for my granddaughter, but for all those granddaughters out there that know that this world is, you know, too hard on them, and and and it's a big deal for them.”*** **On what he’s hearing from Mainers: ** - *“They're talking about how this government is broken and is not helping them with the cost of health insurance, the cost of heating oil, diesel. You know, these tariffs, how bad they are. [...] It's the people on the top, the billionaires that are screwing us. [They] are the ones that are actually causing the problems for Mainers and people in the United States.”* **On the high costs hitting Mainers in Collins and Trump’s economy:** - *“****These blanket tariffs are crushing the state.* ***You know we have three natural resources occupations here: forestry, farming, and fishing. They all depend on Canada for their products going into Canada. Almost every one of them depends on parts for you know boats, for tractors, for logging equipment coming out, you know the tourism industry is down. The cross-border shopping, like you said, my old State Senate district, is right on the border, and cross-border shopping has completely gone away, all because of you know these tariffs, and they're crushing people. I mean, they can't afford that and fuel. They can't afford to keep operating.* ***And I keep saying this: this is not going to go on much longer. I mean, regardless of what Susan Collins and Donald Trump do with tariffs and the iron war, people are going to start losing their businesses.****” * - *“I mean it's just about prioritizing where we spend our money, you know.* ***And all across the state, people are upset. They want change.*** *And look, I keep saying this, and I'm okay saying that this is not about Troy Jackson. It's not even about you know Susan Collins.*** *It's about people feeling like the government's broken and they want to change. And Senator Collins has been keeping, you know, these things happening, letting Donald Trump go, voting with him 96% of the time, and and and people are tired of this.*** *They want somebody that's actually going to fight for them for a change.” * **On Collins writing a blank check to ICE that led to the murder of a Mainer:** - *“Mr. Guerrero was a 26-year-old father with a three-year-old daughter, and all he was doing was going to work. And you know, as a working-class person, I certainly understand what that's like getting up on a Monday morning and having to go in and he was murdered because that's what he was doing. [...] I mean, they're rogue, and they're not going to let anyone see what they're doing or turn over anything when they do something wrong, which is almost every day now.”* ### This morning – following last night’s debate – fifth generation logger, former State Senate president, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate visited workers at Bath Iron Works for their shift change and then [joined Morning Joe](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/hvq9k1gc4nhnei4agc3ci/ALW5Awilk7DnScKw8GupOV0?rlkey=ucrg8k2yswsazb4c5uzeaquzg&st=j6yfaw4n&dl=0) to talk about his campaign. --- ## News: In Second Debate, Jackson Holds Collins Accountable For Her Lies And The Toll It’s Taking On Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/in-second-debate-jackson-holds-collins-accountable-for-her-lies-and-the-toll-its-taking-on-mainers **WESTBROOK, ME —** Fifth generation Mainer and Democratic Nominee Troy Jackson won his second debate last night, calling out Susan Collins for her long patterns of corruption and ‘delivering’ for her corporate donors while Mainers get left behind. Feeling the pressure of having to answer to her record of hurting Mainers, Collins was caught in lies multiple times during the debate by live, non-partisan fact checkers. See some of the highlights below: [Politifact: Collins’ efforts to buffer rural health care cuts unlikely to offset effect of OBBB Act](https://politifact.com/article/2026/oct/08/live-fact-check-debate-maine-collins-jackson/) - *Health policy experts have said those dollars will not erase the cut from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. KFF, a national health care policy think tank, estimated that the $50 billion could mitigate but will not fully offset $137 billion in Medicaid cuts states combined will see over 10 years.* - *Maine projected in July 2025 that 31,000 MaineCare expansion members are at risk of losing coverage because of new work requirements.* - *Nine Maine hospitals or maternity awards have announced closures in the past decade as of 2025* [Bangor Daily News: Fact check: Collins took tobacco money in 2020](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/09/liveblog/big-tobacco-her-opensecrets-that-collins-pacs/) - *Collins said she has “never accepted any donations from Big Tobacco.” Her 2020 campaign took nearly $12,000 from tobacco industry PACs and employees, according to OpenSecrets. That put her 18th among senators in that cycle.* [WMTW: Fact Check: Collins: “It’s under Troy’s leadership that electric rates in Maine became the fourth highest in the nation.” That’s exaggerated.](https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-senate-debate-fact-check-collins-jackson/74086597) - *The office said that “no single cause explains it” and cited rising New England natural gas prices as the largest reason, followed by higher distribution costs that largely came from storm damage infrastructure repair expenses.* **What Mainers are seeing about Jackson’s stand out performance: ** [Maine Morning Star: Debate over energy costs highlights how differently Jackson and Collins approach governing ](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/10/08/debate-over-energy-costs-highlights-how-differently-jackson-and-collins-approach-governing/) - *Heating oil prices have hit record highs in Maine. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps certain homeowners and renters with energy costs, but many working families do not qualify and still struggle to pay their bills. * - *However, [Jackson] brought the issue back to the Iran War as the main culprit. “What she doesn’t want to talk about is this is a crisis that was started by her and Donald Trump,” Jackson said. Jackson said Collins voted five times against ending the war with Iran.* - *At one point, Jackson alleged that Collins and her husband were profiting off of the Iran War. [...] According to Collins’ 2025 financial disclosure, her husband owns stock in two defense contractors for the U.S. military, Boeing and RTX.* - *“It’s great that she might be able to get some fuel released. That’s awesome,” Jackson said. “But look, the 100 million gallons that she’s talking about, the average in the United States is anywhere from 20.5 to 23.6 million barrels a day."* [CNN: The Story Is With Elex Michaelson: On Susan Collins Moderate Facade Fading Away](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2m70z0hpm4kte7rzjppus/10.9-CNN.mp4?rlkey=6x1j98gskiwlt312cee6qq90i&st=rq12c1jw&dl=0) - ***Bob Shrum:* ***[Collins has] persuaded people that she's independent and moderate. And I think the moment that hurt her long term was Brett Kavanaugh. I think people said, wait a minute. She's the person who put onto the court the decisive vote to overturn Roe v Wade.* [WGME: Jackson accuses Collins of profiting from Iran war during debate ](https://wgme.com/news/local/jackson-accuses-collins-of-profiting-from-iran-war-during-debate-sen-susan-collins-democratic-challenger-troy-jackson-president-donald-trump-ice-abortion) - *Jackson frequently tried to tie Collins to President Donald Trump, including ICE actions and the war with Iran. At one point, Jackson accused Collins and her husband of profiting from the war* [Hill: Second Maine Senate debate takes testy turn: 3 takeaways](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6138012-second-maine-senate-debate-collins-jackson-takeaways/) - *She stressed that she has “voted nine times to end this war” under the War Powers Act. A live fact-check from PolitiFact, though, called her claim “selective counting,” pointing to five times Collins voted against such resolutions. * - *“She could use her leverage to stop this war. But instead, they’re making money,” Jackson argued during the debate. “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.” * - *Jackson pointed to the war — which is deeply unpopular among midterm voters — at multiple points in the night, stressing that “we have to get out of Iran” to bring down fuel prices, and raising concerns that “people will freeze to death this winter because they can’t afford to heat their home.”* - *“Why should voters see this as your own campaign and not something that you inherited?” Chrisos asked. “Well, it isn’t my own campaign. I mean, it’s the people across Maine,” Jackson replied. [...] “What it is about is Donald Trump and Susan Collins and the band that are making life so much harder in the state.”* [Portland Press Herald: 5 notable moments from Susan Collins and Troy Jackson’s 2nd debate](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/08/5-notable-moments-from-susan-collins-and-troy-jacksons-second-debate/) - *Collins was largely on the defensive as she tried to distance herself from President Donald Trump, who is deeply unpopular in Maine, and from corruption allegations amplified by Democrats.* - *“She could use her leverage to stop this war,” he said. “But instead … Sen. Collins and her husband are making money off this war and so is a whole bunch of other people and that’s why this doesn’t stop.” Jackson was referring to Collins’ husband, Tom Daffron’s, vast stock portfolio, which includes holdings in natural gas and Boeing.* - *Jackson wasn’t impressed. He continued to describe Collins as kowtowing to the demands of President Donald Trump. “She’s powerful during election time but she’s weak every time we need her to stand up and fight for us,” Jackson said.* - *He acknowledged that he changed his views on abortion after speaking with women — something he said Collins didn’t do when Mainers traveled to D.C. to urge her to oppose Kavanaugh. “Our records have changed,” said Jackson, who is endorsed by Planned Parenthood. “Mine has gotten better — hers has gotten worse.”* **Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund [**[@PPMEAF](https://x.com/PPMEAF/status/2108357953157996562)**]**: *Troy Jackson has time and again fought to protect our right to abortion and expand access to care. He is the only candidate in the race for US Senate we can trust with our rights. #MEPolitics * **Anthony Emerson [**[@AnthonyMEmerson](https://x.com/AnthonyMEmerson/status/2108369486609043763)**]:** *The contrast between Jackson and Collins on this is incredible. Collins takes personal offense at even the implication that she might’ve gotten something wrong. Troy is open and honest about it.* ### Troy Jackson won his second debate last night, calling out Susan Collins for her long patterns of corruption and ‘delivering’ for her corporate donors while Mainers get left behind. --- ## News: As Mainers Head To The Polls, Voters Are Sharing Why Troy Jackson Is Their Pick URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/as-mainers-head-to-the-polls-voters-are-sharing-why-troy-jackson-is-their-pick #### In Central Maine: Susan Collins is out of touch on affordability issues #### In Penobscot Bay Pilot: Troy Jackson cares about all Maine families **PORTLAND, ME** — With less than three weeks until election day, Mainers from across the state are sharing why they are choosing fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson in the ballot box. In letters to the editor, life-long Democrats and former Collins voters alike are uniting behind Troy’s authenticity and determination to fight for working people, amplifying their support in local papers across Maine. **In Penobscot Bay Pilot:** [Troy Jackson cares about all Maine families](https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/troy-jackson-cares-about-all-maine-families/275153) - *Troy Jackson will help Maine families, because he understands the needs and concerns of working-class Mainers. Susan Collins has shown again and again she is aligned with the Trump agenda and the billionaires. * - *Things will only get worse as more provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act take effect. This bill rewards billionaires with tax cuts, while making program changes that penalize families, especially families with moderate and lower incomes. * - *Hard-working families seeking affordable health care coverage are being penalized in order to give tax cuts to billionaires. * - *Troy Jackson cares about all Maine families and therefore deserves our vote for U.S. Senate.* **In Bangor Daily News:** [We served with Troy Jackson. We’re excited to support him for US Senate.](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/03/opinion/opinion-contributor/we-served-with-troy-jackson-were-excited-to-support-him-for-us-senate-joam40zk0w/) - *Mainers know Jackson’s working-class story and his passion for taking on the billionaires. But we want Mainers to know that Jackson also led the effort to elect more women to the Maine Senate than at any time in Maine history.* - *Jackson rallied Republicans and Democrats to pass universal free meals for all Maine public school students. Kids can’t learn if they’re hungry, and Jackson recognized more quickly than many that providing universal meals would ensure that kids in Maine — no matter where they live — can get at least one healthy, nutritious meal a day.* - *He worked hard for paid family and medical leave to make sure families can take the time they need to be with a sick child or an aging parent, can have a baby, can recover from an injury or illness without losing a paycheck.* - *When moms and dads came to the State House looking for help, Jackson was there. He worked to make childcare more affordable, he stood up to corporations who were trying to weaken child labor laws while investing in apprenticeship programs.* - *After Sen. Susan Collins’ pivotal support of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and the U.S. Supreme Court rolled back constitutional protections for abortion care, Jackson led the effort to strengthen Maine’s protection for women.* - *In short, Troy Jackson invested in women leaders and championed issues that matter most to us. And when tensions arose in Augusta, as they always do, Jackson had our backs.* **In the Penobscot Bay Pilot:** [Step Up and Vote](https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/step-and-vote/274681) - *Thankfully, Troy Jackson stepped up to bat — a working-class leader whose record proves his support for workers, women, families and retirees. The AFL-CIO is one among many groups strongly endorsing Troy. Planned Parenthood rated Troy 100% in 2018 through 2024.* - *The AFL-CIO is one among many groups strongly endorsing Troy. Planned Parenthood rated Troy 100% in 2018 through 2024. His many positive laws protect workers' rights, women’s healthcare (abortion/birth control rights), and LGBTQ+ rights. They also end wage theft and provide free student meals.* - *Troy stands for affordability, Medicare for All, properly-funded Social Security, fair billionaire/corporate taxes, abolishing rogue ICE, Federal abortion rights, and ending Gaza genocide — all for working people.* - *Mainers, unite to vote FOR Troy Jackson FOR our families, neighbors, affordability, and sanity!* **In Bangor Daily News:** [Why I no longer support Susan Collins](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/13/opinion/letters/letter-why-i-no-longer-support-susan-collins-joam40zk0w/) - *For 18 years, I supported Susan Collins. [...] I believed her growing seniority would translate into greater benefits for Maine. Over time, I began to see the limits of that bargain.* - *Maine has lost much of the value-added economy that once turned our natural resources into good jobs: paper, shoes, textiles, manufactured housing, wood products and food processing. We have spent decades managing the consequences.* - *Her vote for Brett Kavanaugh became a turning point for me.* - *Troy Jackson is imperfect. I will not agree with him on everything. But he comes from the Maine economy I am describing and understands economic insecurity from the ground up. I support Troy Jackson, warts and all, because Maine needs more than help managing decline. We need leadership determined to reverse it.* **In Central Maine:** [Susan Collins is out of touch on affordability issues](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/21/susan-collins-is-out-of-touch-on-affordability-issues-letter/) - *Sen. Susan Collins talks about all she does for Maine. She doesn’t talk about what’s happening to the rising costs we face daily. Oil prices are over $100 per barrel and the prices of products we use— diesel, gasoline and jet fuel — have soared. Diesel is about $6 per gallon today. * - *Why is it so high? The cost of refining diesel into gas at the pump is about four times higher than normal. President Trump’s “war of choice” with Iran and the war in Ukraine have destroyed substantial refining capacity. It won’t be replaced soon. Who does it hurt? Anyone who uses diesel fuel to carry out their work — fishermen, farmers, truckers and shippers, among others. And there’s no relief in sight. * - *I’m voting for Troy Jackson. He gets it. I want a senator that knows how hard it is for people to make ends meet and to hold this president accountable. I hope everyone will join me.* ### *In Central Maine: Susan Collins is out of touch on affordability issues* *In Penobscot Bay Pilot: Troy Jackson cares about all Maine families* --- ## News: Obama Backs Troy Jackson, Highlights Working-Class Roots and Record of Delivering for Maine URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/obama-backs-troy-jackson-highlights-working-class-roots-and-record-of-delivering-for-maine **PORTLAND, ME** — Former President Barack Obama endorsed Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate yesterday, highlighting the fifth-generation logger’s working-class roots and record of lowering prescription drug costs, raising wages, delivering free school meals, and protecting abortion rights. Coverage across Maine and nationally spotlighted Obama’s endorsement and Jackson’s record of fighting for working families. With voting underway, Obama urged Mainers to help send Jackson to the Senate: “We need Troy to deliver for us in the Senate. So do not sit this one out.” **SEE WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:** [WMTW: Former President Barack Obama backs Troy Jackson in Maine's Senate race](https://www.wmtw.com/article/obama-backs-troy-jackson/74077191) - *Obama highlighted Jackson's "working-class roots," as well as his focus on lowering prescription drug costs, raising wages, providing free school lunch and protecting abortion rights in Maine.* - *Obama also pointed to abortion rights, saying Jackson helped protect abortion access in Maine after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.* [CBS: America Decides: Former President Obama Endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/obama-endorses-maines-jackson-as-midterm-elections-heat-up/) - ***Finn Gomez:* ***What stood out to me in this video was his focus on abortion rights and, as you rightly call Kelly, that's a key issue in Maine. And one that Jackson has been using to go after Collins. He's been campaigning on this issue, especially after her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later helped overturn Roe v. Wade. [...] Obama's endorsement can certainly help Jackson energize Democratic base voters and boost turnout.* [MS NOW: On the Line with Alicia Menendez: Obama endorses Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/h2ro5tenmf8n0386uibt7/MS-NOW-On-the-Line-with-Alicia-Menendez-Obama-endorses-Maine-Senate-candidate-Troy-Jackson.mp4.mp4?rlkey=9f1d26asqi7f6cijj4486s9qu&st=jsj90hnj&dl=0) - ***Dan Kanninen:* ***[Obama] is very, very effective, both as a persuasive messenger and a turnout motivator in [Maine].* [MS NOW: Obama endorses Jackson as Maine Senate race enters final stretch ](https://www.ms.now/news/obama-endorses-jackson-maine-senate-collins-midterms) - *In a new video released by Jackson’s campaign, Obama highlighted the Democrat’s working-class background and legislative record, portraying him as an advocate for Mainers struggling with high costs.* - *The former president ended his Jackson endorsement video with a direct appeal for Mainers to cast their ballots during the state’s early voting period from Oct. 5-19 or on Election Day. “We need Troy to deliver for us in the Senate,” Obama said. “So do not sit this one out.” * **SEE THE HEADLINES AND REPORTS: ** [Portland Press Herald: Barack Obama boosts Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race against Susan Collins ](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/08/barack-obama-boosts-troy-jackson-in-maine-senate-race-against-susan-collins/) [MS NOW: Morning Joe: Obama backs Troy Jackson for US Senate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/df6a3fpqd5n873c8o1k7v/MS-NOW-Morning-Joe-Obama-backs-Troy-Jackson-for-US-Senate.mp4?rlkey=55gm16rjdpp8w3xua3t0op7s4&st=coxqehtt&dl=0) [Washington Post: Obama endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/08/obama-endorses-troy-jackson-maine-senate-race/) [Bangor Daily News: Barack Obama endorses Troy Jackson](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/08/politics/elections/maine-election-senate-2026-barack-obama-endorsement-troy-jackson/)** **[Maine Morning Star: In video endorsement, Obama backs Jackson for Senate](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/10/08/barack-obama-backs-troy-jackson-for-senate/) [WMTW: Former President Barack Obama backs Troy Jackson for Senate](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Mj3a9dgyWbgVjtGQIZz3jbuNbINYpmnK/view?usp=drive_link) [WABI: Former President Barack Obama endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/10/08/former-president-barack-obama-backs-troy-jackson-maines-senate-race/) [News Center Maine: Obama endorses Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine US Senate race](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/obama-endorses-democrat-troy-jackson-in-maine-us-senate-race/97-c87e8e93-8c83-4afc-bdaf-f3d190f744b3) [Seacoast Online: Former President Barack Obama endorses Maine's Troy Jackson for Senate](https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/08/obama-endorses-troy-jackson-in-crucial-maine-u-s-senate-race/92151188007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z112416p000350c000350e007910v112416d--38--b--38--&gca-ft=167&gca-ds=sophi) [WGME: Barack Obama endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate race](https://wgme.com/news/local/barack-obama-endorses-troy-jackson-in-maine-senate-race-susan-collins-former-president) **(**[also on sister site FOX23](https://fox23maine.com/news/beyond-the-podium/barack-obama-endorses-troy-jackson-in-maine-senate-race-susan-collins-former-president)**)** [Meidas News: Obama Endorses Troy Jackson in Maine Senate Race: “I’m Proud to Be on Board” ](https://meidasnews.com/news/obama-endorses-troy-jackson-in-maine-senate-race-im-proud-to-be-on-board) [Daily Beast: Obama Makes Dramatic Move in Must-Win Senate Race for Trump](https://www.thedailybeast.com/barack-obama-makes-dramatic-move-in-must-win-maine-senate-race-for-trump) [CNN: The Arena With Kasie Hunt: Obama Endorsement](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jyUoNOEUM3S3CZrkvXclyfTs9uoTbgmR/view?usp=drive_link) ### Coverage across Maine and nationally spotlighted Obama’s endorsement and Jackson’s record of fighting for working families. With voting underway, Obama urged Mainers to help send Jackson to the Senate: “We need Troy to deliver for us in the Senate. So do not sit this one out.” --- ## News: New TV Ad: Jackson Calls For A Government That Works For Working People URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-tv-ad-jackson-calls-for-a-government-that-works-for-working-people #### Troy Jackson: “Billionaires shouldn't be paying less taxes than a teacher or a logger. It's time that your hard work paid off.” **PORTLAND, ME** — Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new television ad](https://youtu.be/BxR1APFP9HA) today focused on Jackson’s economic message to working Mainers: if you work hard, you should be able to afford health care and groceries and retire with the Social Security and Medicare benefits you earned. **WATCH “**[SIMPLE](https://youtu.be/BxR1APFP9HA)**”**: Read the ad below: *Folks, what this campaign is about is pretty simple.* *If you work hard, you ought to be able to take your kid to the doctor. * *You ought to be able to buy groceries without doing math in the damn aisle. * *You ought to be able to retire with Social Security and Medicare that you earned. * *Billionaires shouldn't be paying less taxes than a teacher or a logger. * *It's time that your hard work paid off. * *I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this message.* ### [Troy Jackson:](https://youtu.be/BxR1APFP9HA)** ***“Billionaires shouldn't be paying less taxes than a teacher or a logger. It's time that your hard work paid off.”* --- ## News: NEW YORK TIMES: In Maine Senate Race, Spiking Heating Oil Costs Put Susan Collins on Defensive URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-york-times-in-maine-senate-race-spiking-heating-oil-costs-put-susan-collins-on-defensive **PORTLAND, ME** — New [reporting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/us/maine-senate-collins-jackson-oil.html) from the New York Times highlights how Mainers are frustrated by Susan Collins’ refusal to stand up against Trump’s war in Iran that is increasing energy costs in Maine. Collins repeatedly backed the war in Iran, voting five times against ending it, continuing her long pattern of voting with Trump 96% of the time, even when it hurts everyday Mainers. As a longtime union worker, Troy Jackson knows the frustration of working more and more hours but still struggling to get by, and that’s why he’s promised to fight to lower costs across the board. Susan Collins fights for Trump, Troy fights for working families. **Read the whole article** [here](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/us/maine-senate-collins-jackson-oil.html)**, or see the highlights below: ** [New York Times: In Maine Senate Race, Spiking Heating Oil Costs Put Susan Collins on Defensive](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/us/maine-senate-collins-jackson-oil.html) - *New England’s northernmost state is* ***singularly reliant on heating oil, and the price of the product is surging because of President Trump’s war with Iran****, which has clogged a vital oil shipping corridor.* - *The issue has started to move to the center of the race between Senator Susan Collins, a* ***vulnerable fifth-term Republican****, and her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, who has* ***blamed Ms. Collins for the rising fuel oil costs****.* - ***In Maine, the cost to fill a standard heating-oil tank as of Wednesday was $1,650, up roughly 80 percent from a year earlier,*** *according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, which represents state governments in securing federal money for heating bills.* - *Mr. Jackson told voters gathered for a town hall-style event that* ***he did “not know how people are going to heat their homes” this winter.*** *He* ***scoffed at the efforts of Ms. Collins*** *to lobby the Trump administration for the emergency release of oil from strategic reserves,* ***arguing that she was too close to Mr. Trump and had “turned her back” on working-class Mainers.*** - *“****No one’s going to just sit there and freeze to death*** *— they’ll do things to try and heat their home,” Mr. Jackson said. * - *In recent years, federal heating assistance programs have not kept up with rising prices. Earlier this year, Mr.* ***Trump tried to eliminate a federal program to help poor Americans cover their heating and cooling bills****, arguing that the United States needed to prioritize military needs.* - *Ms. Kelley, a Democrat, said that she planned to vote for Mr. Jackson, and that she knew political independents who had* ***voted Republican in the past but were being drawn toward Democrats by the economic conditions****. She said it had cost her $1,982 to fill the tank of her house with fuel oil. “****A lot of people are struggling****,” Ms. Kelley said. “It’s going to be a very tough year for Maine.”* ### New [reporting](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/us/maine-senate-collins-jackson-oil.html) from the New York Times highlights how Mainers are frustrated by Susan Collins’ refusal to stand up against Trump’s war in Iran that is increasing energy costs in Maine. --- ## News: NEW AD: Jackson Shares His Commitment To Fighting For Working Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-jackson-shares-his-commitment-to-fighting-for-working-mainers **PORTLAND, ME —** Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXO4xGw55fY) today highlighting Troy’s fight for Mainers and his record taking on Big Pharma to lower the costs of prescription drugs and working to cut taxes for working people and protecting Social Security and Medicare. **WATCH “**[POWER](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXO4xGw55fY)**” HERE:** **Read the full transcript below: ** ***Troy Jackson:*** *For Mainers, there's pride in the early start. There's no excuses, just getting the job done.* ***Troy Jackson:* *** This is for the folks who punch in for long days and long nights, pour their heart into their work, whose load never gets lighter. Folks who work 80 hours a week like I did, we carry this state on our backs. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***That's why I took on Big Pharma to lower the costs of prescription drugs and why I'll fight for a tax cut for working people. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***Retirement shouldn't be a pipe dream. That's why I'll protect the Social Security and Medicare that we paid into. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***There’s power in who we are. And we can’t afford to waste it. It’s time your hard work pays off. I’m Troy Jackson and I approve this message.* ### Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXO4xGw55fY) today highlighting Troy’s fight for Mainers and his record taking on Big Pharma to lower the costs of prescription drugs and working to cut taxes for working people and protecting Social Security and Medicare. --- ## News: League of Conservation Voters Action Fund Endorses Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/league-of-conservation-voters-action-fund-endorses-troy-jackson-for-us-senate **PORTLAND** – The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund today announced their endorsement of fifth-generation logger, former President of the Maine Senate, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson. “In Maine, protecting our environment and protecting working people have always gone hand in hand,” **said Jackson.** “Our forests, waters, and working lands aren’t just part of who we are — they support thousands of jobs and communities across our state. I’ve spent my life working in the Maine woods, and I know we don’t have to choose between protecting the places we love and creating good-paying jobs. In the Senate, I’ll fight for clean energy investments that lower costs, create union jobs here at home, and preserve Maine’s natural resources for our kids and grandkids. I’m proud to have the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund standing with us.” “Mainers have made it clear that they want a senator who will protect our rights and communities and support real affordability solutions instead of prioritizing Trump’s personal benefit and the profits of Big Oil and Gas,” **said LCV Action Fund Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis.** “Troy Jackson has the experience and the commitment we need to help build a clean energy future that centers good-paying jobs, to protect our lands and waters, and fight for a free and fair democracy.” This announcement is just the latest sign of broad, grassroots support for Jackson’s campaign. [A recent Fox News poll](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) puts Jackson ahead of Susan Collins in a general-election matchup, and Jackson has now picked up more than [100 endorsements](https://www.jacksonformaine.com/endorsements) from Maine elected officials, labor unions and community leaders. **###** The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund today announced their endorsement of fifth-generation logger, former President of the Maine Senate, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson. --- ## News: NEW TV AD: Troy Jackson Fights For Everyday Mainers Struggling To Get By In Trump, Collins’ Economy URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-tv-ad-troy-jackson-fights-for-everyday-mainers-struggling-to-get-by-in-trump-collins-economy **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, the Jackson for Maine campaign released a [new TV ad](https://youtu.be/D3P22EaBCJk) highlighting the fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate President’s deep roots in the state and his commitment to fighting for everyday Mainers against a system rigged in favor of corporations and billionaires. In the ad, “Broke,” Troy speaks directly to voters struggling with shrinking paychecks and growing bills as someone who experienced the same thing. Growing up in small-town northern Maine, Troy understands the feeling of working hard and doing everything right but still falling behind – and he’s ready for change. “People in this country work so damn hard and still feel so damn broke. That’s no way to live,” **Jackson says**. “Susan Collins keeps telling us that everything’s fine, but we know it’s not. We all have eyes…You deserve better.” **WATCH “**[BROKE](https://youtu.be/D3P22EaBCJk)**”**: **Read the full ad script below:** *I’m a fifth-generation logger from Allagash. I grew up a poor kid in a town full of poor people doing everything right and still struggling to get ahead.* *And it’s worse now. People in this country work so damn hard and still feel so damn broke. That’s no way to live. Susan Collins keeps telling us that everything’s fine, but we know it’s not. We all have eyes. Paychecks and bills, we know we’re getting screwed. You deserve better.* *I’m Troy Jackson. I’m running for Senate, and I approve this message.* **###** Today, the Jackson for Maine campaign released a [new TV ad](https://youtu.be/D3P22EaBCJk) highlighting the fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate President’s deep roots in the state and his commitment to fighting for everyday Mainers against a system rigged in favor of corporations and billionaires. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Raises $2 Million Since Securing Democratic Nomination URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-raises-2-million-since-securing-democratic-nomination **AUGUSTA, ME** — Troy Jackson has raised $2 million since securing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, fueled by contributions from more than 30,000 new donors. More than 58,000 unique donors have now contributed to Jackson’s U.S. Senate campaign, underscoring the extraordinary grassroots momentum behind the fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate president’s campaign to defeat Susan Collins. “I’m humbled beyond words by the tens of thousands of people who have stepped up to become part of this campaign,” **said Jackson.** “Every contribution—whether it was five dollars, twenty dollars, or more—is a vote of confidence in the working-class movement we’re building together. I’m grateful to every person who has chipped in, volunteered, or told a neighbor about this campaign. This belongs to all of you.” “We know what we’re up against,” **Jackson continued.** “Susan Collins has spent years voting with Donald Trump 96 percent of the time, helping him stack the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and supporting an agenda that guts health care while handing more power to billionaires and corporations. Defeating her won’t be easy, and we’ll need everyone in this fight. But this response proves that people across Maine and the country are ready to come together and finish the job.” Jackson secured the Democratic nomination at Saturday’s Maine Democratic Party convention. A fifth-generation logger from Allagash, union member and former president of the Maine Senate, Jackson has spent his career taking on powerful interests and fighting for working people and rural communities. **###** Troy Jackson has raised $2 million since securing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, fueled by contributions from more than 30,000 new donors. --- ## News: Jackson Rallies In Bangor With Sen. Sanders, Share Vision Of Government Working For Working People URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-rallies-in-bangor-with-sen-sanders-share-vision-of-government-working-for-working-people ##### Earlier in the day Jackson held a virtual town hall and attended a canvass launch with the Democratic ticket *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/8pswpr01113lzlisqyldt/AHuKTfW0kAdOHo-a0TV9aYk?rlkey=uy8rml1y767x1iy1a0iec70j3&st=1qhxtimx&dl=0) **BANGOR, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent his Saturday connecting with Mainers across the state at a canvass launch in Lewiston, a statewide virtual town hall, and ending at a rally in Bangor with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Troy rallied with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in Bangor Saturday evening to close out the day. The two leaders shared their plans to work together to pass Medicare for All, put a check on Trump’s dangerous and illegal policies, and put working people first. With over 600 Mainers in attendance, the crowd was fired up and ready to retire Susan Collins, who has failed working-class families for 30 years, raising costs, cutting Medicaid, and endangering reproductive rights. Well, I've had the honor of having some power in Maine, and for 20 years I tried to remember one thing: it was never mine. You gave it to me. My job was to use it for you,” **said Jackson at the Bangor rally Saturday evening.** “And if you send me to the United States Senate, that's exactly what I'm going to do. I don’t owe Trump nothing. I owe the billionaires nothing. I owe the people of Maine everything.” “I hope that in the next three weeks you guys will do everything you can to see that Troy gets elected. He's going to be a great member of the United States Senate,” **said Sanders at the Bangor rally Saturday evening.** “ Let us make sure that we create the kind of government and economy that we need, we want, and we deserve.” Earlier in the day, Troy kicked off the day at a canvass launch in Lewiston with Democratic nominee for Governor Hannah Pingree and Democratic nominee for Maine’s second congressional district Matt Dunlap to celebrate the hard work of the canvassers and volunteers. In the afternoon, Troy joined a virtual town hall with Mainers from across the state to hear about the most pressing issues facing working people, like the rising costs and stagnant wages that have plagued our economy under Susan Collins’ and Trump’s leadership. ### *Earlier in the day Jackson held a virtual town hall and attended a canvass launch with the Democratic ticket* --- ## News: Nation’s Largest Transit Union Endorses Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/nations-largest-transit-union-endorses-troy-jackson-for-us-senate **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) endorsed fifth-generation Mainer and logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. ATU pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people — from organizing fellow loggers in northern Maine to taking on corporations and powerful special interests as Maine Senate President. “I’m damn proud to have the Amalgamated Transit Union standing with us in this fight,” **said Jackson.** “These are the drivers, operators, mechanics, and maintenance workers who keep our communities moving every single day. They deserve good wages, safe working conditions, and a government that has their backs. I’ve spent my life standing shoulder to shoulder with working people, and in the U.S. Senate, that’s exactly who I’ll keep fighting for. Susan Collins can keep looking out for billionaires and special interests. I’ll stand with working people every damn time.” “The Amalgamated Transit Union is proud to endorse Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate in Maine. Working families are tired of politicians who side with the ultra-wealthy while workers are asked to pay the price. As a fifth generation Maine logger and longtime union member who served 20 years in the state legislature rising to become the Senate President, Troy understands the challenges facing our members and everyday Americans. He is the kind of leader we need in the halls of Congress,” **said Amalgamated Transit Union International President John Costa.** ATU’s endorsement adds to the growing coalition of more than twenty unions backing Jackson’s campaign for Senate — a reflection of the broad support he has built from working people across Maine. Jackson has paired that grassroots enthusiasm with strong fundraising and [polling showing him in a competitive position](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) to defeat Susan Collins this November. ### ATU pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people — from organizing fellow loggers in northern Maine to taking on corporations and powerful special interests as Maine Senate President. --- ## News: Jackson Launches “Families For Troy” And Campaigns Across Southern Maine URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-launches-families-for-troy-and-campaigns-across-southern-maine *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://us.list-manage.com/LpNCQygO7cH?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) **MAINE** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson took to the campaign trail on Sunday, launching a new coalition and joining the Maine Democratic Party for canvass launches in Kennebunk and Sanford. The new coalition, **Families for Troy**, highlights support from educators and families who praise Jackson’s efforts in the Maine legislature fighting for issues affecting the next generation of Mainers, like universal school meals, lowering child care costs, and securing paid family leave. In the morning, Troy launched his new coalition, Families for Troy, alongside parents, educators, and kids at a local library in Portland. Troy joined the Maine Democratic Party in Kennebunk for an office opening alongside supporters and volunteers, highlighting the important work being done on the ground, knocking doors across Maine. Closing out a weekend of campaigning across the state, Troy stopped in Sanford for the Maine Democratic Party office opening and canvass launch. ### Troy Jackson took to the campaign trail on Sunday, launching a new coalition and joining the Maine Democratic Party for canvass launches in Kennebunk and Sanford. --- ## News: NEW: Inside Elections Moves Maine Senate Race From Tilt Republican To Toss-Up URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-inside-elections-moves-maine-senate-race-from-tilt-republican-to-toss-up ##### “It’s impossible to ignore the challenges facing Collins this cycle.” **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, [Inside Elections](https://insideelections.com/senate-report-shorts-sept-17-2026/) moved Maine’s U.S. Senate race from “Tilt Republican” to “Toss-Up,” citing Troy Jackson’s momentum as he barnstorms the state and shares his commitment to always putting Mainers first. Inside Elections [notes](https://insideelections.com/senate-report-shorts-sept-17-2026/) that it’s “impossible to ignore the challenges facing Collins this cycle,” while “Trump is deeply unpopular in Maine,” and “Collins’ own image rating is consistently underwater this cycle.” Jackson, the fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate President, has maintained a [consistent lead](https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-fourth-polling-blow-since-jackson-launched-senate-run-maine-12423123) over Susan Collins and shows [55% of Mainers](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) think Susan Collins votes with Donald Trump too often. “This rating is a reflection of everything we are hearing on the ground: Mainers are ready for change, and they want a senator who will fight to make life more affordable — not a rubber stamp who always puts billionaires and corporations first like Susan Collins,” **said Jackson for Maine spokesperson Dan Gottlieb.** “Mainers are sick of her ‘concern’ while she’s voted with Trump 96% of the time and refused to answer to the people she represents. That’s why Mainers are standing with Troy Jackson – a fighter that will bring a real, working-class voice for Maine to Washington.” ### Today, [Inside Elections](https://insideelections.com/senate-report-shorts-sept-17-2026/) moved Maine’s U.S. Senate race from “Tilt Republican” to “Toss-Up,” citing Troy Jackson’s momentum as he barnstorms the state and shares his commitment to always putting Mainers first. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Ends Labor Day Weekend Blitz Honoring Working People And Organizers Across Maine URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-ends-labor-day-weekend-blitz-honoring-working-people-and-organizers-across-maine *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/8u23kjs9pvm6fz2jgwpeo/AOhfLZGbRuoEpyAUKqqgnzk?rlkey=0f8itc7ygmr91spvme4958ra8&st=txknd719&dl=0) **MAINE** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson celebrated Labor Day with working people in Brewer and Portland, concluding a three-day long series of events and celebrations highlighting the importance of working people, the labor movement, and the right to organize. Troy started his day with the Southern Maine Labor Council for their annual Labor Day Breakfast in Portland, where he rolled out his Pledge to Working Mainers, reinforcing his longtime commitment to supporting and uplifting working people across Maine. Troy’s next stop was with the Maine AFL-CIO for their first-ever canvass kickoff in Brewer. Troy joined AFL-CIO International President Liz Schuler, Democratic Maine gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree, and Democratic nominee for Maine’s 2nd Congressional District Matt Dunlap. To close out Labor Day weekend, Troy joined the Eastern Maine Labor Council for their 15th annual barbecue celebrating the efforts of working people and organizers fighting for better opportunities for everyday Mainers. ### Troy Jackson celebrated Labor Day with working people in Brewer and Portland, concluding a three-day long series of events and celebrations highlighting the importance of working people, the labor movement, and the right to organize. --- ## News: At First Town Hall, Troy Jackson Connects With Voters While The No Show Senator Again Fails To Show URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/at-first-town-hall-troy-jackson-connects-with-voters-while-the-no-show-senator-again-fails-to-show *Additional photos and b-roll available* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/eyw4in895jqzyimsjponz/AF2KxIrXt91BWl5S4vmYIQA?rlkey=p186ahlmyoevkixasolrelb27&st=6ij32xun&dl=0) **LEWISTON, ME** — Last night, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Troy Jackson hosted his first town hall in Lewiston, Maine. In front of the crowd of over 300, Jackson directly answered questions from Mainers about the issues most important to them. Jackson invited Senator Susan Collins to join him in Lewiston and saved a seat for her onstage, although she did not show up – **continuing her 25-year streak of avoiding public town halls. ** “Events like these are exactly what this campaign is about – hearing from everyday Mainers, sharing my record, and promising to bring their voices and concerns to Washington where I’ll fight for them every single day,” **said Jackson**. “I’ll keep showing up and answering the tough questions, and I hope after 25 years of hiding, Susan Collins can find it in herself to do the same thing.” The event in Lewiston was the first in a series of town halls and community conversations Jackson will hold with Mainers across the state in the coming weeks. Jackson will hold his next town halls Thursday in Gorham and Saturday in Jay, with additional events to be announced. Senator Collins is welcome at those, too. ### Last night, Troy Jackson hosted his first town hall in Lewiston, Maine. In front of the crowd of over 300, Jackson directly answered questions from Mainers about the issues most important to them. --- ## News: As Early Voting Begins, Troy Jackson Urges Mainers To Make Their Voices Heard URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/as-early-voting-begins-troy-jackson-urges-mainers-to-make-their-voices-heard **PORTLAND, ME** — On the first day of early voting in Maine, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson is encouraging Mainers to check their voter registration, make a plan to vote, and make their voices heard. “Working people deserve a government that fights for them, and that starts with making our voices heard,” **said Jackson.** “I’m proud of Maine’s safe and secure elections. Check your registration, make a plan, and get your ballot in. This is our chance to stand up for our families, our communities, and the future we want for Maine. Let’s make it count.” **IMPORTANT VOTING INFORMATION: ** **Check your registration** [HERE](https://www.vote.org/am-i-registered-to-vote/)**.** **Request an absentee ballot** [HERE](https://absenteeballotrequest.sos.maine.gov/)**. ** **October 5:** Early voting begins and absentee ballots begin to be sent to voters by the state of Maine. **October 29:** Last day to early vote or request an absentee ballot. **November 3:** This is Election Day. And it's the last day for your mail ballot to be received and counted. Make sure your ballot is received by 8:00 p.m on November 3. ### On the first day of early voting in Maine, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson is encouraging Mainers to check their voter registration, make a plan to vote, and make their voices heard. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Tours Augusta Food Bank And Delivers Donations To Help Mainers In Need URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-tours-augusta-food-bank-and-delivers-donations-to-help-mainers-in-need *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o9o9jlhm9byy1ch2j291e/ALKD-XmW0T8KX8KZ9f4Vqvo?rlkey=uwlnluxbgas4w488zo4a44h2d&st=t7myzr1y&dl=0) **AUGUSTA, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent Thursday morning in Augusta touring a local food bank and delivering donations from his campaign and supporters to help Mainers in need. The food drive comes at a time when working-class folks are putting in more hours and still struggling to get by, due to higher prices and stagnant wages under Collins’ and Trump’s leadership. “Susan Collins has voted with Trump 96% of the time, even when she knows it will make life more expensive for Mainers,” **said Troy Jackson.** “I worked 80 hour weeks in the woods, so I know the frustration of not being able to provide for your family no matter how hard you work. When I get to the U.S. Senate, I vow to lower costs across the board for everyday Mainers and be a check on Trump’s irresponsible policies.” ### The food drive comes at a time when working-class folks are putting in more hours and still struggling to get by, due to higher prices and stagnant wages under Collins’ and Trump’s leadership. --- ## News: NEW AD: Jackson Demands Action On Heating Oil, Points To Record Delivering Energy Relief For Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-jackson-demands-action-on-heating-oil-points-to-record-delivering-energy-relief-for-mainers **PORTLAND, ME —** Today, Troy Jackson for Maine [launched](https://www.midcoastvillager.com/news/politics/troy-jackson-presses-susan-collins-on-heating-prices/article_0d30f2d2-7c1d-4088-b936-4c35c35e44da.html) a new ad, “[Act](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3MBrz5tqak)” demanding action to deliver relief to Mainers as the cost of heating oil soars before winter. In the ad, Jackson speaks directly to Mainers and shares his own record of taking immediate action to lower energy costs for Mainers while in the State Senate. **WATCH “**[ACT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3MBrz5tqak)**” HERE:** **Read the full transcript below: ** ***Troy Jackson:* ***It was November 2022, and I was hearing from Mainers worried that they couldn't heat their homes with heating oil at $5.20 a gallon. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***So we took action quickly. I passed a law working with both parties that rushed emergency heating assistance to almost a million Mainers. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***Today, with the war in Iran, heating oil is at $6 a gallon. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***This winter is going to break some people. It's time to act quickly. Again. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm Troy Jackson. I approve this message.* ### Today, Troy Jackson for Maine [launched](https://www.midcoastvillager.com/news/politics/troy-jackson-presses-susan-collins-on-heating-prices/article_0d30f2d2-7c1d-4088-b936-4c35c35e44da.html) a new ad, “[Act](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3MBrz5tqak)” demanding action to deliver relief to Mainers as the cost of heating oil soars before winter. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Raises $20.4 Million in Q3 From Nearly 200,000 Individual Donors URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-raises-204-million-in-q3-from-nearly-200000-individual-donors #### Jackson raised more than 4X as much from Mainers as Susan Collins; nearly 95% of contributions were under $100 **MAINE —** Troy Jackson’s campaign for U.S. Senate raised **$20.4 million in the third quarter**, powered by nearly **200,000 individual donors** and contributions from **all 16 counties in Maine**. **Jackson raised more than four times as much from Mainers as Susan Collins during the quarter**, underscoring the grassroots energy behind his campaign to put working people first in Washington. The campaign received nearly **350,000 contributions** during the quarter, with nearly **95% under $100**. “Working people are tired of a Washington where the people writing the biggest checks get everything they want, while the rest of us struggle to get by,” **said Troy Jackson.** “I know what it’s like to work hard and still worry about paying the bills. That’s who I’m fighting for, and that’s who’s powering this campaign. I owe Donald Trump and the billionaires nothing. I owe the people of Maine everything.” **Jackson’s third-quarter fundraising by the numbers:** - **$20.4 million raised** - **Nearly 200,000 individual donors** - **Nearly 350,000 contributions — and nearly 95% of all contributions were under $100 ** - **More than 4X as much raised from Mainers as Susan Collins** - **Contributions from all 16 counties in Maine** A fifth-generation logger from Allagash, Jackson has spent his career fighting for working people. In the Maine Legislature, he helped lower prescription drug costs, deliver universal school meals, pass paid family and medical leave, and protect abortion rights. He’s running to bring that same fight to the U.S. Senate. ### *Jackson raised more than 4X as much from Mainers as Susan Collins; nearly 95% of contributions were under $100* --- ## News: NEW PSA: Troy Jackson Directs Mainers To Heating Assistance As Iran War Stretches, Winter Approaches URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-psa-troy-jackson-directs-mainers-to-heating-assistance-as-iran-war-stretches-winter-approaches ***Visit* **[JacksonForMaine.com/Heat](http://jacksonformaine.com/Heat)** *for additional information and resources*** **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for US Senate Troy Jackson released a new PSA today sharing information on heating assistance as winter approaches. \ Right now in Maine, energy costs are hitting record highs because of the war in Iran that Susan Collins voted [5 times](https://politifact.com/article/2026/oct/08/live-fact-check-debate-maine-collins-jackson/) against stopping and has yet to hold any oversight hearings on. Diesel in Maine is [hitting](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/traffic/gas-prices/record-diesel-prices-squeeze-maine-truck-drivers-gas-money/97-f29c82ea-9aee-4b04-8a63-48a7dd2545f7) over $6 a gallon and heating oil is [80% more expensive](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/02/business/business-energy/maine-heating-oil-prices-september-28-2026-survey/) as Mainers have to fill up their tanks to keep their homes warm this winter. As Troy says “it's going to be a hard winter for a lot of us. But no one has to face it alone.”Go to [JacksonForMaine.com/Heat](http://jacksonformaine.com/Heat) to find heating assistance near you. **Watch “**[HEAT](https://youtu.be/4WRjWaEicMg)**” here: ** ***Troy Jackson:* ***There's a lot of ads telling you how to vote in November. This isn't one of them. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***With the war in Iran driving up energy costs, it's going to be a hard winter for a lot of us. But no one has to face it alone. There are free wood banks, assistance programs for overdue bills, and energy relief. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***So please, if you're worried about staying warm this winter, go to JacksonForMaine.com/Heat. We've got a list of resources there to point you in the right direction. So stay safe. I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this message.* ### *Visit* [JacksonForMaine.com/Heat](http://jacksonformaine.com/Heat) *for additional information and resources* --- ## News: Troy Jackson Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day Alongside Maine Tribes, Speaking With Tribal Leaders URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-celebrates-indigenous-peoples-day-alongside-maine-tribes-speaking-with-tribal-leaders *[*[@TroyJackson207](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2109657687352918445?s=20)*]* **AUGUSTA, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the communities that first called Maine home, celebrating the heritage of the Wabanaki nations and speaking on the issues that matter most to its members. Troy has a long record of legislative advocacy for the Indigenous people in Maine. As Maine Senate President, he passed legislation improving access to clean drinking water, enforcing the exclusive jurisdiction of tribal courts, enshrining protections for Wabanaki children and their families, and legislation supporting economic development. Troy joined the Wabanaki nations for a celebration of culture and traditions Monday morning. Later on in the day, Troy joined a virtual roundtable with tribal leaders to listen to their priorities and concerns. On the call, Troy vowed to carry on his commitment to tribal issues when he is elected to the U.S. Senate. ### Troy Jackson spent Indigenous Peoples’ Day with the communities that first called Maine home, celebrating the heritage of the Wabanaki nations and speaking on the issues that matter most to its members. --- ## News: NEW AD: Jackson Cuts Taxes For Mainers, While Susan Collins Cuts Taxes For Billionaire Allies URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-jackson-cuts-taxes-for-mainers-while-susan-collins-cuts-taxes-for-billionaire-allies **PORTLAND, ME —** Today, Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://youtu.be/k-HjyQYE_a8?si=VO4_a8wuKMP9NUdn), “Load Of,” highlighting Jackson’s record of cutting taxes for seniors and veterans while Susan Collins and Donald Trump cutting taxes for billionaires at the expense of Mainers. In the ad, Jackson speaks directly to Mainers who know the government isn’t working for working people, and are tired of corrupt politicians like Susan Collins making the top 1% richer while everyday Americans fall further and further behind. **WATCH “**[LOAD OF](https://youtu.be/k-HjyQYE_a8?si=VO4_a8wuKMP9NUdn)**” HERE:** **Read the full transcript below: ** ***Troy Jackson:* ***We hear this from people in Washington all the time. They say people are struggling, but there's nothing we can do.* ***Troy Jackson:*** *But it seems like there's always money for Susan Collins and Donald Trump to give huge tax breaks to their rich billionaire friends. * ***Troy Jackson:*** *Well, I think that is insane. As Senate President, I passed tax cuts for our veterans and our seniors working with both parties to get it done, and I'll do it in the U.S. Senate too.* ***Troy Jackson:*** *I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this ad because working people should keep more of what they earn.* ### Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://youtu.be/k-HjyQYE_a8?si=VO4_a8wuKMP9NUdn), “Load Of,” highlighting Jackson’s record of cutting taxes for seniors and veterans while Susan Collins and Donald Trump cutting taxes for billionaires at the expense of Mainers. --- ## News: Jackson Rallies Supporters In Biddeford with Dropkick Murphys, Encourages Mainers To Hit The Polls URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-rallies-supporters-in-biddeford-with-dropkick-murphys-encourages-mainers-to-hit-the-polls *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/kni86n8z7wx30mcb6gs9m/ALmVj8nzPc8AJOTLSe7fuyI?rlkey=0aa9g5yigr90xv7y6nudsncbd&st=9g35epvt&dl=0) **BIDDEFORD, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined the Maine AFL-CIO for a Working Class Rally in Biddeford yesterday, celebrating solidarity with the Dropkick Murphys and encouraging his union brothers and sisters to get out the vote as we close out the second week of early vote in Maine. Onstage, Troy was joined by Maine union leaders like President of the Maine State Nurses Association Kelli Brennan, Billy Bergeron of the Painters Union (IUPAT), President of the Maine AFL-CIO Cynthia Phinney, and Katie Grinnell, a nurse who was fired during the recent unionization efforts at CMMC. “I've been waiting since I was 29 years old for everyday people to be able to step up and fight for the government that we deserve,” **said Jackson at the rally Friday night. “**Right now is our time all across this state and all across this country.” ### Troy Jackson joined the Maine AFL-CIO for a Working Class Rally in Biddeford yesterday, celebrating solidarity with the Dropkick Murphys and encouraging his union brothers and sisters to get out the vote as we close out the second week of early vote in Maine. --- ## News: Association of Flight Attendants Join Growing List Of Union Endorsements For Troy Jackson URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/association-of-flight-attendants-join-growing-list-of-union-endorsements-for-troy **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson earned the endorsement of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. The endorsement comes as Troy campaigns for Senate with a strong focus on his honest roots as a union member and working-class Mainer who got his political start organizing for loggers in The County. “It’s an incredible honor to have earned the endorsement from my union brothers and sisters at the AFA-CWA, representing over 50,000 flight attendants across the nation,” **said Jackson. **“In Trump’s broken economy, working people are putting in more hours for less pay while people like Susan Collins benefit from stock trading. I got into politics organizing loggers because the people doing the work deserved a fair shake, and that’s what I’ve fought for ever since. In the Senate, I’ll stand with working people fighting for better wages, safer workplaces, the right to organize, and a government that works for them instead of the wealthy and well-connected. It’s time we brought some working-class power to Washington.” “The Association of Flight Attendants is proud to stand with Troy Jackson. We need working class voices in the U.S. Senate yesterday,” **said AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson**. “As a longtime union member and labor organizer, Troy has never forgotten where he came from — and that’s why we can’t wait to work with him in Washington to codify healthcare as a human right, make sure workers share in the prosperity of innovation, and set an agenda for the working class. Jackson is a champion for working people across Maine and across the country. He stands with us. And we stand with him.” This endorsement is the latest addition in a growing list of over twenty unions backing Troy’s campaign for Senate, highlighting his broad, grassroots support across the state. Troy has the support and the [polling](https://www.newsweek.com/troy-jackson-polling-lead-susan-collins-sara-gideon-12292873) to carry his working-class platform across the finish line, and he’s fired up to keep the momentum going. ### The endorsement comes as Troy campaigns for Senate with a strong focus on his honest roots as a union member and working-class Mainer who got his political start organizing for loggers in The County. --- ## News: New Ad Highlights Troy Jackson’s Firsthand Experience Trying To Make Ends Meet For His Family URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-highlights-troy-jacksons-firsthand-experience-trying-to-make-ends-meet-for-his-family **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, the Jackson for Maine campaign released a new TV ad highlighting Troy Jackson’s first hand experience trying to make ends meet and support his family. In the ad, **“**[80 Hours](https://youtu.be/uUMdiEoLo4g)**,”** Jackson, reflects on raising a family while working 80-hour weeks to try and make ends meet, and how those experiences drove him to fight for working people, protect Medicare and Social Security, and cut taxes for working families. *“I'd work 80 hours a week in the woods, and there still wouldn't be enough at the end of the week. You know, I never got a chance to see my kids grow up, and I still didn't make enough for what we needed,”* **says Jackson in the ad. ***“The people in power aren't suddenly going to make it easy for all of us.That's why I've been fighting back to protect Social Security and Medicare, and to cut taxes for working people, because you should keep more of what you earn.” * **WATCH “**[80 HOURS](https://youtu.be/uUMdiEoLo4g)**”:** **Read the full ad script below:** *It was a terrible feeling as a parent. * *I'd work 80 hours a week in the woods, and there still wouldn't be enough at the end of the week. You know, I never got a chance to see my kids grow up, and I still didn't make enough for what we needed. * *The people in power aren't suddenly going to make it easy for all of us. * *That's why I've been fighting back to protect Social Security and Medicare, and to cut taxes for working people, because you should keep more of what you earn. * *Mainers aren't looking for a handout, but we all deserve a fair shot. * *I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this message.* ### In the ad, **“**[80 Hours](https://youtu.be/uUMdiEoLo4g)**,”** Jackson, reflects on raising a family while working 80-hour weeks to try and make ends meet, and how those experiences drove him to fight for working people, protect Medicare and Social Security, and cut taxes for working families. --- ## News: UNITE HERE Joins Growing List Of Unions Endorsing Labor Champion Troy Jackson For U.S. Senate URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/unite-here-joins-growing-list-of-unions-endorsing-labor-champion-troy-jackson-for-us-senate **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, the New England Joint Board UNITE HERE endorsed fifth-generation Mainer and logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. UNITE HERE pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people — from organizing fellow loggers in northern Maine to taking on corporations and powerful special interests as Maine Senate President. “Having the support of The New England Joint Board UNITE HERE is a privilege,” **said Jackson.** “UNITE HERE members are essential to economic growth in this country, and deserve fair compensation, good benefits, and a government that fights for them. Susan Collins has left everyday Mainers behind, turning her focus to the interests of her billionaire donors and Trump’s demands. I've fought for working people all my life, and I’m ready to take that fight to Washington.” “The New England Joint Board UNITE HERE is proud to endorse Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate in Maine,” **said Warren Pepicelli, New England Joint Board UNITE HERE Manager and International Executive Vice President.** “We represent thousands of workers in the textile, manufacturing, warehousing, and hospitality industries across the region. Our union brothers and sisters are tired of politicians like Susan Collins enriching themselves while she votes against our interests, making life less affordable for everyday Mainers. As a former logger and longtime union member, Troy Jackson understands the demands of working people — he is the voice we need in the US Senate.” UNITE HERE’s endorsement adds to the growing coalition of more than twenty unions backing Jackson’s campaign for Senate — a reflection of the broad support he has built from working people across Maine. Jackson has paired that grassroots enthusiasm with strong fundraising and [polling showing him in a competitive position](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) to defeat Susan Collins this November. ### UNITE HERE pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people — from organizing fellow loggers in northern Maine to taking on corporations and powerful special interests as Maine Senate President. --- ## News: Troy Jackson And Sen. Sanders Rally In Lewiston And Biddeford, Firing Up Mainers To Get Out And Vote URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-and-sen-sanders-rally-in-lewiston-and-biddeford-firing-up-mainers-to-get-out-and-vote *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0uztnfzpdixfl69zxkqni/ABwGvJVvCgBLUesRByBSbhM?rlkey=11khwr3wpuxwvuj79gpwp6n4z&st=qucv8w4b&dl=0) **MAINE, USA —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders rallied in Lewiston and Biddeford on Sunday, firing up crowds filled with hundreds of Mainers. Troy and Senator Sanders spoke on their shared priorities of lowering costs for everyday people, ensuring equal access to health care, and standing up for Mainers’ and Americans’ rights and freedoms — all things that have been endangered on Susan Collins’ watch. The pair held three rallies this weekend, speaking with thousands of Mainers across the state encouraging folks to get-out-the-vote as the second week of early voting begins in Maine. “So Senator Collins has had 30 years in Washington. She tells us that she's one of the most powerful people in the U.S. Senate,” **said Troy Jackson.** “So I think that Maine has the right to ask, well, what the hell did she do with it? Why is she a powerful person around election time and powerless when we need her?” “If you believe that Donald Trump and his policies are a danger to the United States and the working families of our country, if you believe that, then we cannot allow the United States Senate to remain a rubber stamp under Republican control,“ **said Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.** ### Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders rallied in Lewiston and Biddeford on Sunday, firing up crowds filled with hundreds of Mainers. --- ## News: Ahead Of 1st Debate, Jackson Highlights Affordability Crisis Facing Working Families URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/ahead-of-1st-debate-jackson-highlights-affordability-crisis-facing-working-families *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/yzse2g227hmfjsc8edsim/ADX45aulZ_DQ3GsflGeNjsY?rlkey=g663rimxwy38ebhhbyevq87xk&st=5m6qw04p&dl=0) **PORTLAND, ME —** Ahead of tonight’s first U.S. Senate debate, fifth-generation logger and Democratic nominee Troy Jackson visited Maine Needs in Portland, delivering donations and meeting with workers and volunteers who help Mainers meet their basic needs. The visit highlighted growing demand for assistance as working families struggle to afford everyday essentials. Jackson discussed his commitment to lowering costs and the consequences of Susan Collins’ support for Donald Trump’s agenda. “I know what it’s like to work 80 hours a week and still wonder how you’re going to pay the bills,” **said Jackson**. “The folks at Maine Needs are doing incredible work looking out for their neighbors. They deserve a senator who does the same. Susan Collins keeps backing Trump while working people pay the price. I fought to lower prescription drug costs and make sure kids could eat at school. I’ll bring that same fight to Washington so Mainers can afford the lives they work so hard to build.” ### Ahead of tonight’s first U.S. Senate debate, fifth-generation logger and Democratic nominee Troy Jackson visited Maine Needs in Portland, delivering donations and meeting with workers and volunteers who help Mainers meet their basic needs. --- ## News: MEA Endorses Jackson, Citing His Legislative Record And Commitment To Fighting For Working Families URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/mea-endorses-jackson-citing-his-legislative-record-and-commitment-to-fighting-for-working-families **PORTLAND, ME** — Today, during a press conference in Portland, the Maine Education Association (MEA) endorsed fifth-generation Mainer and logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. MEA pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people and fighting for teachers and public education — from securing investments in Maine schools, raising wages for school employees, protecting the pension system, and delivering universal school meals so every student can learn on a full stomach. “My mom was a public school teacher, so I grew up seeing how much educators give to their students and their communities. They deserve fair pay, strong benefits, the freedom to organize, and leaders who will listen to them and stand up for public schools,” **said Jackson**. “I’m grateful to have the support of MEA and its members, and I’ll bring the same commitment to educators and working people to the U.S. Senate.” “MEA is proud to endorse Troy Jackson because of his proven track record of standing strong for public education and working-class Mainers. Throughout his two decades in the Maine Legislature, Troy has proven himself to be a relentless champion for working families, public schools, and educators by securing crucial funding, raising wages for school employees, and fighting to protect our pension system,” **said MEA President Jesse Hargrove.** “MEA members know they can count on Troy to not only show up, but listen when making decisions in Washington, D.C. that impact our students and schools—making him the leader our educators, students, and communities need.” MEA’s endorsement adds to the growing coalition of more than twenty unions backing Jackson’s campaign for Senate — a reflection of the broad support he has built from working people across Maine. Jackson has paired that grassroots enthusiasm with strong fundraising and [polling showing him in a competitive position](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) to defeat Susan Collins this November. **Labor endorsements include:** - Maine Building Trades Council - Southern Maine Labor Council - Eastern Maine Labor Council - United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 9A - Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 6 - International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers (IW) Local 7 - United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1445 - United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Local 349 - Interior Systems Union Local 352 - North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters - Millwrights Local 1121. - Communications Workers of America (CWA) - CWA Local 1400 - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) - IBEW Local 567 - IBEW Local 104 - International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) - IUOE Local 4 - AFL-CIO - Maine AFL-CIO - Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA!) - LiUNA! Local 327 - LiUNA! Local 976 - International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) - IUPAT Local DC 35 - International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) - International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) - American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) - Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) - International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) - American Federation of Teachers (AFT) - UNITE HERE - American Federation of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) ### Today, during a press conference in Portland, the Maine Education Association (MEA) endorsed fifth-generation Mainer and logger, longtime union member, and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Roots For Portland Sea Dogs Alongside Carpenters Union Members URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-roots-for-portland-sea-dogs-alongside-carpenters-union-members *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wgif7bdlkmwepj42jau3x/ALNCnDeWuab4yIW1zTzm9NQ?rlkey=9pv0sv9hae2n3x8kkepgtp2w9&st=zwqdhat3&dl=0) **SOUTH PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined Carpenters locals 349 and 352 and other electeds and candidates for public office at the Portland Sea Dogs’ Carpenters Union Political Appreciation Night on Wednesday. Jackson stressed the importance of each union member connecting with their friends and families to ensure Susan Collins retires in November. “This race is about standing shoulder to shoulder with all of you, so we can finally have a Senator who engages with Mainers and has the backs of working people every damn day,” **said Jackson.** “Because the corporations and billionaires sure as hell stick together and elect officials who work for them. It's about time working people had the same thing.” “It’s great to have Troy here tonight standing shoulder to shoulder with union members just like he always does. Carpenters know we can trust Troy to show up for us whether it’s in a legislative fight, on the picket line, or at a Sea Dogs game,” **said John Leavitt, Regional Business Manager at New England Regional Council of Carpenters**. “We have his back in his campaign for U.S. Senate just like he’s always had ours.” Jackson, a member of five different unions over the years, including IUPAT, IUOE, UAW, IAM & LiUNA, has been endorsed by nearly 50 different unions as he runs for U.S. Senate. **Labor endorsements include:** - AFL-CIO — American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations - AFSCME — American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees - AFSCME Council 93 - AFT — American Federation of Teachers - Alliance for Retired Americans - Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 6 - ATU — Amalgamated Transit Union - Committee to Protect Health Care - CWA — Communications Workers of America - CWA Local 1400 - Eastern Maine Labor Council - IAM — International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - IBEW — International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - IBEW Local 104 - IBEW Local 567 - IFPTE — International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers - Interior Systems Union Local 352 - IW — International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers Local 7 - IUOE — International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4 - IUPAT — International Union of Painters and Allied Trades DC 35 - IUOE — International Union of Operating Engineers - IUPAT — International Union of Painters and Allied Trades - LiUNA — Laborers' International Union of North America - LiUNA! Local 327 - LiUNA! Local 976 - Lake Region Indivisible - League of Conservation Voters Action Fund - Local S7 - Maine AFL-CIO - Maine Building & Construction Trades Council - Maine Education Association - Maine State Nurses Association - MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 - National Nurses United - National Education Association - North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters - NPMHU — National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 205 - SMART — International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers - Southern Maine Labor Council - Sunrise Movement - Teamsters Local 340 - UAW Region 9A - UBC & JA Local 349 - UFCW Local 1445 - UNITE HERE - New England Joint Board - United Steelworkers ### Troy Jackson joined Carpenters locals 349 and 352 and other electeds and candidates for public office at the Portland Sea Dogs’ Carpenters Union Political Appreciation Night on Wednesday. --- ## News: BOSTON GLOBE: “Organized labor inspired Troy Jackson’s political career. Now, he’s counting on it." URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/boston-globe-organized-labor-inspired-troy-jacksons-political-career **PORTLAND, ME —** New reporting from the [Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/09/nation/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine/) highlights fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson’s deep labor roots, and his commitment to organized labor and uplifting the voices of working people. After spending a weekend on the trail with Troy, the Boston Globe reporter named the Jackson campaign the most “[labor-pilled campaign](https://x.com/sambrodey/status/2097734354646581628?s=20)” in this midterm cycle. The Boston Globe joined Troy at some of his 13 stops across Maine throughout Labor Day weekend, standing alongside everyday Mainers at picket lines and celebrating the power of organizing at picnics and barbecues. [Read the story](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/09/nation/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine/), or see highlights below: [Boston Globe: Organized labor inspired Troy Jackson’s political career. Now, he’s counting on it to help him beat Susan Collins.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/09/nation/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine/) - *But inside the union hall of the United Steelworkers Local 9, Jackson needed no introduction. Arriving for a cookout last Sunday,* ***he seemingly knew everyone wearing the shirt or hat of their union as he shared hamburgers and inside jokes.* ***That’s because while Platner earned the support of the labor movement,* ***Jackson has lived it****.* - ***His ties with organized labor in Maine span decades****, beginning when he was a pre-teen in the remote north woods of Allagash, watching his logger father participate in a strike. “That really was the beginning for me of* ***understanding more about working class issues and how we get left behind****,” Jackson told the Globe in Skowhegan.* - *After becoming a logger himself, he experienced firsthand what he believed were unfair actions by big conglomerates that wanted to use cheaper Canadian labor over Maine workers — and then* ***ran for office out of outrage****.* ***Along the way, he joined five unions****; he currently is a dues-paying member of three, the biggest national unions representing engineers, machinists, and painters.* - *“****For him, it’s not a transactional relationship****,” Francis Eanes, the executive director of the Maine Labor Climate Council, said at a Lewiston brewery where supporters sang karaoke to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” “He’ll leave the campaign trail and come to our organizing events.* ***He’ll be the first one on the picket line, even at 5 a.m., before the camera people show up****.”* - *“Troy Jackson winning would prove our theory of the case that* ***people want people in office who speak their language, who can actually make a positive change on the issues that matter to everyday working people****,” Shuler said on the eve of Labor Day in Orono, where the University of Maine graduate workers union gathered for a contra dance event to benefit Jackson.* - ***Jackson’s diagnosis of Democrats’ recent woes with the working class is simple: “Overall, we quit talking about economics****,” he said. He acknowledged that some voters fled the party in favor of the GOP over perceptions that Democrats had gone too far on social issues. […] “But* ***we kind of quit talking about everyday working class issues, and that’s where the problem is****.”* - *“****Troy was standing shoulder to shoulder with us well before the Senate or governor’s race,****” said Amanda Gavin, a professor who was a leader of the drive to organize UMaine grad workers and faculty in 2022. “That’s what gives him street cred.”* - ***“That is who Troy really is. He is the working class champion,” she said, “we needed all along.”*** ### After spending a weekend on the trail with Troy, the Boston Globe reporter named the Jackson campaign the most “[labor-pilled campaign](https://x.com/sambrodey/status/2097734354646581628?s=20)” in this midterm cycle. --- ## News: Jackson And Sen. Sanders' Mission To Lower Costs For Mainers Garners Local And National Attention URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-and-sen-sanders-mission-to-lower-costs-for-mainers-garners-local-and-national-attention **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders traveled across the state this weekend, rallying thousands of Mainers behind their shared vision of a government that works for working people. As the second week of early voting begins, Jackson and Sanders encouraged attendees to get-out-the-vote and talk with friends, family, and neighbors about the importance of the upcoming election. The three rallies made waves across the state as media outlets reported on the unprecedented energy in Maine. **See the coverage below: ** [Bangor Daily News: Bernie Sanders rallies with Troy Jackson in Bangor as Senate race tightens](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/10/politics/sanders-rallies-with-jackson-in-bangor-as-senate-race-tightens/) - *Jackson, the former Maine Senate president, focused his remarks on the central message that the government should work for the people, not wealthy donors and corporations. He pointed to his time in the Maine Legislature as an example of his commitment to the people of Maine, and pledged to fight for progressive policies like Medicare for All.* - *“We’re not from the left, we’re not from the right. We’re from the bottom, and we’re rising,” Jackson said. “I’ve had the honor of having some power for 20 years, and I’ve tried to remember one thing: It was never mine. You gave it to me.”* [Portland Press Herald: Troy Jackson, Bernie Sanders bring ‘Solidarity Forever’ tour to Lewiston](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/11/troy-jackson-bernie-sanders-bring-solidarity-forever-tour-to-lewiston/) - *Jackson also focused on Sen. Susan Collins’ shortfalls in her 30 years as a senator, pointing to her tendency to side with Trump and recent pay-to-play allegations. “Senator Collins has had 30 years in Washington. She tells us that she’s one of the most powerful people in the U.S. Senate. So I think that Maine has the right to ask, ‘Well, what the hell did you do with that time?’” Jackson said.* - *“Troy came in like gangbusters,” Schwartz said, speaking to how quickly Jackson managed to build a platform before the election. “It really speaks to the hunger that Mainers have for social justice, economic justice, addressing healthcare issues, addressing housing issues, childcare issues. Troy stands for all the things that I believe Mainers really want.”* [WABI: Bernie Sanders joins Troy Jackson for ‘Solidarity Forever’ tour in Maine](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/10/11/bernie-sanders-joins-troy-jackson-solidarity-forever-tour-maine/) - *“So, I am running around the country and others are doing the same for two goals. Number one, we’ve got to stop Trump. We got to make sure Democrats gain control over the House and the Senate, but that is not enough. We got to make sure that when Democrats do have control over the House and the Senate, they have the guts to stand up to their campaign contributors and fight for an agenda that works for working families.”* - *Former Maine Senate President Jackson said his priorities include protecting and expanding Social Security, supporting unions and schools, and Medicare for All.* [WVII (FOX 22/Fox Bangor): Troy Jackson campaigns with Bernie Sanders in Bangor](https://www.foxbangor.com/news/troy-jackson-campaigns-with-bernie-sanders-in-bangor/article_47637693-8481-4d4a-922b-1c38ff7dbedb.html) - *"People tell me all the time that this is impossible, but when somebody tells me those things are impossible, I've got an answer for them. We've already started doing them here in Maine. When we were told that we couldn't guarantee meals in schools for kids, we did it. And when we were told paid medical family leave was too ambitious, we did it," said Jackson. * - *"When he is elected I hope he will bring attention to working people, he's huge in the labor movement," said Lisa Satchfield, a Maine resident.* [News Center Maine: Bernie Sanders headlines first of three weekend rallies with Troy Jackson in Maine](https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/jackson-and-sanders-pkg-11pm/97-7860faa5-0ec2-4be8-a818-379601b40bd7) - ***Sean Tessler:* ***Jackson focusing his speech on affordability.* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***They're cutting back. They're saving up. They're trying to take care of their families, and they are still falling behind.* - ***Sean Tessler:* ***The Democratic candidate also responding to Susan Collins, saying she is the most bipartisan U.S. senator.* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***Senator Collins starts voting with Trump 96% of the time. Look, look, I'm sorry. I don't care who the president is. That is not independence.* - ***Supporter 1:* ***It might be time for a change here in Maine, and I think he could really bring a good new voice and help bring power back to the people.* [WGME: Bernie Sanders joins Troy Jackson on campaign trail to rally Maine voters](https://wgme.com/news/local/bernie-sanders-joins-troy-jackson-on-campaign-trail-to-rally-maine-voters) - *During the event, Jackson told supporters, “If the people with power weren't going to stand after us, then maybe we should fight and take that power back.”* - *Sanders said the race could help determine which party controls the U.S. Senate, adding, “But if you want, if we as a nation want to hold Trump and his disastrous policies accountable, the only way we can do that is by electing a Democratic Senate.”* [BBC News: CBS's Aaron Navarro interviews live from Bangor Rally with Senator Bernie Sanders and Troy Jackson](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/duyrds2likj6j6vfhlw8u/CBS-Bangor-Rally.mp4?rlkey=9xxymg5ez9igfg6evsthmfvo6&st=3kf96kl0&dl=0) - ***Aaron Navarro:* ***But Democrats and voters I've talked to here feel that it's different this time because of Susan Collins' vote for Justice Kavanaugh as they pinned her for the overturning of Roe v. Wade that was decided in that Dobbs decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. They also feel that Troy Jackson is someone that represents Mainers, has a background that they can connect with. One voter described him as pretty down to earth, so that's the reason why you're seeing a lot of optimism here, and I'm sure Bernie Sanders coming to town, as well as doing more events tomorrow in the Portland area, will help grow that energy.* [WMTW (Portland ABC): Sen. Bernie Sanders Joins Troy Jackson In Bangor Rally](https://www.wmtw.com/article/sen-bernie-sanders-campaigns-with-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-in-solidarity-forever-tour/74104051) - *"Immigrants aren't deciding whether you can afford health care, gas or groceries, and immigrants sure as hell aren't the reason that working people have been getting screwed in this country my whole damn life," stated Jackson.* - *Sanders largely emphasized Democratic control of the Senate, stating the race between Troy Jackson and Republican Sen. Susan Collins holds incredible importance to a Democratic majority. "If you want to hold Donald Trump and his disastrous policies accountable, the only way to do that is by electing a Democratic Senate," added Sanders.* [CNN: Bernie Sanders Stumps for Troy Jackson in Maine this Weekend](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4sjkuojfbtyqkrj22isdv/CNN-Bernie-Sanders-Stumps-for-Troy-Jackson-in-Maine-this-Weekend.mp4?rlkey=lwysxhawkryexnhcimn6631x0&st=k9gn3y6u&dl=0) - ***Arlette Saenz:* ***Senator Bernie Sanders is set to hold his final rally of his swing through Maine here as he is trying to boost the Democratic candidate Troy Jackson in this race. Sanders is really a key motivator for many of the Democratic base here in the state of Maine. [...]* - ***Arlette Saenz:* ***[Troy Jackson] said that he does believe that Sanders can help drive up the vote across the state, with both Democrats and those moderates and Independents. * [USM Free Press: “Trump would say ‘jump,’ and they would say ‘how high?’”: Bernie Sanders rallies with Troy Jackson](https://usmfreepress.org/2452/news/trump-would-say-jump-and-they-would-say-how-high-bernie-sanders-rallies-with-troy-jackson/) - *[Jackson] continued to frame his campaign as an effort to give working-class people a stronger voice in government. “Working people have built this country, and working people ought to have a government that works for them,” Jackson said. “That’s what this campaign is about — it’s what it’s always been about.” “We’re not from the left or the right; we’re from the bottom, and we’re rising,” he added.* - *Jackson also criticized Collins, arguing that her record in Washington has not adequately addressed the economic pressures facing Maine families. “Senator Collins wants a medal for getting road salt off the list,” Jackson said, reiterating a remark he made during a recent debate against Collins. “Well, Senator, we can’t eat road salt! And honestly, the rest of your excuses aren’t tasting very good either.”* [Bates Student Newspaper: Bernie Sanders Joins Troy Jackson for Rally in Lewiston](https://thebatesstudent.com/29141/news/bernie-sanders-joins-troy-jackson-for-rally-in-lewiston/) - *“Senator Collins has had 30 years in Washington,” Jackson said in his speech. “She tells us that she’s one of the most powerful people in the U.S. Senate. So I think that Maine has the right to ask, ‘Well, what the hell did she do with [that power]?’”* - *Jackson has built his campaign around being a lifelong member of the working class, and he spoke frankly about his intent to center Maine’s working class in his campaign and beyond. “It’s different towns, different struggles, but it’s the same damn truth,” Jackson said of his experiences with Mainers on the campaign trail. “People are working harder than ever just to keep their heads above water.”* ### Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders traveled across the state this weekend, rallying thousands of Mainers behind their shared vision of a government that works for working people. --- ## News: TROY JACKSON WINS FINAL DEBATE HOLDING COLLINS ACCOUNTABLE FOR VOTING WITH TRUMP 96% OF THE TIME URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-wins-final-debate-holding-collins-accountable-for-voting-with-trump-96-of-the-time #### JACKSON: “What I know is 100% of the time, when Donald Trump goes to Susan Collins for a vote, he gets it.” **BANGOR, ME** **—** Tonight, Troy Jackson, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, won the fourth and final debate, driving home that Susan Collins can’t be trusted to fight for Mainers — only for Donald Trump. Jackson showed a clear contrast between his record of lowering costs for Mainers and Susan Collins’ record increasing them. On the first day of Medicare Open Enrollment, **Troy Jackson held Susan Collins accountable for her vote to advance Trump’s health care cuts that are set to raise prices for the people of Maine**. He challenged Collins over her voting with Trump 96% of the time. Jackson also laid out his health care vision – taking on Big Pharma, passing Medicare for All, lowering prescription drug costs, keeping rural hospitals open, and ensuring that families don’t go broke from a visit to the doctor – and recommitted to his central campaign promise of fighting for working people. Major moments of the night came as Jackson slammed Collins for voting with Trump 100% of when he needs her and held her accountable for handing out tax cuts to billionaires on the backs of Mainers’ health care. “Tonight, Troy Jackson forced Susan Collins to take accountability for betraying Maine families and voting with Trump 96% of the time even when it meant advancing devastating cuts to Mainers’ health care and a war in Iran that’s driving up costs. Unlike Susan Collins, Troy believes that no Mainer should go bankrupt from a visit to the doctor or from filling up their heating oil tank for the winter,” **said campaign manager Hilary Barrett.** “Troy’s won four out of four debates by standing on the side of working people while Susan Collins tried to explain away her disastrous record that’s made life harder for families in Maine.“ #### TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM TONIGHT’S DEBATE: **1) After Susan Collins tried to split hairs on percentages in a desperate attempt to seem independent, Jackson fired back that when Donald Trump asks for her vote, he gets it** **— 100% of the time.** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110876766055362976?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “They called her a team player for doing that. Look, if she wants to argue about percentages — 92, 95, 96 — Fine. What I know is 100% of the time, when Donald Trump goes to Susan Collins for a vote, he gets it.” **2) While Collins complains about the national deficit, Jackson reminds her the debt climbed under her watch while she gave tax breaks to billionaires. ** ** [**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110878549737709819?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “I don't know what world Senator Collins is in where [when] she started out, we had 4 trillion in debt; now we have 40 trillion debt under her watch, and somehow it's my fault. In Maine we have a balanced budget. Has it grown? Yes, but it's still balanced. And Senator Collins keeps giving income tax cuts to the wealthiest people, blowing up our debt. She doesn't care about everyday working class people. She took health care away. She's taking SNAP benefits away. It's just insane to stand there and try to argue that it's my fault that she increased the debt $36 trillion, but that's the world that Senator Collins lives in.” **3) On the war in Iran, Jackson holds Collins accountable for letting Trump’s war continue when she had the power to do something to stop it. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110879093281480901?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “I mean, we did have an agreement with Iran. President Obama had gotten an agreement, President Trump tore it up, and now we're stuck in another forever war that Senator Collins, with all her power and might of chair of appropriations, could have done more about. Could still do more about it.” **4) After Collins makes more excuses for the blank check she sent to ICE, Jackson commits to accountability and abolishing ICE. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110881502754197676?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**Well, once again, it was Johann Sebastián Guerrero that was murdered in Bidderford. [...] Luckily, his daughter wasn't there, or she wouldn't be with us either. [...] Senator Collins just brought up once again how they're not vetted, they're not trained well. I wouldn't give them a blank check like she did. I mean, even the body cameras — they don't actually have to turn the video over if they think it's detrimental to the agency. There's no safeguards there. [...] But I mean, we're seeing a murder almost every week in this country now with ICE, and there's nothing to happen about it. Why does the delegation have to get together and ask for an inspection when something so critical has happened? I mean, a murder in our streets.” **5) While Susan Collins defends the Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade thanks to her votes, Troy Jackson calls it what it is — “the best court that money can buy.”** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110887747565035992?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “We have the best court that money can buy right now, and I think that has to be turned over.” **One for the road… When asked if she regrets her vote to confirm RFK Jr, Collins pivots, dodges, sidesteps the question … only to say “no.” ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110890646156251460?s=20)**]** ** Moderator:** “Do you want to say yes or no quickly on RFK? Is that a regret or not? **Susan Collins:** No. ### ***JACKSON:*** *“What I know is 100% of the time, when Donald Trump goes to Susan Collins for a vote, he gets it.”* --- ## News: NEW AD: Jackson Calls Out Collins For Leaving Everyday Mainers To Struggle To Afford Home Heating URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-jackson-calls-out-collins-for-leaving-everyday-mainers-to-struggle-to-afford-home-heating **PORTLAND, ME —** Today, Troy Jackson for Maine launched a new ad, “[Click](https://youtu.be/AczECvFrqPc?si=3PuC8kE1AbvzSigs),” calling out Susan Collins’ refusal to stand up to Trump to end the war in Iran as energy costs spike for Mainers. In the ad, Troy speaks directly to working class families across the state who are struggling to afford home heating oil — which has [spiked by 80%](https://www.mainepublic.org/climate/2026-09-25/maine-posts-record-breaking-heating-oil-prices-amid-iran-war) since this time last year — as winter quickly approaches. In “[Click](https://youtu.be/AczECvFrqPc?si=3PuC8kE1AbvzSigs),” Jackson slams Collins for her inaction, saying if she “wanted to do something about it, she would have done something already.” Collins’ refusal to use her appropriations gavel to stop the war in Iran while she voted to enable the war five times ties into her disappointing and relentless pattern of placing the interest of Trump and her billionaire donors before Mainers’. **WATCH “**[CLICK](https://youtu.be/AczECvFrqPc?si=3PuC8kE1AbvzSigs)**” HERE:** **Read the full transcript below: ** ***Troy Jackson:* ***It's that time of year again — when mornings are getting cold, and everyone I talk to is worried about heating their homes. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***It's going to be a challenge, no question about it. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***Today, heating oil is over $6 a gallon, and instead of helping us, Susan Collins is funding this reckless war in Iran that is driving our costs through the roof. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***If Susan Collins wanted to do something about it, she would have done something already. It's time to stand up to Trump. * ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm Troy Jackson. I approve this message because we need to end this war.* ### Today, Troy Jackson for Maine launched a new ad, “[Click](https://youtu.be/AczECvFrqPc?si=3PuC8kE1AbvzSigs),” calling out Susan Collins’ refusal to stand up to Trump to end the war in Iran as energy costs spike for Mainers. --- ## News: In Final Debate, Collins Fails To Name A Time She Made a Difference For Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/in-final-debate-collins-fails-to-name-a-time-she-made-a-difference-for-mainers ##### [NEWS CENTER Maine](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/sen-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson-debate-for-the-fourth-and-final-time-pitching-one-last-message-to-voters/97-54f73e09-24a7-4b19-8664-d4f213d2af77): “When asked point blank to name a vote against her party that changed the outcome, Collins failed to name one.” ##### [Bangor Daily News:](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/15/liveblog/health-secretary-robert-jr-asked-jr-collins/) “Collins doesn’t regret confirming RFK Jr.” ##### [Huffpost:](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/live-updates_n_6acc9961e4b0a568b68e46d5/liveblog_6ad16b23e4b0bfd256576c5b) “Susan Collins Makes A Telling Blunder On Her Record Of Breaking With Trump” **BANGOR, ME —** Fifth-generation Mainer, logger, and Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson won the final of four debates last night, forcing Senator Collins to answer for her record of siding with Trump, even when it cuts health care and drives up costs for Mainers. The debate fell on the first day of Medicare Open Enrollment and Jackson made a point to hold Susan Collins accountable for her vote to advance Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill that cut $1 trillion in Medicaid funding. Standing in front of an unscreened audience for the first time this cycle, Senator Collins was forced to answer to her constituents on leaving Mainers behind while she and her billionaire cronies get richer and richer. See what folks are saying about the debate below. **What Mainers are seeing about Jackson’s victory in the final debate: ** **News Center Maine:** [Sen. Susan Collins and Troy Jackson debate for the fourth and final time, pitching one last message to voters](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/sen-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson-debate-for-the-fourth-and-final-time-pitching-one-last-message-to-voters/97-54f73e09-24a7-4b19-8664-d4f213d2af77) - *Democrats and critics of Collins often accuse her of only breaking with her party when she knows it to be inconsequential to the end result. [...] When asked point blank to name a vote against her party that changed the outcome, Collins failed to name one.* - *Criticized as a rubber stamp herself, Collins was asked if she regretted any of her cabinet appointment votes for the second Trump administration. The senator walked around the question, saying she disagrees with some policies of both DHHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Russell Vought, but ultimately does not regret approving Kennedy.* **Maine Morning Star:** [In final debate, Collins and Jackson share different outlooks on future of democracy](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/10/15/in-final-debate-collins-and-jackson-share-different-outlooks-on-future-of-democracy/) - *Collins called the U.S. “the greatest nation on earth,” before saying presidents from both parties have tried to expand their power historically. “I think that Congress does need to keep reasserting itself,” she said. “But I think our democracy will be just fine.”* - *Jackson responded that it would not be fine if the administration takes away people’s voting rights. Trump has attempted to restrict voting by mail, purge voter rolls and send sensitive personal information to the Department of Homeland Security, among other efforts. * - *The Democrat pinned the future of democracy on his party taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to be able to hold Trump accountable. “The Republicans have totally given up their willingness to do that,” he said.* **Bangor Daily News:** [Collins says she opposes dark money. It’s helping her campaign.](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/15/liveblog/senate-leadership-fund-mccain-feingold-collins-nation/) - *“I don’t think there should be dark money groups,” Collins said.* - *Groups that don’t disclose their donors have been among the biggest funders of the effort to reelect her. One Nation, which doesn’t reveal its donors, supplied about 28% of the money raised through June by the Senate Leadership Fund, the biggest advertiser against Jackson.* **Bangor Daily News:** [Collins doesn’t regret confirming RFK Jr.](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/15/liveblog/health-secretary-robert-jr-asked-jr-collins/) - * Asked whether she regrets voting to confirm Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., [...] she said she agrees with his focus on chronic diseases and ultra-processed foods.* - *Pressed for a yes or no, she said it wasn’t a regret [...].* **Maine Public:** [Key takeaways from the final, fiery debate between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-10-16/key-takeaways-from-the-final-fiery-debate-between-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson) - *"They will not stop Donald Trump and I do think our democracy is risk," Jackson said before accusing Trump of trying to suppress the vote in November. "Donald Trump is trying every trick in the book to keep power. And we've already seen what he will do on Jan. 6 when he led an insurrection."* - *And he repeated one of his favorite statistics — that Collins allegedly votes with Trump 96% of the time. "The reality is that 100% of the time, when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there," Jackson said. "The votes that she throws away are managed votes that she already knows the outcome."* **Huffpost:** [Susan Collins Makes A Telling Blunder On Her Record Of Breaking With Trump](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/live-updates_n_6acc9961e4b0a568b68e46d5/liveblog_6ad16b23e4b0bfd256576c5b) - *Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Thursday fumbled a response to a question about her record of breaking with the Republican Party and President Donald Trump.* - *“Can you name a time when you voted against your party and President Trump where it actually changed the outcome significantly?,” Phil Hirschkorn, a moderator for Thursday’s Maine Senate debate, asked.* - *“At one point, I had organized people to vote against Secretary Hegseth,” Collins said. “So, that didn’t change the outcome,” Hirschkorn said. “Well but…it would have had that person stayed there,” Collins responded.* **NBC News:** [Sen. Susan Collins defends vote to confirm HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-maine-alaska-senate-2026-midterms-ai-task-force-live-updates-rcna603568/rcrd121658?canonicalCard=true) - *Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, tonight stood by her vote to help confirm Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to his post, though she said she disagrees with his stance on vaccines.* - *Pushed again about whether she specifically regrets her vote [to confirm RFK], Collins said: "No. As I said, I agree with him on some issues. I don't with others."* **Hill:** [Collins, Jackson trade jabs in final Maine Senate debate: 3 takeaways](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6152820-susan-collins-troy-jackson-debate-takeaways/) - *When asked to name a time where she voted against Trump and significantly changed the outcome, Collins pointed to her efforts to block Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation. [...] She was quickly called out for not changing the outcome of a vote, with Hegseth still leading the Pentagon.* - *Jackson pounced on the moment and accused Collins of only breaking with Trump and the GOP when her vote is not needed. “The reality is that 100 percent of the time, when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there,” Jackson said.* **MS NOW:** [Pressed on her work with Trump, Maine’s Collins trips over key part of her record](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/susan-collins-maine-debate-trump-republicans-midterm-elections) - *In other words, the longtime GOP senator has demonstrated a willingness to break ranks, except when her vote might actually affect the outcome. Or, as the Times’ report put it, “one of the most dominant and long-running lines of attack against her” is that Collins “only defies the president when it doesn’t matter.”* - *Remember, Collins has faced one specific criticism throughout her re-election bid, and it was highlighted by The New York Times in a front-page article published this week. The senator and her team had plenty of time to come up with examples (any example!) to prove her critics wrong. But she couldn’t. Then, presented with the opportunity and platform, Collins flubbed it, effectively proving the underlying point.* **News Center Maine:** [Collins & Jackson Debate for Final Time](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9puz6dn6x163y9ruz00nh/10.16.26-NewsCenter-Maine-Collins-and-Jackson-Debate-for-Final-Time.mp4?rlkey=pudz7ophc4iehs6c95qrynfv2&st=3m499zb3&dl=0) - ***Christian Harsa:*** *Republican Senator Susan Collins, who prides herself on being a moderate, did not have an example of when she broke from her party and an outcome changed.* - ***Susan Collins:* ***At one point, I had organized people to vote against Secretary Hegseth* - ***Christian Harsa:* ***Until one republican voted for him* - ***Moderator:* ***So that didn’t change the outcome?* - ***Susan Collins:* ***Well but it would have had that person stayed there. [...]* - ***Moderator:* ***Do you want to say yes or no quickly on RFK? Is that a regret?* - ***Susan Collins:* ***No.* **Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund [**[@PPMEAF](https://x.com/PPMEAF/status/2110883369995338163?s=20)**]:** *Troy Jackson’s leadership in the legislature is the reason Maine has strong laws protecting access to abortion and related care. We can trust him with our rights as our next US Senator. #MEPolitics* **Mike Nellis, Endless Urgency [**[@MikeNellis](https://x.com/MikeNellis/status/2110897695728472500?s=20)**]:** *A voter at tonight’s debate asked Susan Collins if she thinks our democracy is under attack. Her answer: “I think our democracy will be just fine.” Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act before the midterms, and Susan Collins thinks we’re fine. Maine deserves better.* [NEWS CENTER Maine](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/elections/sen-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson-debate-for-the-fourth-and-final-time-pitching-one-last-message-to-voters/97-54f73e09-24a7-4b19-8664-d4f213d2af77)*: “When asked point blank to name a vote against her party that changed the outcome, Collins failed to name one.”* [Bangor Daily News:](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/15/liveblog/health-secretary-robert-jr-asked-jr-collins/) *“Collins doesn’t regret confirming RFK Jr.”* [Huffpost:](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/live-updates_n_6acc9961e4b0a568b68e46d5/liveblog_6ad16b23e4b0bfd256576c5b) *“Susan Collins Makes A Telling Blunder On Her Record Of Breaking With Trump”* --- ## News: NEW: Lockheed Gave Collins Thousands; She Delivered Funding For Their Scandal-Ridden Program URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-lockheed-gave-collins-thousands-she-delivered-funding-for-their-scandal-ridden-program **MAINE, USA —** New reporting featured in [The Intercept](https://theintercept.com/2026/10/15/susan-collins-lockheed-martin-f35-fighter-jet/) and [Portland Press Herald](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/15/lockheed-martin-showered-susan-collins-with-cash-as-f-35-program-hit-turbulence/?link_id=1&can_id=eb0d458620a7181d9f20338ea95a4e9d&source=email-in-bangor-maine-health-care-professionals-slam-susan-collins-for-failing-to-protect-mainers-health-care&email_referrer=email_3453513&email_subject=new-collins-corruption-lockheed-martin-showered-susan-collins-with-cash-as-f-35-program-hit-turbulence-the-intercept-portland-press-herald) details that in the two months following a critical federal watchdog report on the F-35, **Lockheed Martin employees and executives, including its CEO and COO, gave Maine Senator Susan Collins $59,500**. She was the company’s top recipient, and weeks later she voted to fund 83 more F-35s – despite the jets being behind schedule and well over budget. The report follows a familiar pattern for Collins: corporations and corporate PACs pour money into her campaign and linked committees, and then she steers government funding their way. [ProPublica previously reported](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) on an FBI investigation into an alleged pay-to-play scheme involving defense contractors tied to Collins, and more than 250 Mainers have [asked](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/10/14/more-than-250-mainers-request-maine-ag-investigate-collins-corruption-allegations/) the attorney general to investigate. **Maine families deserve to know who their senator is working for. Troy Jackson will put them first, with no strings attached.** [The Intercept: Lockheed Martin Showered Susan Collins with Cash as F-35 Program Hit Turbulence](https://theintercept.com/2026/10/15/susan-collins-lockheed-martin-f35-fighter-jet/) - *Lockheed and its lobbyists went on a charm offensive in Washington. The weapons maker shelled out hundreds of thousands over a two-month period, in what the money-in-politics watchdog Open Secrets described as “one of the largest coordinated lobbying efforts” around that year’s military budget.* - ***No member of Congress benefited more than Sen. Susan Collins****, R-Maine, who at the time served as the ranking member on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.* - *From May 1 to June 30, 2023, employees and top executives from* ***Lockheed Martin donated $59,500 to Collins’s campaign committee.*** - *The donations were outliers during that period:*** *Collins was among the largest recipients of Lockheed cash; the company was her largest single donor over those two months; and it was the largest spending blitz on Collins by Lockheed compared to the same period in other years.*** - *The effort appeared to pay off for Lockheed. In July 2023, less than two months after the release of the Government Accountability Office report,* ***Collins voted in favor of appropriating funds to purchase 83 new F-35 jets.* ***Later that year, when the final version of the military budget was signed into law,* ***Collins celebrated the economic boon she said it would bring to the state of Maine.*** - *Last month, a bombshell report in ProPublica detailed an*[FBI investigation into an alleged pay-to-play scheme](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation)*. A former defense contractor claimed to federal agents that* ***he worked with figures tied to Collins to disguise campaign donations — and got federal contracts totaling $32 million in return.*** ### New reporting featured in The Intercept and Portland Press Herald details that in the two months following a critical federal watchdog report on the F-35, Lockheed Martin employees and executives, including its CEO and COO, gave Maine Senator Susan Collins $59,500. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Hosts Patriots Watch Party With Fans At Portland Bowling Alley URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-hosts-patriots-watch-party-with-fans-at-portland-bowling-alley **PORTLAND, ME —** On Sunday, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined supporters and football fans at a Portland bowling alley to watch the New England Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pats watch party was the latest stop in Troy’s campaign for U.S. Senate, meeting everyday Mainers where they are across the state. “There’s no better place to be on a Sunday than watching a football game with friends,” **said Jackson.** “It was great to meet supporters and talk about what’s at stake for working Mainers this November. Under Trump and Collins’ broken economy, costs across the board are up, making it that much harder for everyday people to get by – even on game day you can’t escape it. When I get to the U.S. Senate, I promise to make life more affordable and fight for a government that works for working people again.” ### “There’s no better place to be on a Sunday than watching a football game with friends,” **said Jackson.** “It was great to meet supporters and talk about what’s at stake for working Mainers this November." --- ## News: In Third Debate, Jackson Holds Collins Accountable For Selling Out Mainers To Trump URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/in-third-debate-jackson-holds-collins-accountable-for-selling-out-mainers-to-trump #### [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/maine-senate-debate-collins-jackson.html?eafs_enabled=false): “Senator Collins wants credit for her power. I believe you have to be responsible for what you do with it.” #### [Bangor Daily News](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/13/liveblog/susan-collins-troy-jackson-troy-jackson-oct/): Jackson closes on Biddeford: Collins ‘paid for the bullets’ **BANGOR, ME —** Fifth-generation Mainer, logger, and Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Troy Jackson won last night’s third debate by holding Susan Collins accountable for how she uses her power — and who pays the price. On the three-month anniversary of the fatal ICE shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Jackson challenged Collins over her support for funding the agency without adequate oversight. He also pressed her on the costs of Donald Trump’s trade war, the war in Iran, and the federal investigation into her ties to a defense contractor and donor. **As Jackson said in his** [closing statement](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110166023928467628?s=20) **“Senator Collins paid for the bullets at Donald Trump’s command. Now she wants credit for not pulling the trigger.” ** **What Mainers are seeing about Jackson’s victory in debate #3: ** [Bangor Daily News: Jackson closes on Biddeford: Collins ‘paid for the bullets’](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/13/liveblog/susan-collins-troy-jackson-troy-jackson-oct/) - *“Senator Collins paid for the bullets at Donald Trump’s command. Now she wants credit for not pulling the trigger,” Jackson said.* - *He again said Collins gave ICE $70 billion “without the reforms that Mainers deserved” weeks before the shooting. * [Portland Press Herald: Jackson reaffirms call to abolish ICE](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/13/susan-collins-and-troy-jackson-square-off-in-latest-debate/#f4145a7c-cd9b-401f-b462-3ccdb958f9a8) - *Jackson made a point to name the man killed by ICE in Biddeford three months ago: Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero.* - *Jackson said he supports law enforcement investigating bad guys, but he said ICE has grown incapable of doing so effectively. Instead, he'd put money into Customs and Border Protection, he said.* [Bangor Daily News: Jackson seizes on Collins’ admission that ICE agents lacked training](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/13/liveblog/johan-sebastian-duran-guerrero-homeland-security-collins/) - *“I think what happened is far too many ICE officers were hired and deployed without adequate vetting and training,” Collins said.* - *Jackson turned that against her. He said the agent who killed Johan Sebastian Duran Guerrero in Biddeford was part of a force Collins herself says wasn’t properly vetted, and he called ICE “a rogue agency that’s doing Donald Trump’s bidding.” He said Customs and Border Protection could take over ICE’s work on trafficking and drug smuggling, which Collins cited as reasons not to abolish it.* [Maine Morning Star: Three takeaways from the latest Senate debate between Collins and Jackson](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/10/13/three-takeaways-from-the-latest-senate-debate-between-collins-and-jackson/) - *Jackson described Mainers’ choice as one between “a senator who helps Donald Trump hurt Maine, then tells us how concerned she is, or somebody will stand up against him before another family in Maine has to pay the price,” referring to the fatal U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting of Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford three months ago. * [Bangor Daily News: Jackson: ‘We should have never had a list’](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/13/liveblog/st-john-river-she-canadian-trump-madawaska/) - *Jackson said those wins don’t make up for a trade war Congress could have stopped.* - *“I’m not going to give Senator Collins credit for getting some things off the list when we should have never had a list,” Jackson said.* [Portland Press Herald: 3 takeaways from the 3rd Maine Senate debate between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/13/3-takeaways-from-the-3rd-maine-senate-debate-between-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson/) - *After Collins raised the issue of Medicaid fraud, the Democrat brought up recent ProPublica reporting about the FBI investigating whether Collins’ orbit was steering federal funding to a defense contractor and donor. “I’m shocked that you’re talking about fraud, because there’s only one person up here that’s been accused of that by the FBI,” he said.* - *Jackson has repeatedly hit Collins for advancing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extended tax cuts for the wealthy and slashed $1 trillion in public health funding. Many of the cuts will take effect after the midterms.* - *“I don’t know how you could stand up here and argue that it’s a good thing to let them out onto our population, out onto the American public, when we’ve seen consistently that they will murder people if you don’t comply explicitly with them,” Jackson said.* [WABI: Collins, Jackson spar over energy costs, health care in third Maine Senate debate](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/10/14/collins-jackson-spar-over-energy-costs-health-care-third-maine-senate-debate/) - *Jackson attacked Collins’ record on the Iran war, noting she chairs the Appropriations Committee: “She talks about how she voted nine times against the war... she’s the chair of Appropriations. If she wants to stop the war, she can cut the funding off.” [...] Jackson claimed she first voted five times to enable it before opposing it.* - *Jackson fired back, referencing a ProPublica article from last week: “I’m shocked that you’re talking about fraud because there’s only one person up here that’s been accused of that by the FBI.”* [Hill: Collins, Jackson duke it out in third Maine Senate debate: 3 takeaways](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6146875-collins-jackson-third-maine-senate-debate-takeaways/) - *On the Iran war, Jackson accused the senator of voting to support Trump’s military authorization “because she does whatever Donald Trump wants.” “And when Susan Collins had the chance to stop him, because she’s chair of [the Senate Appropriations Committee], she would not do that,” Jackson said. “And that’s where we are right now.”* - *Jackson said during Tuesday’s debate that he was shocked to hear Collins talk about routing out fraud at the state level because “there’s only one person up here that’s been accused of that by the FBI.”* [USA TODAY: Iran War and heating oil take center stage in Maine Senate debate](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/10/13/collins-and-jackson-clash-in-third-maine-senate-debate-see-3-takeaways/92241407007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p) - *Jackson argued that Collins could have stopped Trump from starting the war, then she opposed it when it was too late. Collins stressed that she has joined Democrats in voting against the war several times, but that they didn’t have the votes. “Well, that sounds like then we probably ought to have Democrats in charge of the U.S. Senate so that we have the votes to stop this war,” Jackson replied.* - *Jackson leaned into the oft-cited argument against Collins: that despite stressing her moderation, she doesn’t stand up to Trump enough. “Senator Collins wants credit for her power. I believe you have to be responsible for what you do with it,” * [Daily Beast: Desperate Must-Win Republican Throws Trump Under the Bus](https://www.thedailybeast.com/desperate-must-win-republican-susan-collins-throws-trump-under-the-bus) - *Jackson said Trump got America into the war, then noted, “He doesn’t have a plan about how to get out of it. It isn’t going the way that he expected and we’re in a real mess. We’re in another forever war, that again, Senator Collins could have stopped.”* - *He added, “Right now, there is no plan to get out of this war, and it might go months, it may go another year... you’re gonna see people that are gonna go bankrupt, you’re gonna see people that’ll lose their homes... because Donald Trump wanted to play war games and when Susan Collins had the chance to stop him, because she’s chair of Appropriations, she would not do that.”* [New York Times: 5 Takeaways From a Heated and Personal Maine Senate Debate](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/maine-senate-debate-collins-jackson.html?eafs_enabled=false) - *“Tonight I believe you heard two very different ideas of what a senator owes the people of Maine,” Mr. Jackson said. “Senator Collins wants credit for her power. I believe you have to be responsible for what you do with it.”* - *“Senator Susan Collins says that she voted against it nine times, but she didn’t have the votes,” Mr. Jackson said. “Well that sounds like then we probably ought to have Democrats in charge of the U.S. Senate so that we have the votes.”* [WMTW: Sen. Susan Collins & Troy Jackson Meet For Third U.S. Senate Debate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/435xro7g9t8hy0d4xicq6/WMTW-Sen.-Susan-Collins-Troy-Jackson-Meet-For-Third-U.S.-Senate-Debate.mp4?rlkey=o46jak6054btgimu6son7lbd7&st=4gifwjtr&dl=0) - ***Troy Jackson:*** *I think we did have an agreement before Donald Trump tore it up and decided to go to war, and you know, Senator Collins says she voted against it nine times, but she didn’t have the votes, that sounds then like we probably ought to have Democrats in charge of the U.S. Senate so that we have the votes to stop this war."* [Bloomberg Radio: Third Maine Senate Debate](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/c8gcrd9ovn0p7i5urs9op/Bloomberg-Radio-Third-Maine-Senate-Debate.mp3?rlkey=klc2e0xhayjfjbitv8r7fraup&st=1t9glb18&dl=0) - ***Host:* ***Jackson went after Collins when she said she was concerned about fraud in Medicare and Medicaid. * - ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm shocked that you're talking about fraud, because there's only one person up here that's been accused of that by the FBI. * - ***Host:* ***Troy Jackson pointed to a political report that the FBI looked into Collins' contacts with a donor who was seeking federal contracts.* **Jeff Evan Gold, CNN [**[@jeffgoldsq](https://x.com/jeffgoldesq/status/2110147094027833778)**]:** *Susan Collins wanting 4 debates was calculated to show off her experience but in the end it is making Jackson a familiar and acceptable candidate. #2ndMaineSenateDebate* **Jordan Wood [**[@JordanWood](https://x.com/JordanWood/status/2110151372054180100)**]:** *I hope all my fellow Maine voters are watching this debate. Troy is 🔥🔥.* **Jon Cooper [**[@JonCooperTweets](https://x.com/joncoopertweets/status/2110206112398021056?s=20)**]:** *Anyone who watched tonight’s debate between Troy Jackson and Susan Collins knows that Jackson won the political night. Collins needed a win tonight, but the most memorable attacks and the best viral clips belonged to Jackson.* ### [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/13/us/politics/maine-senate-debate-collins-jackson.html?eafs_enabled=false)*: “Senator Collins wants credit for her power. I believe you have to be responsible for what you do with it.”* [Bangor Daily News](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/13/liveblog/susan-collins-troy-jackson-troy-jackson-oct/)*: Jackson closes on Biddeford: Collins ‘paid for the bullets’* --- ## News: ON ANNIVERSARY OF ICE SHOOTING, JACKSON WILL HOLD COLLINS ACCOUNTABLE FOR SENDING ICE BILLIONS URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/on-anniversary-of-ice-shooting-jackson-will-hold-collins-accountable-for-sending-ice-billions #### Three months after the murder of Johan Sebastián Guerrero, Troy will face Susan Collins on the debate stage for a third time **BANGOR, ME** **—** On the three month anniversary of the murder of Johan Sebastián Guerrero by ICE agents in Biddeford, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson will face Susan Collins in their third debate tonight, pressing her on the $70 billion she handed to ICE with no guardrails or oversight. *Troy Jackson at Rally in Biddeford calls to Abolish ICE* [[@TroyJackson207](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2109775303413321765?s=20)] Even after the fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford, Susan Collins continued defending her vote to give the agency billions more and maintained her support for the rogue agency and its leadership, raising the question of how Mainers can trust her to protect their rights and freedoms. In contrast, Jackson has been clear: ICE must be abolished. He[supports](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/21/maines-senate-race-where-susan-collins-and-troy-jackson-stand-on-immigration-policy/) comprehensive immigration reform and replacing the agency with accountable immigration enforcement that respects due process, protects public safety, and treats people humanely. Troy believes Mainers deserve accountability — and an immigration system they can trust, not masked raids and fear. “On July 13, tragedy struck Maine when rogue ICE agents shot and killed Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero – a 25 year old man who got up that day to go to work to provide for his family and his little girl,” **said Jackson.** “Three months later, Susan Collins is still making excuses. But the truth is she has voted to give ICE tens of billions of dollars. And after what happened in Biddeford, she still says ICE shouldn't be abolished. Tonight, she must answer for that.” Tonight’s debate airs on [WABI and WAGM](http://jacksonformaine.com/debate) at 7:00 p.m. ET. **WHAT COLLINS MUST ANSWER FOR TONIGHT** - **Defending ICE funding after a Mainer’s death.** Collins [defended her vote for the additional ICE funding even after the fatal shooting](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/sen-susan-collins-criticizes-iran-war-strategy-after-visit-to-maine-defense-manufacturer-biddeford-maine-senate-race/97-c1daf8eb-43a4-45ef-9c81-fa8ba7e957c0). - **Billions more without meaningful accountability.** Collins, the Chair of Appropriations, [voted to give ICE](https://newrepublic.com/article/213371/trump-ice-maine-screws-susan-collins) [another $70 billion in additional funding](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/09/politics/house-passes-ice-border-patrol-funding-trump) just one month before the fatal shooting in Biddeford. - **Opposing funding for body cameras.** In June, Collins [voted against an amendment to provide $300 million for ICE body cameras](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00157.htm). - **Standing by ICE’s Leaders.** Collins voted to confirm Department of Homeland Security Secretaries [Kristi Noem](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00017.htm) and [Markwayne Mullin](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00063.htm) and she continued to [support](https://www.wmtw.com/article/sen-susan-collins-still-supports-dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-and-funding-for-ice/70193393) ICE’s leadership even after the agency [terrorized](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/were-being-terrorized-what-mainers-are-seeing-as-ice-launches-operation-in-the-state) Mainers. - **Voting with Trump 96% of the time even when it hurts Mainers.** Collins [voted to advance](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-06-30/as-vote-nears-sen-king-calls-trump-budget-bill-irresponsible-while-collins-remains-undecided?link_id=4&can_id=b800056cdc2f7ec92bed12a7d148c309&source=email-collins-confirms-two-more-anti-choice-judges&email_referrer=email_2955715&email_subject=freudian-slip-susan-collins-appeared-to-take-credit-for-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act&&) Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that gutted Mainers’ health care to deliver tax cuts for billionaires. Susan Collins has [backed](https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/03/04/2026/senator-collins-statement-on-iran-war-powers-resolution) Trump’s war in Iran that has [increased](https://wgme.com/news/local/in-maine-officials-say-fuel-prices-jumped-41-since-the-war-in-iran-began) the cost of gas and energy. Collins[confirmed Brett Kavanaugh](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00223.htm) despite pleas and warnings from Mainers and [said repeatedly that she does not regret that vote](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-brett-kavanaugh-vote-graham-platner-maine-senate-race/97-b2ec9709-ce9a-4bc3-a213-18d771ca1931). **WHAT JACKSON WILL FIGHT FOR** Jackson believes we need comprehensive immigration reform and federal law enforcement and immigration services that can be trusted – not masked raids and fear. **It’s why Troy will fight to abolish ICE. ** **In the U.S. Senate, he will:** - **Protect Mainers’ rights and freedoms:** Dismantle and abolish ICE, stop sending U.S. tax dollars to fund foreign wars, pass a federal right to abortion, enact comprehensive civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, and strengthen unions and workers’ rights to organize. - **Lower families’ costs:** Pass Medicare for All, cut prescription drug prices, lower electricity bills, expand housing, and make child care more affordable. - **Clean up Washington:** Ban congressional stock trading, overturn Citizens United, and get big money out of politics. - **Put working people first:** Cut taxes for working people, make corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, and strengthen the right to organize. ### *Three months after the murder of Johan Sebastián Guerrero, Troy will face Susan Collins on the debate stage for a third time * --- ## News: JACKSON WILL PUT COLLINS’ CORRUPTION AND THE COST TO MAINERS FRONT AND CENTER AT SECOND DEBATE URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-will-put-collins-corruption-and-the-cost-to-mainers-front-and-center-at-second-debate #### Jackson: “You keep telling us how powerful you are. Who is that power working for?” #### Yesterday, a Maine attorney filed a Senate ethics complaint against Collins **WESTBROOK, ME** — Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson will face Susan Collins in their second debate tonight, pressing her on the [pay-to-play allegations surrounding her political operation](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) and making the case that working Mainers deserve a senator who puts their needs before wealthy donors. After thirty years in Washington, Collins is campaigning on her power and seniority. **But mounting reporting about federal contracts and campaign contributions raises a fundamental question: Who benefits from how she uses that power?** ProPublica revealed that Collins’ office [helped steer millions in federal contracts](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) to a defense contractor whose CEO illegally funneled $150,000 to a super PAC supporting her. Collins and her team tried to lie about her involvement, but reporters [debunked her excuses](https://www.propublica.org/article/debunking-susan-collins-fbi-navatek-investigation-claims) [again](https://newrepublic.com/post/215891/susan-collins-corruption-defense-collapses-university-maine) and [again](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2678021513/). The reporting documented emails, financial records, and an FBI inquiry that ended after the Trump administration dismantled the investigative teams handling the case. Since then, Susan Collins has voted with Trump [96% of the time](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/08/04/politics/elections/maine-republicans-shrug-donald-trump-jab-susan-collins-joam40zk0w/). Now, additional reporting has raised questions about her committee funding military vehicles the Army said it did not need [while donations flowed to her political committees from people connected to the manufacturer](https://theintercept.com/2026/10/05/susan-collins-am-general-donations-government-contracts/). Then yesterday, a Maine attorney [filed](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/07/democrat-files-ethics-complaint-against-susan-collins-over-alleged-pay-to-play-scheme/?link_id=2&can_id=13f53b1900b2bd097f81061f2f07f8db&source=email-propublica-once-again-rebuts-collins-teams-claims-about-navatek-story&email_referrer=email_3440638&email_subject=new-maine-attorney-files-ethics-complaint-over-collins-alleged-pay-to-play-scheme) a complaint with the US Senate Ethics Committee against Susan Collins urging the committee to conduct an investigation into the allegations and corruption revealed in ProPublica’s bombshell story. Tonight, Jackson will connect those questions to the stakes for Maine families: how Washington spends their tax dollars, whose priorities get heard, and why people struggling to afford groceries, medicine, and heating oil deserve more than excuses. “Senator Collins keeps telling Mainers how powerful she is. Tonight, she needs to explain who that power is working for,” **said Jackson.** “Families shouldn’t have to write a campaign check to get their senator’s attention. I’ve fought to lower prescription drug costs and feed kids at school. I’ll bring that same fight to Washington, lower people’s bills, and take on the corruption that shuts working people out.” [Tonight’s debate airs on WMTW at 8:00 p.m. ET.](https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-senate-debate-how-to-watch-collins-jackson/74067570) **WHAT COLLINS MUST ANSWER FOR TONIGHT** **Federal contracts, illegal contributions, and unanswered questions.** Collins has been ensnared in a FBI corruption scandal for helping a defense contractor secure millions in taxpayer-funded contracts. Its CEO illegally routed $150,000 through a shell company to a super PAC supporting her. Mainers deserve a direct explanation of what Collins knew about the donation and when she knew it. Collins has poorly attempted to dismiss ProPublica’s reporting as old news, but evidence shows the investigation was being pursued into 2025 — until the Trump administration’s purge ended that work. **New reporting about spending the Army did not request.** [The Intercept reported](https://theintercept.com/2026/10/05/susan-collins-am-general-donations-government-contracts/) that under Collins’ watch, Congress provided $345 million for military vehicles the Army said it did not need, followed by a burst of company-connected contributions to Collins’ fundraising committees. Mainers deserve answers about how those spending decisions were made. **The gap between her Washington power and Mainers’ everyday struggles.** Collins voted to advance Trump’s legislation slashing Medicaid and delivering tax breaks for the wealthy, then sought credit for a rural hospital fund included in the final bill. Jackson will challenge her to explain why working families keep paying the price for Washington’s priorities. **WHAT JACKSON WILL FIGHT FOR** A fifth-generation logger, union member, and former Maine Senate President, Jackson has delivered lower prescription drug costs, universal school meals, paid family and medical leave, and collective bargaining rights for loggers. **In the U.S. Senate, he will fight to:** - **Lower families’ costs:** Pass Medicare for All, cut prescription drug prices, lower electricity bills, expand housing, and make child care more affordable. - **Clean up Washington:** Ban congressional stock trading, overturn Citizens United, and get big money out of politics. - **Put working people first:** Cut taxes for working people, make corporations and the wealthy pay their fair share, and strengthen the right to organize. [As Jackson said on Tuesday night](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107624842417856857?s=20)**:** “I don’t owe Donald Trump and the billionaires anything. I owe the people of Maine everything.” ### *Jackson: “You keep telling us how powerful you are. Who is that power working for?”* *Yesterday, a Maine attorney filed a Senate ethics complaint against Collins* --- ## News: Jackson Takes Questions Directly From Mainers At Belfast Community Conversation With Matt Dunlap URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-takes-questions-directly-from-mainers-at-belfast-community-conversation-with-matt-dunlap ##### Jackson and Dunlap fielded questions from the crowd on issues facing Maine and how they would work together in Washington **BELFAST, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson spent Saturday in Belfast for a Community Conversation with his friend and candidate for Maine’s second congressional district Matt Dunlap — spending much of the event taking questions directly from Mainers in the room. **Jackson and Dunlap discussed their priorities for Maine and how they would work together in Congress before opening the conversation to the audience and fielding question after question from attendees on the issues they care about most. Jackson answered Mainers directly about the challenges facing working families and what he would do in the U.S. Senate.** “Mainers deserve elected officials who show up, listen to them, and answer their questions directly,” **said Jackson.** “That’s what I’ve always done, and that’s what I’m going to keep doing all across this state. People are worried about rising costs and whether Washington is actually working for them, and I want to hear directly from them about what they’re dealing with.” When asked about making things happen in Congress, Matt Dunlap reflected: “It sometimes was just **being persistent in not giving up on an idea, and Troy and I both have a record of doing that**, and that's how we're going to get it done.” ### Troy Jackson spent Saturday in Belfast for a Community Conversation with his friend and candidate for Maine’s second congressional district Matt Dunlap — spending much of the event taking questions directly from Mainers in the room. --- ## News: AT FINAL DEBATE ON 1ST DAY OF MEDICARE ENROLLMENT, COLLINS SERVES TRUMP WHILE JACKSON SERVES MAINE URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/at-final-debate-on-1st-day-of-medicare-enrollment-collins-serves-trump-while-jackson-serves-maine **BANGOR, ME** **—** On the first day of Medicare Open Enrollment, Troy Jackson will meet Susan Collins for a final time on the debate stage and hold her accountable for her record of selling out Mainers. Instead of helping families, Collins has backed Trump’s war in Iran that’s raising energy costs as winter approaches, failed to stop his blanket tariffs, wrote a blank check to ICE with no oversight, confirmed Brett Kavanaugh who went on to overturn Roe v. Wade, and advanced Trump’s health care cuts to give billionaires tax breaks. In the final debate, Jackson will drive home why Susan Collins can’t be trusted to fight for Mainers after voting with Trump [96%](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/08/04/politics/elections/maine-republicans-shrug-donald-trump-jab-susan-collins-joam40zk0w/) of the time, including while he stripped health care from Mainers all to give billionaires tax breaks. Now 60,000 Mainers could lose health care, and rural hospitals and birthing centers are on the brink of closure. “Health care is a human right. No Mainer should avoid the doctor, ration their medicine, or face bankruptcy because they got sick. But Susan Collins doesn’t understand that, ” **said Jackson.** “Susan Collins knew that Trump’s cuts to health care would hurt Mainers and rural hospitals, but advanced them anyway. She’s tried over and over again to explain away her votes, but Mainers aren’t stupid and we see right through her excuses.” [Tonight’s hour-long debate is hosted by NEWS Center Maine, Portland Press Herald & Maine Public with a live audience at Gracie Theatre.](https://www.mainepublic.org/watch-maine-public-television-live-stream?link_id=11&can_id=7f8dc5647b05e8c908960e833bcbea2e&source=email-dropkick-murphys-debate-recap-more&email_referrer=&email_subject=dropkick-murphys-debate-recap-more&&) **What you need to know ahead of tonight’s debate:** **Susan Collins knew that Trump’s health care cuts would hurt Maine, but advanced the bill anyway.** - **Collins voted to advance Trump’s health care cuts.** Despite what she claims, Collins cast a [critical vote](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5375124-collins-hawley-gop-megabill/?link_id=2&can_id=b800056cdc2f7ec92bed12a7d148c309&source=email-what-mainers-are-watching-and-reading-maine-dems-call-out-collins-for-her-role-in-advancing-gop-budget-bill&email_referrer=email_2812165&email_subject=what-mainers-are-saying-collins-is-out-for-herself-betrayed-her-constituents-helped-facilitate-the-terrible-legislations-passage&&)to advance Trump’s bill to cut health care for around 60,000 Mainers. - **Collins has tried to explain her vote for Trump’s health care cuts by touting the rural health fund, but her excuse has been** [fact checked false](https://politifact.com/article/2026/oct/08/live-fact-check-debate-maine-collins-jackson/)**.** When asked why she voted to advance Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” when she objected to its cuts to Medicaid and rural hospitals, she said, “I created the $50 billion rural healthcare fund.” But KFF, a national health care policy think tank, [estimated](https://www.kff.org/medicaid/a-closer-look-at-the-50-billion-rural-health-transformation-program/#5e1f6ef3-7948-4664-9622-eb207308088e) that the $50 billion **could not** fully offset the $137 billion in Medicaid cuts states combined will see. - **Collins has long** [opposed](https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00325.htm) **measures to make health care and prescription drugs more affordable.** Susan Collins voted against allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs and the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Collins’ record includes voting over [a dozen](https://mainebeacon.com/susan-collins-decades-long-record-of-voting-to-cut-medicaid-and-medicare/?link_id=4&can_id=b800056cdc2f7ec92bed12a7d148c309&source=email-because-susan-collins-failed-maine-maine-electricians-sit-idle-as-green-energy-projects-halt-amid-federal-incentive-cuts-2&email_referrer=email_2830806&email_subject=icymi-susan-collins-decades-long-record-of-voting-to-cut-medicaid-and-medicare-maine-beacon&&) times to repeal or undermine the ACA, which delivered Mainers more than [$1.4 billion](https://www.mecep.org/blog/five-numbers-to-understand-obamacares-impact-in-maine/#:~:text=$1.4%20billion:%20Federal%20subsidies%20to,have%20received%20coverage%20through%20MaineCare.) in subsidies to afford health care, expanded coverage for [tens of thousands](https://www.mecep.org/blog/five-numbers-to-understand-obamacares-impact-in-maine/#:~:text=$1.4%20billion:%20Federal%20subsidies%20to,have%20received%20coverage%20through%20MaineCare.), and instated protections for people with preexisting conditions. **Troy Jackson will tout his own record of fighting for affordable, accessible health care.** - **Troy Jackson will fight to un-rig the health care system and pass Medicare for All** so that we can finally bring down costs for Mainers. - **In the Maine Senate, Jackson proved that he will fight for and deliver health care for Maine** by [taking on](https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-signs-law-comprehensive-prescription-drug-reform-package-2019-06-24?) Big Pharma, [strengthening](https://www.mainesenate.org/proposal-to-fund-rural-hospitals-ambulance-services-signed-into-law/) rural health care, [fighting](https://mainemorningstar.com/2024/02/14/jackson-bill-seeks-to-lower-the-price-of-insulin-ease-access-for-nonprofit-manufacturers/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) for affordable insulin, and [lowering](https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0380&item=1&snum=130) prescription drug prices. - **In the U.S. Senate, Troy will fight to: ** - **Lower health care costs**: In the Senate, he would support and cosponsor the Medicare for All Act, take on Big Pharma and the insurance companies, and save working people money. - **Lower the cost of prescription drugs:** In the U.S. Senate, he'll fight for the federal government to negotiate drug prices directly, the way Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do. ### *Because of Susan Collins’ vote to advance the OBBBA and give billionaires tax breaks, Mainers are losing health care and costs are skyrocketing * --- ## News: Jackson Hits The Airwaves Directing Mainers To Heating Assistance As Energy Costs Skyrocket URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-hits-the-airwaves-directing-mainers-to-heating-assistance-as-energy-costs-skyrocket **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson hit the airwaves to bring attention to the affordability crisis facing Maine families following a heating oil assistance PSA released last week. As winter approaches and the cost of home heating oil spikes more than 80%, working-class Mainers are wondering how they’ll be able to fill their tanks and heat their homes before temperatures drop. [MS NOW: Connect with Jacob Soboroff: Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson unveils new PSA](https://youtu.be/_xHhaJEI2EE?si=juY-7v9CDTj1ZrZP) - ***Jacob Soboroff:* ***That's, I think, that's pretty novel. You're putting out a direct aid resource rather than a standard campaign ad at the end of this high-stakes race. What was the thought there?* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***Well, it's a lifetime of thought, Jacob. I remember what it was like, I'm worried about how we're gonna be able to heat our home. I remember what it was like worrying about the oil furnace shutting off in the middle of night. I remember what it was like worrying about pipes freezing.* - ***Troy Jackson:*** *I care about people here in Maine [...]. Right now it's the worst it's ever been. I do not know how people are going to heat their homes this winter. I mean, an 80% increase in heating oils from last year. We've had tough times before, but we've never done anything like this. And so I really wanted to make sure that people knew that there were some services out there [...].* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm not going to stand with any president that's going to do what Donald Trump is doing to this country. The Iran War is just making it hard for people to heat their homes, we have so many businesses here in Maine that depend on diesel fuel and things like that, and this will not–they won't be able to continue. * - ***Troy Jackson:* ***And I just want people to know that I do care about these things. I don't care about Democrats or Republicans. What I care about is Mainers that can't make a living, can't feed their family, can't heat their home. That’s who I'm fighting for. That's who I've always fought for because I'm one of them, and I just get it.* - ***Troy Jackson:* ***I've always stood with people that were going up against big corporations. I've been at so many strikes. In fact, that's how I got started. My dad took me to a strike when I was in the seventh grade, first billionaire I ever met, and and ever since then I've understood that power and corruption or money influence holds people back, and they want to make us feel like we're powerless. But when we come together, we have a lot of power, and it doesn't matter if you're Republican or Democrats, it's if you're a Mainer or if you're somebody in the United States that needs that solidarity of standing with people.* [WGME: Maine families feel pressure as heating oil costs continue to rise](https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-families-feel-pressure-as-heating-oil-costs-continue-to-rise-senate-race-election-politics-iran-war-economy) - *As temperatures drop, heating oil costs are climbing, and Maine families are feeling the pressure. There have already been some dire warnings about what struggling families could face once we hit the dead of winter, and that threat is real, but there is help out there.* - *“Susan Collins voted for the Iran war five times. I mean, she's not interested in getting us out of Iran,” Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson said.* - *As the war in Iran continues, disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are putting pressure on global oil prices and driving up costs for Mainers.* - *Meanwhile, Jackson says ending the war is the first step toward lowering costs. “I would bring our troops home,” Jackson said. “I get out of Iran and you know, I make sure that I get more money into the LIHEAP program.”* ### As winter approaches and the cost of home heating oil spikes more than 80%, working-class Mainers are wondering how they’ll be able to fill their tanks and heat their homes before temperatures drop. --- ## News: NEW AD: Mainers Lose Trust in Susan Collins After Dozens Of Votes To Confirm Anti-Abortion Judges URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-ad-mainers-lose-trust-in-susan-collins-after-dozens-of-votes-to-confirm-anti-abortion-judges [Dr. Anderson](https://us.list-manage.com/gckMCpfsbkP?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf)***:* ***“Troy Jackson is looking out for us. Susan Collins, she's looking out for Trump.”* **PORTLAND, ME —** Troy Jackson for Maine launched a [new ad](https://us.list-manage.com/VnJMXQkRZB9?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf) today highlighting how Troy stepped up for Mainers when Susan Collins failed to protect reproductive rights. While Senator Collins confirmed more than five dozen anti-choice judges — including three judges in the past two weeks and Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch who overturned *Roe v. Wade —* Troy passed some of the strongest abortion protections in the country as Maine Senate President. In the ad, Dr. Anderson delivers a clear message to Mainers — Susan Collins looks out for Trump while Troy looks out for us. **WATCH “PATIENTS”** [HERE](https://us.list-manage.com/nAsifoGsQQk?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf)**:** **Read the full transcript below: ** ***Troy Jackson:* ***I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this message.* ***Dr. Anderson:* ***My job is to look out for my patients every day, and I'm looking for leaders that will do the same. * ***Dr. Anderson:* ***So when Susan Collins voted to confirm Trump's anti-abortion Supreme Court justices, she lost my trust. * ***Dr. Anderson:* ***At the same time, Troy Jackson was protecting and expanding reproductive rights. As Senate President, he passed legislation to guarantee the right to abortion in Maine. * ***Dr. Anderson:* ***Troy Jackson is looking out for us. Susan Collins — she's looking out for Trump.* ### [Dr. Anderson](https://us.list-manage.com/gckMCpfsbkP?e=1bed4ea9ba&c2id=c8a9d3473e7337fddc4251406a8f47bf)***:* ***“Troy Jackson is looking out for us. Susan Collins, she's looking out for Trump.”* --- ## News: Troy Jackson Calls For Town Hall Debates And Invites Susan Collins To Three Town Halls Next Week URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-calls-for-town-hall-debates-and-invites-susan-collins-to-three-town-halls-next-week **PORTLAND, ME** — One month after becoming the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson today called for Susan Collins to participate in **four televised debates, including two town hall-style debates where Maine voters can directly question both candidates.** **Jackson is also inviting Collins to join him at three public town halls in Maine next week — giving her an immediate opportunity to take questions directly from Mainers at what would be her first public town hall in** [twenty](https://mainebeacon.com/collins-snaps-at-reporter-on-trump-policy-turmoil-as-public-pressure-on-her-increases/) [five](https://www.newsweek.com/republican-senator-susan-collins-hasnt-held-single-town-hall-1482004) [years](https://www.pressherald.com/2017/02/26/voters-pressure-collins-to-hold-town-hall/)**.** Since becoming the nominee, Jackson has barnstormed the state, meeting with Mainers at community events and campaign stops from Lisbon Falls and Portland to Augusta, Winslow, Belfast, Brunswick and York with a series of public town halls beginning next week in Lewiston and Gorham. **Jackson said Mainers deserve the same opportunity to directly question both candidates for Senate.** “Susan Collins hasn’t held a public town hall in 25 years. If she wants to debate, great — I’m looking forward to it,” **said Jackson.** “But Mainers deserve more than politicians talking past each other in a television studio. They deserve the chance to look us both in the eye, ask us the questions that matter to their families, and hear our answers directly. I’m holding three town halls next week, and Senator Collins is welcome at every one of them. I’ll proudly defend my record on that stage, and Susan Collins should be willing to do the same.” ### ***Jackson:*** *“Mainers deserve the chance to question both of us directly.”* --- ## News: Troy Jackson And Sen. Warren Rally Support For A Government That Works For Working People URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-and-sen-warren-rally-support-for-a-government-that-works-for-working-people **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth generation logger and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren met with Mainers at Becky’s diner in Portland, a canvass launch, town hall, and Defeat Collins rally as Jackson campaigns for a government that works for working people, not one that fights for billionaire donors and corporations. **See the coverage of this weekend below: ** [Portland Press Herald: Crowd in Portland rallies around electing Maine Democrats on ‘No Kings Day’ ](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/10/17/crowd-in-portland-rallies-around-electing-maine-democrats-on-no-kings-day/) - *400 people gathered in Deering Oaks on Saturday to rally around voting Democrats into office in Maine and ousting five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins from the U.S. Senate.* - *Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree, U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., were three of several speakers at the event. The trio criticized President Donald Trump and discussed issues such as healthcare, the war in Iran, rising heating oil costs, immigration and abortion. They blamed Collins for affordability challenges in Maine and emphasized the importance of voting.* - *Ben Bernard, 55, of Cliff Island, compared Collins to a teacher who helps a bullied child get some of their lunch money back, but won’t stand up to the bully. He was referring to Collins’ negotiations to remove some Maine items from Canada’s tariff list, a result of the trade war started by Trump. “Collins is enabling Trump every day,” Bernard said.* - *“A Senate seat does not belong to a person who’s held it for 30 years,” Jackson said. “It belongs to the people of Maine … I owe the people of Maine everything.”* [Maine Morning Star: On No Kings day of action, Elizabeth Warren rallies for Jackson in Portland ](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/10/17/on-no-kings-day-of-action-elizabeth-warren-rallies-for-jackson-in-portland/) - *Underscoring what she sees as the stakes of the midterms, particularly Maine’s Senate race, Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told the more than 1000 people who rallied in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park that a vote for a Republican is essentially a vote for President Donald Trump’s agenda.* - *“Two years of Donald Trump and the Republican majority in the House and the Senate have never had the backbone to say no to anything,” she said. “Not an illegal war, not illegal tariffs, not tax cuts for billionaires, not taking away healthcare for millions of people, not to the biggest grifter in the history of the United States.”* - *Warren continued, “So here’s the deal, the time for polite requests for Donald Trump is over. No Kings means that we stand up, we show pride, we show backbone, we go to the polls, we go for a fighter, we vote for Troy Jackson.”* [WGME: Massachusetts Senator Warren joins Troy Jackson and Hannah Pingree at rally in Portland ](https://wgme.com/news/local/massachusetts-senator-warren-joins-troy-jackson-and-hannah-pingree-at-rally-in-portland) - *"We need to knock on doors, we need to text your cousin, your old roommate, your neighbor that never votes, your kids, your nephew, your niece, you need everyone of them to get out and vote," Pingree said.* - *"I owe Donald Trump nothing, I owe the billionaires nothing, I owe the people of Maine everything," Jackson said.* - *"This election is a choice, you can either have a rubber stamp for a want to be king or you can have a fighter for the people. My money is on Troy Jackson," Senator Warren said.* [WMTW: Sen. Elizabeth Warren joins Troy Jackson and Hannah Pingree at No Kings rally in Portland ](https://www.wmtw.com/article/sen-elizabeth-warren-joins-troy-jackson-and-hannah-pingree-at-no-kings-rally-in-portland/74168184) - *"No kings means that we stand up," said Warren. "We show pride. We show backbone. We go to the polls. We vote for a fighter. We vote for Troy Jackson."* - *"You don't get to vote to fund Donald Trump's agenda and then come home and tell us how concerned you are about it," commented Jackson. "Billionaires do not own this country. And this is something across the state that I think people have to understand better than ever. A Senate seat doesn't belong to a person who has held it for 30 years. It still belongs to the people of Maine."* [News Center Maine: Maine Democrat Troy Jackson campaigns for US Senate alongside Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/maine-democrat-troy-jackson-campaigns-us-senate-alongside-massachusetts-sen-elizabeth-warren-sanders-aoc/97-d179530e-8580-4343-832c-58145aa099dc) - *Jackson and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren greeted the breakfast crowd together at the landmark Becky’s Diner and later addressed a crowd on a crisp fall afternoon in Deering Oaks, Portland’s largest park.* - *“A Senate seat doesn’t belong to someone who’s held it for 30 years. It still belongs to the people of Maine,” Jackson told the crowd, referring to his Republican opponent, five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins.* - *"Today, people are working harder than ever and still falling behind. I mean, this country is more of a mess than I've ever seen, and that isn't because working people has [sic] failed America. It's because our government has failed working people," Jackson said.* - *"We have had nothing short of a medical miracle in Washington, D.C.," Warren said. "Every single Republican in the United States Senate has had their backbone removed. They’ve got just one move left, and that’s bow down to Donald Trump.” Warren criticized Republicans for backing Trump's war in Iran, tariffs, tax cuts for billionaires and health care cuts. She also blamed the president for failing to lower costs.* - *"Troy and I have talked about this one a lot. We start by raising wages for Americans, and that means make it easier to join a union and give unions more power when they negotiate," Warren said.* ### Troy Jackson and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren met with Mainers at Becky’s diner in Portland, a canvass launch, town hall, and Defeat Collins rally as Jackson campaigns for a government that works for working people, not one that fights for billionaire donors and corporations. --- ## News: Houlton Band of Maliseets Endorses Jackson, Point To Relentless Fight For Tribal Sovereignty URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/houlton-band-of-maliseets-endorses-jackson-point-to-relentless-fight-for-tribal-sovereignty **PORTLAND, ME** — Today the Houlton Band of Maliseets Tribe [endorsed](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/19/politics/elections/troy-jackson-endorsed-houlton-band-of-maliseets/) fifth-generation Mainer and logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson. The endorsement comes just a week after Indigenous Peoples’ Day, where Troy celebrated Maine’s native history alongside tribal leaders and community members. “I’m proud to have the endorsement of Chief Clarissa Sabattis and the Houlton Band of Maliseets Tribal Council,” **said Jackson.** “Representing a rural community, I understand that when the Wabanaki Nations have a vibrant economy, health care, infrastructure and educational opportunities, all of rural Maine benefits. I recognize the sovereignty of the Wabanaki Nations as Maine Senate President, and fought for tribes in Maine to be treated the same as other federally recognized tribes across the nation. When I reach the U.S. Senate, I will continue to fight to ensure that the Wabanaki People and people of Maine have the opportunity to thrive.” “As Senate President, Troy didn't just talk about tribal sovereignty, he put it into action,” **said Chief Sabattis.** “From championing clean drinking water initiatives to his role in creating the commission to reexamine the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, Troy has consistently proven that he listens to indigenous voices and stands with the Wabanaki people. The council of Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and myself are proud to endorse a leader who respects our inherent sovereignty and will carry that fight directly to Washington.” Troy has a long record as a [Tribal](https://wabanakialliance.com/champions-adversaries/) [champion](https://www.wabanakialliance.com/nihkaniyane2023recap/) in the Maine legislature, where he fought to recognize tribal sovereignty, establish a commission to reexamine the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, and ensure the Wabanaki nations had equal access to government resources. Jackson championed legislation to [improve water quality](https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0662&item=7&snum=130) and [family protections](https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=SP0804&item=3&snum=131), [recognize the exclusive jurisdiction of tribal courts](https://legislature.maine.gov/backend/App/services/getDocument.aspx?documentId=107306), and [foster economic development](https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0428&item=14&snum=130). ### Today the Houlton Band of Maliseets Tribe [endorsed](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/19/politics/elections/troy-jackson-endorsed-houlton-band-of-maliseets/) fifth-generation Mainer and logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson. --- ## News: NEW: President Barack Obama Backs Troy Jackson, Cites Record Fighting for Working Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-president-barack-obama-backs-troy-jackson-cites-record-fighting-for-working-mainers #### President Obama: “Troy Jackson is running to be your next senator and I’m proud to be on board” **PORTLAND, ME —** Today, former President Barack Obama shared his support for Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson in a new video, pointing to Jackson’s working-class roots and record of lowering prescription drug costs, delivering universal school meals, raising wages, and protecting abortion rights in Maine. **WATCH THE VIDEO** [HERE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl-fKb7C4G8&feature=youtu.be)**: ** “I’m honored to have President Obama standing with us in this fight,” **said Jackson.** “The momentum we’re seeing in Maine is something I’ve never seen before. Working people are sick and tired of a government that works for the wealthy and well-connected while they struggle to get by. They’re ready for change, and together, we’re going to bring that change to Washington.” **Transcript: ** **President Obama:** *Hello, Maine. Barack Obama here. Troy Jackson is running to be your next senator, and I'm proud to be on board.* **President Obama:** *In this economy, we need a fighter like Troy. A fifth-generation logger, Troy worked 80 hours a week and still struggled to get by. So as Maine's Senate President, he fought to raise wages, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and provide free lunch to every student in the state. After Roe was overturned, Troy helped protect the right to an abortion in Maine. * **President Obama:** *And now we need Troy to deliver for us in the Senate. So do not sit this one out. Get out there and vote for Troy Jackson. You can vote early from October 5th to the 29th or vote in person on November 3rd.* *President Obama: “Troy Jackson is running to be your next senator and I’m proud to be on board”* --- ## News: BANGOR DAILY NEWS: Untangling The Massive Outside Money Web Behind Susan Collins URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/bangor-daily-news-untangling-the-massive-outside-money-web-behind-susan-collins **PORTLAND, ME** — A new article released by Bangor Daily News unveils the “[massive](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/19/politics/elections/massive-republican-money-web-susan-collins-campaign-joam40zk0w/)” dark money scheme behind Susan Collins’ campaign, allowing out-of-state billionaires and unnamed donors to bankroll her campaign while hiding their identity from Mainers. The findings come days after Senator Susan Collins said at a debate in Bangor that dark money groups shouldn’t exist – despite her own campaign being supported almost entirely by a web of Republican super PACs and nonprofits shielding undisclosed donors that have booked about $126 million in ads to keep her in office. The article highlighted Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson’s promise to enact serious campaign finance reforms so that billionaires can’t buy elections. Meanwhile, Susan Collins has failed to reign in dark money and special interest groups. [BANGOR DAILY NEWS: Untangling the massive outside money web behind Susan Collins](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/19/politics/elections/massive-republican-money-web-susan-collins-campaign-joam40zk0w/) - *An intertwined Republican network of super PACs and nonprofits has booked about* ***$126 million in ads to reelect U.S. Sen. Susan Collins****, with much of it* ***traced to billionaires and donors who will never be named****.* - *Along with an offshoot, SLF is the biggest outside spender in the race, having* ***booked nearly $50 million in Maine ads.*** *Its top donor is One Nation, a nonprofit sister group* ***that doesn’t reveal its funders****. * - *One Nation gave the fund $132.9 million through September and has booked nearly $35 million in its own pro-Collins ads.* ***Billionaires supply much of the rest, led by Miriam Adelson and Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman. Elon Musk gave $10 million.*** - *Collins’ closest ties to the network run through* ***Pine Tree Results PAC, which has booked $29.1 million in ads. It is run by Scott Reed****, a Republican operative and friend of* ***Collins’ husband, Tom Daffron, who was paid as a consultant by Reed’s lobbying firm last year.* ***Pine Tree and her campaign also share limited fundraising functions, something federal regulators allow.* - ***Reed ran a different super PAC backing Collins in 2020 that took an illegal $150,000 donation from a defense contractor,*** *the focus of a ProPublica report last month. * - *Pine Tree’s donors also include Schwarzman, Ken Griffin and* ***two nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors: Stronger America and the Lexington Fund, part of a network linked to conservative legal activist Leonard Leo.*** *Stronger America has booked nearly $12 million in Maine ads.* - ***Nearly 100 billionaires and spouses gave $9.8 million to Collins’ campaign*** *and other groups working on her behalf from January 2025 through May, The Maine Monitor found.* - ***[Troy Jackson’s] campaign said he would push to require disclosure of dark money “regardless of which party benefits.” “Billionaires have bought Congress, and everyday people can’t afford to buy them back,” Jackson said at Thursday’s debate.*** ### A new article released by Bangor Daily News unveils the “[massive](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/10/19/politics/elections/massive-republican-money-web-susan-collins-campaign-joam40zk0w/)” dark money scheme behind Susan Collins’ campaign, allowing out-of-state billionaires and unnamed donors to bankroll her campaign while hiding their identity from Mainers. --- ## News: New CNN Poll Shows Jackson With Narrow Edge In Maine Senate Race, Voters Motivated To Retire Collins URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-cnn-poll-shows-jackson-with-narrow-edge-in-maine-senate-race-voters-motivated-to-retire-collins **PORTLAND, ME** — New [polling released](https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/28608783-cnn-poll-conducted-by-ssrs-maine/) by CNN and conducted by SSRS today shows fifth-generation Mainer and logger and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson maintaining his lead against Susan Collins in the race for U.S. Senate. “It’s no surprise that Mainers are ready to retire No-Show Senator Susan Collins after she’s voted with Donald Trump 96% of the time, confirmed Brett Kavanaugh and two other justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, pushed forward legislation to cut taxes for billionaires by gutting our health care system, handed ICE $70 billion with no strings attached, and signed off on another endless war in the Middle East. The numbers are clear: Mainers are ready for a change and a Senator who will actually show up and fight for them and that’s Troy Jackson,” **said Jackson campaign spokesperson Maggie Amjad.** The poll, conducted August 31 and September 6 among 880 registered voters, finds Jackson leading Collins 48% to 45%. The CNN poll follows recent findings that [55% of Maine voters](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/08/13/maine-voters-say-susan-collins-votes-with-trump-too-often-in-fox-news-poll/) are concerned about Collins voting with Donald Trump 96% of the time. ### New polling released by CNN and conducted by SSRS today shows fifth-generation Mainer and logger and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson maintaining his lead against Susan Collins in the race for U.S. Senate. --- ## News: New TV Ad: Jackson For Maine Calls Out Collins For Supporting Donald Trump, Blank Check For ICE URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-tv-ad-jackson-for-maine-calls-out-collins-for-supporting-donald-trump-blank-check-for-ice **PORTLAND, ME** — The Jackson for Maine campaign today launched a new ad holding U.S. Sen. Susan Collin accountable for her record supporting Donald Trump, cuts to health care, and her $70 billion check for ICE with no strings attached. Terry, from Ogunquit, speaks directly to the camera: “It’s not just a vote here or a vote there. Susan Collins voted with Trump 96% of the time. And things have only gotten worse for us.” **WATCH “**[NINETY-SIX](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTeQ6DXdG10)**”**: **Read the full ad script below:** *I'm Troy Jackson, and I approve this message.* *It's not just a vote here or a vote there. Susan Collins voted with Trump 96% of the time.* *And things have only gotten worse for us. * *She voted to give ICE an extra 70 billion.* *Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid…* *People across Maine lost their health insurance…* *To pay for what?* *Tax cuts to billionaires.* *Susan Collins has let me down and all of us down so many times.* ### The Jackson for Maine campaign today launched a new ad holding U.S. Sen. Susan Collin accountable for her record supporting Donald Trump, cuts to health care, and her $70 billion check for ICE with no strings attached. --- ## News: TROY JACKSON ACCEPTS FOUR DEBATES AS COLLINS CONTINUES TO DODGE TOWN HALLS URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-accepts-four-debates-as-collins-continues-to-dodge-town-halls **PORTLAND, ME** — Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson has accepted **four televised debates against Susan Collins this October**, even as Collins refused requests to make two of them town hall-style debates and continues to duck opportunities to take unscripted questions directly from Mainers. Jackson has accepted the following four debate invitations: - **Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00 p.m. hosted by WGME** - **Thursday, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. hosted by WMTW**. - **Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 p.m. hosted by WABI/WAGM**. - **Thursday, October 15 at 8:00 p.m. hosted by NEWS CENTER Maine, Portland Press Herald and Maine Public with a live audience and questions from Maine voters at** Gracie Theatre in Bangor. Jackson has repeatedly called for Mainers to have the opportunity to question both candidates directly. **Collins has refused those requests and ignored two invitations this week alone to join Jackson at public town halls**, with another opportunity tomorrow. **Collins has not held a public town hall in 25 years. ** “Susan Collins has spent 25 years avoiding public town halls, so I’m glad she’ll at least have to stand on a stage with me four times this October and answer for her record,” **said Jackson.** “But Mainers deserve the chance to look both of us in the eye and ask us questions directly. I’ll show up anywhere, anytime to answer questions from the people of Maine. Senator Collins is welcome to do the same.” Since becoming the Democratic nominee, Jackson has traveled across Maine meeting directly with voters at community events, union gatherings, campaign stops and public town halls. **This week alone, Jackson is holding three town halls where Mainers can ask him questions on any issue — something Collins has refused to do throughout her Senate career.** While Collins continues to hide from unscripted questions from her constituents, Jackson will keep showing up, answering questions, and making the case directly to Mainers for a government that works for working people rather than billionaires and special interests. ### Jackson accepts four televised debates — including one before a live audience — while Collins continues refusing opportunities to take questions directly from Mainers. --- ## News: NEW YORK TIMES: “Troy Jackson, A Progressive Brawler, Tries To Flip A Senate Seat In Maine” URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-york-times-troy-jackson-a-progressive-brawler-tries-to-flip-a-senate-seat-in-maine #### State Senator Mark Lawrence to the New York Times: “When you’re in a political battle you want Troy on your side” **MAINE, USA —** New reporting from the [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/politics/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine-senate.html) highlights fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson’s path from the northern woods of Maine to the halls of the state legislature, rooted in his fight for organized labor and an affordable life for everyday Mainers. [Read the story](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/politics/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine-senate.html)**, or see highlights below: ** [New York Times: Troy Jackson, a Progressive Brawler, Tries to Flip a Senate Seat in Maine](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/politics/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine-senate.html) - *At 19, he followed his father into Maine’s North Woods to become a logger. At 30, he helped lead a logging blockade at the border to protest powerful landowners hiring cheaper Canadian labor. Four years later, he was elected to the Maine Legislature, where he pushed a populist agenda over nearly two decades in office, including six years as Senate president.* - ***Mr. Jackson, whose working-class roots run much deeper,*** *is now testing that premise as he challenges a five-term Republican incumbent, Susan Collins, in one of the most competitive and closely watched Senate races in the country.* - *“I may not be good at very many things,” Mr. Jackson recently told a crowd at a former union hall in Jay, Maine. “****I am very good at pushing back****.”* ***He cuts a striking contrast with Ms. Collins****, 73, a genteel centrist who has been skewered by critics over the years for expressing “concern” over tough issues.* ***Mr. Jackson, 58, doesn’t mince words****…* - *“****He said, ‘I’ve got to tell it like it is,’****” Mr. Baldacci recalled. “****There’s an authenticity to him that’s really important.”*** - *When term limits ended Mr. Jackson’s career in the State Senate in 2024, Mr. Baldacci presented him with a framed copy of Teddy Roosevelt’s famous quote: “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again.”* ***That quote, Mr. Baldacci said, “really explains who Troy is. He’s had to fight all his life.****”* - *Mr. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, has described the* ***1998 blockade at the Canadian border as his political awakening****. [...] “****Troy realized the only way to change things is to do it from within,”*** *said Hilton Hafford, one of the loggers by his side.* - *“When you grow up, never expecting to go to college, never feeling like you fit in a suit, and* ***never seeing yourself as anything but a working-class person****, you certainly don’t expect to find yourself here,” he said as he presided over the opening of the 2020 legislative session as Senate president.* - ***He spearheaded groundbreaking legislation to provide child care subsidies, paid family and medical leave, and free school lunches.*** - *Mr. Jackson’s Senate colleagues chose him to serve three consecutive terms as president because, Mr. Lawrence said,* ***“When you’re in a political battle you want Troy on your side. He’s very good in the trenches.****”* - *Mr. Jackson told The New York Times that* ***he ran for the local post because he was upset about an “unfavorable” land deal*** *quietly approved by town officials that became the subject of a lawsuit filed by other residents. Alison Bartlett, one of the plaintiffs and a high school classmate of Mr. Jackson, said she wasn’t surprised he would seek local office even while serving as Senate president. “****This is his town,” she said. “It’s just as important to him as everything else, if not more.****”* - ***Mr. Jackson offers plain-spoken empathy for the struggles of the working class* ***[…] “****I think he speaks from the heart and like a normal person,****” said Linda Deane, a retired mill worker who lives [in] Livermore. “****What good is it to be a great orator if you’re not going to stand up for the people that you’re representing?****”* - *At the former union hall in Jay, where striking mill workers once gathered and a colorful mural of people holding hands graces the walls,* ***Mr. Jackson spoke about his father bringing him as a child to a tense standoff between loggers and a powerful landowner.*** *He called for* ***abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, bolstering Social Security, and establishing a universal health care program.*** - ***This is a campaign powered by organized labor.* ***Mr. Jackson’s young campaign workers run around in T-shirts that say “SOLIDARITY.”* ***It was labor activists who hastily threw together the infrastructure to propel Mr. Jackson to the nomination; he now touts endorsements from dozens of unions.*** - ***As a former logger with an associate degree from the University of Maine, Mr. Jackson would be “extremely rare” in the pedigreed halls of Congress****, said Nick Carnes, a Duke University public policy professor. Mr. Carnes, who is tracking all of the general election candidates running for Congress, has identified only seven who* ***went straight into politics from manual labor****, clerical or service jobs. Mr. Jackson is the only Senate candidate in that category. “****He’s someone you’d expect to run into at the hardware store,****” said Matthew Beck, a Democratic state representative.* ### [State Senator Mark Lawrence to the New York Times:](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/politics/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine-senate.html) *“When you’re in a political battle you want Troy on your side”* --- ## News: Jackson Gains Traction Through His Working-Class Roots, Humility, and Relentless Fight for Mainers URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-gains-traction-through-his-working-class-roots-humility-and-relentless-fight-for-mainers **MAINE, USA —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson is gaining traction for his life story – a logger from the northern woods of Maine who got his political start fighting for workers rights. Troy brought a true working-class voice to the Maine Legislator. He rose through the ranks to become Maine Senate President, where he used his position to defend reproductive rights, lower prescription drug costs, protect social security, and bring free school meals to every kid across the state. While Susan Collins uses her Appropriations role to do Trump’s bidding and voted with Trump 96% of the time, Troy used his position to improve the lives of Mainers — and that’s exactly what he’ll continue to do in the U.S. Senate. [AP: How Troy Jackson went from Maine logger to the Democratic nominee for Senate against Susan Collins](https://apnews.com/article/maine-troy-jackson-susan-collins-senate-election-079c2d5ba0a2b572d2c79a6c6a9138e8) - *Jackson’s campaign has focused on* ***his ties to Aroostook County****, a sprawling, wooded region known as “The County” to Mainers. It’s where Jackson, 58, says* ***he watched hard-working people struggle to get ahead, fueling his fight against billionaires and corporations****. It also is the place that has elected Jackson to the Legislature while supporting Republican Donald Trump for president.* - ***“Everyone in [logging] works hard for our families. We did follow the rules. But the harder we worked, the more that companies took from us****,” Jackson said during his nomination acceptance speech at a party convention in Bangor.* ***“And further behind we would fall.****”* - *Jackson has repeatedly argued that* ***he will be a strong Senate candidate because he has kept his legislative seat as a Democrat while the region steadily became more Republican****, including when Aroostook County swung for Trump.* [Boston Globe: Organized labor inspired Troy Jackson’s political career. Now, he’s counting on it to help him beat Susan Collins.](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/09/nation/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine/) - *But inside the union hall of the United Steelworkers Local 9, Jackson needed no introduction. Arriving for a cookout last Sunday,* ***he seemingly knew everyone wearing the shirt or hat of their union as he shared hamburgers and inside jokes.* ***That’s because while Platner earned the support of the labor movement,* ***Jackson has lived it****.* - ***His ties with organized labor in Maine span decades****, beginning when he was a pre-teen in the remote north woods of Allagash, watching his logger father participate in a strike. “That really was the beginning for me of* ***understanding more about working class issues and how we get left behind****,” Jackson told the Globe in Skowhegan.* - *After becoming a logger himself, he experienced firsthand what he believed were unfair actions by big conglomerates that wanted to use cheaper Canadian labor over Maine workers — and then* ***ran for office out of outrage****.* ***Along the way, he joined five unions****; he currently is a dues-paying member of three, the biggest national unions representing engineers, machinists, and painters.* - *“****For him, it’s not a transactional relationship****,” Francis Eanes, the executive director of the Maine Labor Climate Council, said at a Lewiston brewery where supporters sang karaoke to Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” “He’ll leave the campaign trail and come to our organizing events.* ***He’ll be the first one on the picket line, even at 5 a.m., before the camera people show up****.”* - *“Troy Jackson winning would prove our theory of the case that* ***people want people in office who speak their language, who can actually make a positive change on the issues that matter to everyday working people****,” Shuler said on the eve of Labor Day in Orono, where the University of Maine graduate workers union gathered for a contra dance event to benefit Jackson.* - ***Jackson’s diagnosis of Democrats’ recent woes with the working class is simple: “Overall, we quit talking about economics****,” he said. He acknowledged that some voters fled the party in favor of the GOP over perceptions that Democrats had gone too far on social issues. […] “But* ***we kind of quit talking about everyday working class issues, and that’s where the problem is****.”* - *“****Troy was standing shoulder to shoulder with us well before the Senate or governor’s race,****” said Amanda Gavin, a professor who was a leader of the drive to organize UMaine grad workers and faculty in 2022. “That’s what gives him street cred.”* - ***“That is who Troy really is. He is the working class champion,” she said, “we needed all along.”*** [New York Times: Troy Jackson, a Progressive Brawler, Tries to Flip a Senate Seat in Maine](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/politics/troy-jackson-susan-collins-maine-senate.html) - ***Mr. Jackson, whose working-class roots run much deeper,*** *is now testing that premise as he challenges a five-term Republican incumbent, Susan Collins, in one of the most competitive and closely watched Senate races in the country.* - *“I may not be good at very many things,” Mr. Jackson recently told a crowd at a former union hall in Jay, Maine. “****I am very good at pushing back****.”* ***He cuts a striking contrast with Ms. Collins****, 73, a genteel centrist who has been skewered by critics over the years for expressing “concern” over tough issues.* ***Mr. Jackson, 58, doesn’t mince words****…* - *“****He said, ‘I’ve got to tell it like it is,’****” Mr. Baldacci recalled. “****There’s an authenticity to him that’s really important.”*** - *Mr. Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, has described the* ***1998 blockade at the Canadian border as his political awakening****. [...] “****Troy realized the only way to change things is to do it from within,”*** *said Hilton Hafford, one of the loggers by his side.* - ***He spearheaded groundbreaking legislation to provide child care subsidies, paid family and medical leave, and free school lunches.*** - *Mr. Jackson’s Senate colleagues chose him to serve three consecutive terms as president because, Mr. Lawrence said,* ***“When you’re in a political battle you want Troy on your side. He’s very good in the trenches.****”* - ***Mr. Jackson offers plain-spoken empathy for the struggles of the working class* ***[…] “****I think he speaks from the heart and like a normal person,****” said Linda Deane, a retired mill worker who lives in Livermore. “****What good is it to be a great orator if you’re not going to stand up for the people that you’re representing?****”* - ***This is a campaign powered by organized labor.* ***Mr. Jackson’s young campaign workers run around in T-shirts that say “SOLIDARITY.”* ***It was labor activists who hastily threw together the infrastructure to propel Mr. Jackson to the nomination; he now touts endorsements from dozens of unions.*** ### Troy Jackson is gaining traction for his life story – a logger from the northern woods of Maine who got his political start fighting for workers rights. --- ## News: NEW REPORT: “The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way” URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-report-the-fbi-anti-corruption-squad-was-circling-susan-collins-until-trump-got-in-the-way **PORTLAND, ME –** Today, a new [bombshell investigation from Propublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) revealed that Susan Collins was being examined by the FBI for steering federal contracts to a major donor — until Donald Trump ended the investigation. ***In response, Troy Jackson issued the following statement: *** “This is corruption of the highest order. Susan Collins delivered millions in taxpayer dollars for a corrupt donor bankrolling her campaign, and then Donald Trump helped her cover it up. No wonder she voted with him 96% of the time and has rubberstamped his agenda to hurt Maine. Susan Collins doesn’t care that we’re losing our health care, that ICE is killing people on the streets, and that we’ve been dragged into a pointless war — as long as her donors get their contracts and her coffers get filled. We deserve answers about every contract and every conversation that Collins and her team facilitated on the backs of taxpayers. The jig is up.” [Propublica: The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) **Report Highlights: ** ***Probe:*** *In 2024, the FBI sought to launch a sweeping pay-to-play investigation examining interactions between Sen. Susan Collins and a top donor, records and emails show.* ***Confession:*** *The donor, an ex-defense contractor, told agents his company won millions in federal contracts by bankrolling campaigns of powerful politicians.* ***Shutdown:* ***After Donald Trump returned to office, the investigation died, a casualty of his purge of the FBI. Its closure shut a potential window into how Washington works.* - *Government contractors are banned from making political contributions. More consequentially,* ***for the company to offer donations to Collins in exchange for an official action, or for Collins to accept, would constitute criminal bribery.*** - *But the company did have such a proposal: Navatek was hungry for more government contracts in Maine.* ***If they cut a big check, the CEO told Reed, Navatek wanted Collins to guarantee tens of millions of dollars in additional federal funding.*** - *To skirt campaign finance laws and conceal the source of the funds,* ***Navatek planned to funnel the donation through a shell company. The CEO wanted assurance that Collins would know where the money came from****. Reed confirmed that she would, the executive said*** *— and that Navatek would get its government contracts.*** - *After the Corner Bakery meeting,* ***Navatek’s CEO, Martin Kao, sent an initial $150,000 to the Collins super PAC using the shell company. Two months later, he told Navatek executives that Collins committed to getting the company $32 million in naval contracts,* ***according to an internal company email reviewed by ProPublica.* - *Three years later, Kao holed up in a conference room to recount the Corner Bakery meeting to a group of four FBI agents and federal prosecutors. The FBI had seen through his shell company ruse, and*** *in 2022 a grand jury indicted him for making illegal campaign contributions. No one working for Collins was charged.*** - ***Facing years in prison, Kao hoped to do less time by revealing the entire scheme. What he told them has never before become public. *** - ***[...] Of all the politicians Navatek courted under Kao’s leadership, Collins was its most important patron. The senator’s office steered government contracts worth millions toward the company while her campaign was pumping Kao and his network for donations, according to emails seen by ProPublica. Sometimes they cut checks within 24 hours of the annual defense spending bill, which funds military contracts, clearing a key Senate hurdle.*** - *[...] In a meeting with Collins and two campaign officials, Kao said,* ***the officials told him the senator expected his ongoing support. Collins told him: “You’ve seen me deliver,” Kao said.*** - *[...]* ***Seven days after the super PAC cashed the check* ***from Kao’s shell company, one of Reed’s subordinates emailed a Navatek lobbyist asking for Kao’s phone number:*** *“Senator Collins would like to call Martin to thank him.”*** - *[...] Kao told the FBI that the lawmakers, lobbyists and* ***Navatek brass understood these donations were bribes*** *and that the payments were essential to the entire scheme.* - *[...]*** ***“It was a simple enough play. Let’s find the small states that have complementary universities … [and] let’s get access to their senators,” Eric Schiff, a former Navatek executive, told ProPublica.*** *“I’ve met Susan Collins. You can get access to Susan Collins. Once we got the first things working with Maine, then we said, ‘Well, let’s keep reaching.’ And so we did.”*** - *[...]*** *Navatek’s public flameout attracted the attention of Michelle Ball and Kevin Gounaud, two experienced agents in the FBI’s elite anti-corruption unit.* ***[...] The agents began digging through thousands of records for details of Navatek’s lobbying operation, donation strategy and ties to politicians. [...]* ***Before they could embark on their new mission, however, they became casualties of Trump’s retribution campaign.*** ### Today, a new [bombshell investigation from Propublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) revealed that Susan Collins was being examined by the FBI for steering federal contracts to a major donor — until Donald Trump ended the investigation. --- ## News: JACKSON WINS THIRD DEBATE SHOWING HE’LL STAND UP FOR MAINERS WHILE COLLINS SOLD THEM OUT URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-wins-third-debate-showing-hell-stand-up-for-mainers-while-collins-sold-them-out ##### While Collins stood on stage making excuses for her and Trump’s failed policies, Jackson demanded accountability and promised change **BANGOR, ME —** Tonight, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson won the third Maine Senate debate, driving a clear contrast between himself and Susan Collins. The debate, held on the three month anniversary of the fatal ICE shooting in Biddeford, put Susan Collins’ record writing blank checks to ICE and voting with Trump 96% of the time front and center while Jackson shared his commitment to abolishing ICE and protecting Mainers’ rights and freedoms. **Jackson clearly showed what Susan Collins has meant for Maine: an inhumane immigration agency that runs on masked raids and fear, higher costs because of tariffs, a war with Iran driving up energy prices, and a Senate appropriations committee that has handed all of its power directly to Donald Trump.** Jackson raised the question of how Mainers can trust her to protect their rights and freedoms and deliver for them when she always bends a knee to Donald Trump. The answer is that they can’t. Major moments of the night came as Susan Collins made excuse after excuse for policies she has backed, and as Jackson made sure she didn’t escape accountability. “Tonight, on the three month anniversary of the murder of Johan Sebastián Guerrero, Troy Jackson stood on the debate stage and held Susan Collins accountable for the pain and terror she has caused Mainers by funding ICE and defending her vote in the wake of this tragedy,” **said campaign manager Hilary Barrett.** “Troy won the debate again tonight by making it clear that Mainers cannot trust Susan Collins to take on Trump when he threatens their rights and freedoms. Meanwhile, Susan Collins stood on the stage and just made excuses.” **TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM TONIGHT’S DEBATE: ** **1) After Susan Collins defends the $70 billion she handed over to ICE with no oversight or guardrails, Jackson honors Johan Sebastián Guerrero and calls to abolish ICE** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110162234114449593?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** **“**Well, the man's name was Johan Sebastián Guerrero. That was his name. He had a family, he had a daughter, and he's not coming home anymore to that family because ICE — and you just heard Senator Collins — they weren't vetted, they didn't have the training. So I don't know how you could stand up here and argue that it's a good thing to let them out onto our population, out onto the American public, when we've seen consistently that they will murder people [...]. That is why I believe that this agency is just a rogue agency that's doing Donald Trump's bidding.” **2) When Collins complains she didn’t have the votes to end the war in Iran, Jackson fires back saying it's another reason voters should elect Democrats to the Senate ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110149359614767181?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**Senator Collins says that she voted against [the Iran war] nine times, but she didn't have the votes. Well, that sounds like then we probably ought to have Democrats in charge of the U.S. Senate so that we have the votes to stop this war, to hold Donald Trump in check because it sounds like the Republicans won't do that. [...] Senator Collins would like to school us on how this all works. Well I know very well how appropriations works, and if she wants to stop the funding for it, she has the ability to stop the funding for it. But she's not willing to because she will not stand up against Donald Trump.” **3) On tariffs, Jackson holds Collins accountable for handing over Congress’ authority on tariffs to Donald Trump ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110158606817452439?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “I’m not going to give Sen. Collins credit for getting some things off the list when we never should have had a list. [...] This is just one man's foolishness that we're dealing with in this state, and it's costing so many more people money than it should have. Blanket tariffs are never going to be something I'll ever support. I still believe that Congress should have stopped Donald Trump from doing this. I still think they can, but they're not willing to because they're with him. That's what they want to do. [Susan Collins] votes with him 96% of the time, and I can't give credit for a couple things coming off the list. [...] Congress should be doing these things. They should be having hearings, deciding whenever they're going to put a tariff on, but not letting one man dictate to the world what he wants and when he wants it.” **4) While Collins made excuses and tried to distance herself from Republicans, Jackson reminded her that she’s Republicans’ and billionaires’ “team player” ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110152862911099013?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “Her own [party] members called her a team player on this issue, because she knew that once she got it out on the floor, it was going to get passed. And all the people that support her, all — I think is, what is it, 90 billionaires now that are donating to you — got another tax at $1 trillion coming out of our health care system. That is the reality, and Senator Collins could have done more to stop that. And I'm not going to give her credit for $190 million when we're losing $3 to $5 billion in the state. That's the reality.” **5) Jackson commits to prioritizing funding on health care, heating oil, prescription drugs – not a war in Iran that’s only making life more expensive ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110162554974601342?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**The biggest problem that we have right now is Senator Collins' insistence on supporting the Iran war because Donald Trump wanted it. Right now, we're paying 80% more this year than we were last year for heating oil — that's a fact. And what we have to do is prioritize where we're willing to spend our money. I don't want to spend it in Iran. I want to spend it here in the United States, making sure that people have health care, lower cost prescriptions, heating oil, and things like that.” **One for the road… Jackson slams Collins for dismissing the closures of rural hospitals and birthing centers that are closing as a result of her vote for Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2110159693259698581?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**Senator Collins is not going to stand there and school me on what I know and what I've been at. I've been at all four of the birthing centers when they closed. I stood there and tried to help the community actually get them back. [...] So don't act like I don't know what I'm talking about because I do.” ### *While Collins stood on stage making excuses for her and Trump’s failed policies, Jackson demanded accountability and promised change * --- ## News: “Families for Troy” Highlights Jackson’s Record Delivering For Maine Families URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/families-for-troy-highlights-jacksons-record-delivering-for-maine-families **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson launched his new coalition, Families for Troy, yesterday alongside parents, kids, and teachers. The coalition highlights his long record of delivering for families in Maine with [universal school meals](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/new-law-requires-free-school-meals-for-all-maine-public-students-regardless-of-family-income-starting-2022-2023/97-4e822474-cd25-4641-958e-c0c8599971c3), [paid family leave](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/06/maine-house-passes-budget-with-paid-family-leave-program-tax-cut-for-retirees/), and [lowering the cost of childcare](https://mainebeacon.com/amid-shrinking-options-legislation-unveiled-to-expand-access-to-quality-child-care/) and his commitment to fighting for working families in Washington. **See what folks are saying about it:** [WGME (CBS Portland): Troy Jackson launches new 'Families for Troy' coalition](https://wgme.com/news/local/troy-jackson-launches-new-families-for-troy-coalition) - *On Sunday, Democratic candidate Troy Jackson launched a new coalition called Families for Troy. Jackson met with parents, guardians, and kids in Portland for the weekend launch.* - *Jackson read, played, and painted with kids, and highlighted his support for securing universal school meals and lowering child care costs.* - *"For some reason, a lot of the people in the federal government think tax cuts for wealthy people are more important. So even though we made universal meals free, they cut SNAP benefits, they cut a bunch of other things. And it's actually going to lower the costs of money that's coming to Maine, So if we want to keep universal free meals, people in communities like this are going to have to pay more in property taxes," Jackson said.* [News Center Maine: Troy Jackson focuses on childcare costs as Maine U.S. Senate campaign enters final stretch](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/jackson-focuses-on-childcare-costs-as-maine-senate-campaign-enters-final-stretch/97-f7c70ca8-ed4b-4db7-b81e-64ebc6523d02) - *Jackson met with children and parents in Portland on Sunday, painting and reading with kids while talking with families about the financial pressures they face.* - *Gabriel Adleman, a parent at the event, said childcare is one of several expenses stretching his and other families' budgets. "There's so many things you have to balance," Adleman said. "Everything costs a lot these days, whether it be childcare, or just having to balance that with getting food on the table."* - *Adleman pointed to Maine's universal free school meals program as an example of a policy that has helped families. Jackson sponsored legislation while serving as Maine Senate president that helped establish free school breakfast and lunch for students statewide. The initiative received bipartisan support in the Legislature.* - *"Knowing that there's a breakfast waiting for them, it makes it so much easier to feel comfortable knowing that your kids not going to be hungry, that they're going to focus during their school day," Adleman said, "And knowing there's a lunch there waiting for them too is massive."* - *Jackson argued the federal government could devote more resources to childcare by changing other spending and tax priorities. "If you don't pump $70 billion in rogue agency like ICE, if you don't fund foreign wars, fund bombs going to Israel, if you don't give tax cuts to wealthy people, I think you have the resources to do childcare," Jackson said.* ### The coalition highlights his long record of delivering for families in Maine with [universal school meals](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/new-law-requires-free-school-meals-for-all-maine-public-students-regardless-of-family-income-starting-2022-2023/97-4e822474-cd25-4641-958e-c0c8599971c3), [paid family leave](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/06/maine-house-passes-budget-with-paid-family-leave-program-tax-cut-for-retirees/), and [lowering the cost of childcare](https://mainebeacon.com/amid-shrinking-options-legislation-unveiled-to-expand-access-to-quality-child-care/) and his commitment to fighting for working families in Washington. --- ## News: Association of Flight Attendants Join Growing List Of Union Endorsements For Troy Jackson URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/association-of-flight-attendants-join-growing-list-of-union-endorsements-for-troy-jackson Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Write your news blurb here. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Fires Up Supporters, Takes Questions At Packed Lewiston Town Hall URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-fires-up-supporters-takes-questions-at-packed-lewiston-town-hall **LEWISTON, ME —** Last night, fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson fired up a packed crowd in Lewiston and answered questions directly from Mainers. Jackson invited Susan Collins to join him onstage — and even saved her a seat. But the No Show Senator was nowhere to be found, continuing her 25-year streak of avoiding public town halls and refusing to answer directly for her record. **Read the local coverage of Troy’s Lewiston town hall below:** [Bangor Daily News: Troy Jackson fires up supporters and faces questions at Lewiston town hall](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/01/politics/elections/troy-jackson-lewiston-maine-town-hall/) - *“****There are more people out there looking for a better government than people who are holding us back,” Jackson told a packed crowd of almost 400*** *at the Franco Center in Lewiston after sharing stories about his upbringing in a logging family.* - *“I see people standing up and fighting for a better government,”* ***he said, speaking next to an empty chair he said was meant for an invited Collins****.* ***“It is time for a change.”*** - *“This isn’t about Troy Jackson,” he responded […] “It’s about people around this state that know there’s something fundamentally wrong.”* - *Asked whether he had a strategy to convert Trump voters, Jackson cited his track record of success in rural, conservative regions. Democrats “have a lot of work to do to bring working-class people back into the fold,” he said, but “****you have to be someone who gives a s— about people.”*** [NewsCenter Maine: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson holds his first campaign town hall](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/democratic-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-holds-his-first-campaign-town-hall-maine-elections/97-e4af8ea0-36c4-4d84-ac6e-041164a1e58e) - ***“People with power and influence always have the upper hand. The only way that you get what you deserve is by taking it -- taking it together,”*** *he said.* - *Jackson argued for Democrats retaking control of Congress to rein in the president. “A big part of this is about taking the majority back, so we can get a Congress that actually does oversight,” Jackson said.* ***“It’s such a big deal to get the Senate and House back, so we can be that check on Trump.”*** - *“What I see right now in this state, in this country, is* ***people that are standing up and fighting for a better government than they have,” Jackson said. “People are working harder and harder than ever, and they’re getting less and less.”*** - ***Jackson said he has now held one town hall after 30 days of campaigning, and that’s more than Collins has held in 30 years.*** [Maine Morning Star: Same-day events underscore strategic differences in Maine's pivotal US Senate race](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/09/01/same-day-events-underscore-strategic-differences-in-maines-pivotal-us-senate-race/) - *“****This is what representative government is supposed to be,” Jackson said, standing next to an empty chair he said he saved for Collins* ***at the Franco Center in Lewiston.* - *In response to a question about who he’d work with, Jackson said, “****anyone that’s going to be willing to do [...] whatever we think is good for the people*** *in the state of Maine and the people in this country.” * - *“I think* ***Democrats have a lot of work to bring working class people back into the fold****,” he said when asked how he’d convert swing or Republican voters. * [WMTW: Troy Jackson Holds First Public Town Hall in Lewiston](https://www.wmtw.com/article/troy-jackson-holds-first-public-town-hall-in-lewiston/73587199) - *I don't know if we can stop [data centers], but* ***we need to make sure we are not paying more in electric rates because of data centers coming in****. We need to make sure that our water rates are protected," said Jackson.* - *Jackson also spoke on ICE operations, and said the agency should be abolished. He said it is not needed to handle immigration enforcement. He also* ***blamed Collins for not using her "power" as chair of appropriations to rein in ICE and Trump administration policies.*** - *While on stage,* ***Jackson said he would like to debate Sen. Susan Collins, and that she was invited to Tuesday's town hall.*** *Jackson said he wants to have two town hall-style debates with the incumbent. * [Maine Public: Hoping to energize Senate bid, Troy Jackson holds first town hall](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-09-02/hoping-to-energize-senate-bid-troy-jackson-holds-first-town-hall) - *The Allagash native told the audience Tuesday that*** *the experience was formative and led him to become an advocate for workers, which he said helped him win legislative races in an increasingly conservative district.*** *He said Democrats have work to do to win over working-class voters. When he was asked about winning over Trump voters, Jackson said,* ***"I think you have to be someone who gives a s— about people to win, that's what I think."*** - *Jackson also took several shots at Collins and tried to cast her as a* ***calculating politician who "counts votes" before deciding whether or not to support President Donald Trump's agenda or cabinet nominees.*** Last night, Troy Jackson fired up a packed crowd in Lewiston and answered questions directly from Mainers. Jackson invited Susan Collins to join him onstage — and even saved her a seat. But the No Show Senator was nowhere to be found, continuing her 25-year streak of avoiding public town halls. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Amasses Statewide Attention After Earning Endorsement Of Maine’s Largest Union URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-amasses-statewide-attention-after-earning-endorsement-of-maines-largest-union *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1p36403bw1fys7n3tq76b/APscFQNHEzWnBRZc9mq_BTo?rlkey=o6dr8xsl4yn2o0yz9e2h7q967&st=bychkron&dl=0) **South Portland, ME** — Local news outlets across Maine are highlighting fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson earned the endorsement of the Maine Education Association, the state’s largest union, during a press conference Wednesday afternoon where they named him a *"*[relentless champion for working families, public schools, and educators](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-adds-states-largest-union-to-endorsements-upcoming-elections/97-2d613a8d-fbe3-4b3e-bec8-c422835cec37)*." * MEA pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people and fighting for teachers and public education — from securing investments in Maine schools, raising wages for school employees, protecting the pension system, and delivering universal school meals so every student can learn on a full stomach. **See what people are saying: ** [News Center Maine: Maine US Senate candidate Troy Jackson adds state's largest union to endorsements](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-adds-states-largest-union-to-endorsements-upcoming-elections/97-2d613a8d-fbe3-4b3e-bec8-c422835cec37) - *The union called Jackson, whose mother was a teacher, a "relentless champion for working families, public schools, and educators." * - *As Maine Senate president, Jackson sponsored the law that provides free school breakfast and lunch for all students and pushed to raise state funding for public education, enabling the state to meet its obligation to fund 55% of K-12 education costs.* - *Jackson, a former logger, used the occasion to spell out why he believes organizing workers is important. Jackson said, "Working people are not powerless, We are made to feel like we're powerless, but when we stand alone, and that's the way they want us, to be separated, divided, so that we're never are able to pick our heads up, we're never able to do anything to, you know, capture that power, and build the life that we want, and that to me is what unions, that's what the MEA has always been about."* [Spectrum News Maine: Maine educators back Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2026/09/10/maine-educators-back-troy-jackson-for-u-s--senate) - *The National Education Association and the Maine Education Association on Wednesday praised Jackson, a Democrat, for his votes to raise teacher and support staff salaries, provide free meals to all children, help lower the cost of childcare and maintain 55% state funding for local schools.* - *“We support those who value the role of public education in supporting our communities, our economies and strengthening the fabric of our democracy,” said Jesse Hargrove, president of the MEA.* - *“Voters in Maine have a real, generational opportunity to elect a champion this November,” said Robert Rodriguez, secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association. “NEA pledges here today that the largest labor union in this country is going to knock on every door, make every phone call.”* - *“Working people are not powerless,” he said. “We are made to feel like we’re powerless when we stand alone. And that’s the way they want us, to be separated, divided so that we never are able to pick our heads up, never able to do anything to capture that power and build the life that we want.”* [WMTW: Troy Jackson Earns The Endorsement of Maine’s Largest Union](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/9imad5j7x06uc613gujrg/WMTW-Troy-Jackson-Earns-The-Endorsement-of-Maine-s-Largest-Union.mp4?rlkey=f9ahah4b2qmm5hixyw5uegv5l&st=at8650go&dl=0) - ***Meghan Torjussen:* ***In the race for U.S. Senate, the Maine Education Association endorsing U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Troy Jackson. The MEA pointing to Jackson's time in the state House, where he worked to increase state funding for public education and higher wages for teachers and staff. He's also has consistently received strong ratings in the MEA's legislative scorecard.* *** *** - ***Jessie Hargrove:* ***We support leaders who stand with us, who trust educators and students. We support those who value the role of public education in supporting our communities. * *** *** - ***Troy Jackson:*** *I watched firsthand how hard my mother and her colleagues worked, how much they cared about their students, and how far too often their voices were ignored by the people in power.* *** *** - ***Meghan Torjussen:* ***Jackson has also been endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers.* ### Troy Jackson earned the endorsement of the Maine Education Association, the state’s largest union, during a press conference Wednesday afternoon where they named him a *"*[relentless champion for working families, public schools, and educators](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-us-senate-candidate-troy-jackson-adds-states-largest-union-to-endorsements-upcoming-elections/97-2d613a8d-fbe3-4b3e-bec8-c422835cec37)*." * --- ## News: Heather Cox Richardson Applauds Troy Jackson For His Authenticity And Record Of Getting Things Done URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/heather-cox-richardson-applauds-troy-jackson-for-his-authenticity-and-record-of-getting-things-done #### WMTW: Richardson called on voters to ensure they are registered, and voting for Jackson is a "chance to restore democracy." **PORTLAND, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined Mainer and historian Heather Cox Richardson for a Community Conversation in Portland earlier this week. Mainers travelled from across the state to hear the conversation about Jackson’s campaign and what’s at stake in the Maine Senate race. **See what folks are saying about it:** [Maine Morning Star: Historian Heather Cox Richardson sees a Jackson win as a step towards reclaiming democracy](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/09/29/historian-heather-cox-richardson-sees-jacksons-bid-for-senate-as-path-to-reclaim-democracy/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAUoiSNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWUPW7ca676jhRyi81_QfkYgTn1TAJjnNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7HrwGcFQiAzCZ0cPniEmRQgG7pPUcnWAl8HBQhGm3QNVpMP_slkwNo5uo-PQ_aem_FM7VlD_3yoA5_6SxkJuzxw) **(also published in** [Bangor Daily News](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/29/politics/elections/maine-election-senate-2026-heather-cox-richardson-troy-jackson/)**)** - *Taking the stage with the now-nominee, [Heather Cox] Richardson urged attendees to talk to their family and neighbors and ensure they are registered so they can vote in Maine’s Senate race and others that could be consequential for the balance of power in Congress. * - *The pair spoke about Jackson’s record as former president of the Maine Senate and his policy stances, notably his support for Medicare for All, universal childcare and an end to the Iran War.* - *Healthcare in particular was top of mind for Jackson, a former logger from Allagash, because his son’s partner recently gave birth to his first granddaughter. “She was two weeks early, and if they had been up in Aroostook County where I live, I mean which could have happened, it’s about an hour and a half to get to the nearest birthing center,” he said, noting the closure of many across the state.* - *[Mary Kay Weisenberger of Auburn] added, “He’s real — that’s what comes across when you come to these events.”* - *Pingree said, “nobody can out-authentic Troy.” [...] “We’re not going to fix the problems that we have unless we take back the House and the Senate,” Pingree said.* [WMTW (Portland ABC): Troy Jackson sits for conversation with well-known historian at USM in Portland](https://www.wmtw.com/article/troy-jackson-sits-for-conversation-with-well-known-historian-at-usm-in-portland/73934121) - *Senate candidate Troy Jackson took the stage with historian Heather Cox Richardson at the University of Southern Maine in Portland on Monday for a conversation on policy as Election Day is now just over a month away.* - *Richardson encouraged voters to cast their ballots for Troy Jackson and asked him about his experience building coalitions in Augusta. Jackson also said his top priorities if elected would be passing Medicare for All, universal childcare, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. He also talked about ensuring Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are funded.* - *"I think you pay for it by where we put our money. Repeal the Big Beautiful Bill, take back those tax cuts for the wealthy," Jackson said.* - *Jackson also talked about U.S.-Canada relations, and slammed President Donald Trump's ongoing trade disputes with the country that Maine's economy relies heavily on. "I have yet to meet anyone who thinks that blanket tariffs on Canada are a good idea. I think people may argue that one or two things should change, but putting tariffs on Canada unilaterally is idiotic," Jackson said.* - *Richardson called on voters to ensure they are registered, and voting for Jackson is a "chance to restore democracy.* [Maine Public: Heather Cox Richardson helps Troy Jackson woo Democratic voters at Portland event](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2026-09-29/heather-cox-richardson-helps-troy-jackson-woo-democratic-voters-at-portland-event) - *The event was designed to present a different side of the fifth generation logger, as Richardson highlighted his successful push for free school meals, child care subsidies and prescription drug reform.* - *During the event, Richardson asked Jackson about his blue collar background and his motivation to fight for the working class. As he has since entering the race in late July, Jackson sought to frame his candidacy as part of populist movement to "get the government we can be proud of."* - *He told the audience his push for universal health care was rooted in his upbringing as the son of a teenage mother and the desire to deliver for working class voters who struggle to get by. "I mean, I can't fix everything. It's just really hard to look people in the face ... that counted on you and say you didn't do it," he said. Richardson replied, "Wouldn't it be lovely to have a Congress that thought that way?"* - *"I feel like he is sincere," [Lisa Eaton of Kennebunk] said. "I feel like he has Maine's and the country's best interest at heart."* ### Troy Jackson joined Mainer and historian Heather Cox Richardson for a Community Conversation in Portland earlier this week. Mainers travelled from across the state to hear the conversation about Jackson’s campaign and what’s at stake in the Maine Senate race. --- ## News: Bombshell Investigation Surrounding Collins Operation Drawing Wave Of Local And National Scrutiny URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/bombshell-investigation-surrounding-collins-operation-drawing-wave-of-local-and-national-scrutiny #### Mainers are hearing all about how FBI anti-corruption agents sought broader investigation into alleged pay-to-play scheme involving Collins and major donor before probe died after Trump returned to office **MAINE, USA —** Yesterday, a [bombshell ProPublica investigation](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) into an alleged pay-to-play scheme involving Senator Susan Collins and a major campaign donor has sparked coverage across Maine and the country, raising new questions about Collins’ relationship with the defense contractor at the center of the case and the federal funding her office helped secure for his company. The investigation ultimately died after Donald Trump returned to office and dismantled the FBI anti-corruption team pursuing the case. In less than 24 hours, the story spread from local television stations across Maine to some of the largest news organizations in the country, putting the allegations — and Collins’ response to them — under national scrutiny. **Take a look at what Mainers and folks all across the country are seeing:** **In print: ** **WABI:** [Report claims Collins was target of FBI campaign finance probe](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/09/22/report-claims-collins-was-target-fbi-campaign-finance-probe/) **Bangor Daily News:** [How a ‘bombshell’ report on Susan Collins washed over Maine politics](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/22/politics/elections/susan-collins-propublica-corruption-investigation-maine-politics/) **Bangor Daily News:** [How UMaine got caught up in allegations of a bribery scheme between Susan Collins and a defense contractor](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/22/bangor/bangor-education/umaine-caught-up-in-allegations-susan-collins-bribery-scheme/) **Central Maine:** [What to know about the pay-to-play allegations against Susan Collins](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/22/what-to-know-about-the-pay-to-play-allegations-against-susan-collins/)** ** **News Center Maine:** [Susan Collins' campaign and staff respond to new questions about illegal campaign donor](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-campaign-staff-respond-new-questions-about-illegal-campaign-donor-maine-politics-fraud-investigation/97-8ebf6ad3-609b-4c2c-82b4-fb1fef236c6d) **Spectrum News Maine:** [Democrats pounce on report tying Collins to defense contractor ](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2026/09/22/democrats-pounce-on-report-tying-collins-to-defense-contractor) **WMTW:** [Sen. Susan Collins' staff denies corruption allegations made in ProPublica report](https://www.wmtw.com/article/susan-collins-propublica-allegations-corruption-bribery/73836588) **New York Times:** [F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/politics/fbi-susan-collins-donor.html) **TMZ:** [Senator Susan Collins – FBI Looked Into Bribery Claims Before Trump Purged Agency](https://www.tmz.com/2026/09/22/susan-collins-was-investigated-for-bribery-by-fbi/) **Hill:** [Collins opponent says ‘jig is up’ after ProPublica report; her aide calls it ‘categorically false’ ](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6104394-jackson-attacks-collins-corruption-navatek/) **Rolling Stone:** [Susan Collins Was Target of Federal Bribery Case … Until Trump Gutted the FBI](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/susan-collins-target-fbi-bribery-probe-1235629871/) **MS NOW: Opinion:** [Susan Collins’ brush with an FBI probe shows how Trump has enabled public corruption](https://www.ms.now/opinion/susan-collins-fbi-investigation-trump) **Forbes:** [Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/09/22/susan-collins-bribery-report-throws-wrench-into-razor-thin-senate-battle/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=se-breaking) **USA Today:** [FBI probed Sen. Susan Collins campaign corruption until 2025: reports](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/09/22/maine-susan-collins-campaign-propublica-investigation/91885844007/) **Newsweek:** [Susan Collins Blasted by Troy Jackson Over FBI Probe Report—‘Corruption’ ](https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-blasted-by-troy-jackson-over-fbi-probe-reportcorruption-12474119) **Washington Sun:** [Susan Collins denies wrongdoing after bombshell report on FBI corruption](https://www.washingtonsun.com/senate/susan-collins-fbi-corrpution-maine?redirected=notus_org) **Daily Beast:** [FBI Bribe Probe Into Must-Win Republican Senator Is Exposed](https://www.thedailybeast.com/fbi-bribe-probe-into-must-win-republican-senator-is-exposed/) **MS NOW: Maddow Blog:** [FBI’s anti-corruption team eyed Susan Collins’ operation. Then Trump’s purge began](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/susan-collins-fbi-navatek-navy-contract-corruption-allegations) **New Republic:**[Trump’s FBI Killed Bombshell Bribery Investigation Into Susan Collins ](https://newrepublic.com/post/215704/fbi-targeting-susan-collins-bombshell-bribery-probe-until-trump) **Punchbowl News:** [Susan Collins slams ‘political hit job’ on Justice Department probe](https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/collins-propublica-report/) **Boston Globe:** [Key takeaways from a ProPublica report on the FBI’s anti-corruption squad looking into Senator Susan Collins ](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/22/nation/propublica-report-susan-collins-takeaways/) **New York Magazine:** [Do Voters Care Whether Susan Collins Is Corrupt?](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/do-voters-care-whether-susan-collins-is-corrupt.html) **Raw Story:** ['September surprise' rocks Susan Collins' campaign and sparks frenzy: 'Call your lawyer'](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2677914439/) **People’s World:** [Susan Collins in trouble: Pay-for-play scheme exposed](https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/susan-collins-in-trouble-pay-for-play-scheme-exposed/) **Raw Story:** ['We literally have the emails!' Susan Collins flak skewered for denying corruption story](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2677917936/) **Mediate:** [FBI Anti-Corruption Investigators Targeted Susan Collins in Bribery Probe — But Then Trump Happened: Report](https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/fbi-anti-corruption-investigators-targeted-susan-collins-in-bribery-probe-but-then-trump-happened-report/) **Raw Story:** [Susan Collins 'angrily' blames corruption story bombshell on Senate colleague: report](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2677921570/) **Esquire:** [It’s Totally Not Sketchy at All That Trump’s DOJ Is Giving Up on Public Corruption Cases](https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a73841600/trump-department-of-justice-public-corruption-federal-bureau-of-investigation-cases/) **Jezebel:** [Turns Out Susan Collins Was Way More of a Sellout Than We Thought](https://www.jezebel.com/turns-out-susan-collins-was-way-more-of-a-sellout-than-we-thought) **Daily Kos:** [What concessions did Susan Collins make to Trump before FBI dropped the probe into her pay-to-play scheme? – Jackson should start asking](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/22/800101753/community/what-concessions-did-susan-collins-make-to-trump-before-fbi-dropped-the-probe-into-her-pay-to-play-scheme-jackson-should-start-asking/) **Tickle The Wire:** [FBI Shut Down Inquiry Into Alleged Scheme Tied To Susan Collins ](https://ticklethewire.com/fbi-shut-down-inquiry-into-alleged-scheme-tied-to-susan-collins/) **Common Dreams:** [‘Incredible Story of Corruption’: Bombshell Report Puts Susan Collins at Center of Massive Bribery Scheme](https://www.commondreams.org/news/incredible-story-of-corruption-bombshell-report-puts-susan-collins-at-center-of-massive-bribery-scheme) **Adam Kinzinger:** [BREAKING: Susan Collins’ Bribery Scheme Exposed, Trump's Press Ban Backfires, GOP Breaks With Trump on Diesel, and more… ](https://www.adamkinzinger.com/p/breaking-susan-collins-bribery-scheme) **The Parnas Perspective:** [NEWS: Trump Snaps at CNN for Still Covering Him, GOP Senators Ask to Investigate Trump Jr., DOJ Scrubs Pardon Information, Trump TV Ratings Flop](https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-trump-erupts-at-cnn-for-still) **Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance:** [A Bad Tuesday in Maine if Your Name is Susan Collins](https://joycevance.substack.com/p/a-bad-tuesday-in-maine-if-your-name) **On the airwaves:** **WGME (Portland CBS):** [Collins Campaign, Super PAC Took Illegal Campaign Donations for 2020](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s3d291xyzlxhfbcefm4gs/WGME-Portland-CBS-Collins-Campaign-Super-PAC-Took-Illegal-Campaign-Donations-for-2020.mp4?rlkey=k2eyi4gkstic0zniv8hnrka5f&st=lk8pn5gn&dl=0) **WAGM (Presque Isle):** [Susan Collins at the Center of an FBI Probe into Corruption Allegations](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8bhjod8qjck288byd8xon/WAGM-Presque-Isle-Susan-Collins-at-the-Center-of-an-FBI-Probe-into-Corruption-Allegations.mp4?rlkey=oht2lmssuspan3pqp16v1gazi&st=w6mitd0p&dl=0) **WVII (FOX Bangor):** [FBI Investigation into Susan Collins Campaign Donor Fraud](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x6bexwi2yl3h130p085vt/WVII-FOX-Bangor-FBI-Investigation-into-Susan-Collins-Campaign-Donor-Fraud.mp4?rlkey=2a0m59tdf171n9h0ak5aaup0k&st=kll4nc5d&dl=0) **News Center Maine:** [New Article Revives Collins Campaign Contributor Questions ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vV2ZKgKqwv70n-GyOXo4VLBP08qez9JE/view?usp=sharing) **WMTW (Portland ABC):** [Senator Collins’ Staff Denies Corruption Allegations Made in New Report](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/papf4uzklpah07esuo1n6/WMTW-Portland-ABC-Senator-Collins-Staff-Denies-Corruption-Allegations-Made-in-New-Report.mp4?rlkey=rhoburyt8t2uh650tasziaads&st=geiunqse&dl=0) **WABI (Bangor):** [Susan Collins at the Center of an FBI Probe into Corruption Allegations ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wyffwpyow1eiwm06m3c80/WABI-Bangor-Susan-Collins-at-the-Center-of-an-FBI-Probe-into-Corruption-Allegations.mp4?rlkey=n0bxiojz79kmxljiz18c3orys&st=lywp7u47&dl=0) **State of Play with Peter Alexander:** [Norm Eisen Calls Collins’ Corruption “Shocking”](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kDXn6i-TNnF-er2KA3t-Iv2CqEXtcD0Q/view?usp=sharing) **NBC: Top Story with Tom Llamas:** [Propublica Reports FBI Investigated Senator Collins](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s8uacd1aacpcj57o9rw9i/NBC-Top-Story-with-Tom-Llamas-Propublica-Reports-FBI-Investigated-Senator-Collins.mp4?rlkey=b4cau2xuudnc260dymwtmq40q&st=upixnzsd&dl=0) **The Lead With Jake Tapper:** [Pay to Play? Interview with Propublica Reporter William Turton on Collins Corruption Report ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qhap0spbjh2knhrwe8eq4/The-Lead-With-Jake-Tapper-Pay-to-Play-Interview-with-Propublica-Reporter-William-Turton-on-Collins-Corruption-Report.mp4?rlkey=hu4kaq57d5qt2lhalvmm7y3fg&st=0qayq5cy&dl=0) **Deadline: White House:** [ProPublica Assistant Managing Editor Jesse Eisinger Speaks on Collins Corruption Report ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bhqkjdw9pl8nd3c3g7ip8/AIH4WZD-E6vojurkcxdmhIQ?rlkey=w3s7mrk5vce2cvtzu70m0jvx1&st=fufe408h&dl=0) **The Briefing With Jen Psaki:** [Bombshell report links Susan Collins to FBI Corruption Probe](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cfiok3q1orj9qp411yd1f/AML-_mRydigoAV_xsig1gjw?rlkey=mplnv0eqy2goa05olct1ki86f&st=d2flonf6&dl=0) **Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell:** [Former FBI Counsel Andrew Weissman Discusses Report Tying Susan Collins to Alleged Pay-To-Play Scheme](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ttlsofbj004rgu344m4u2/AHwLaQrVSwvrs0beB7vY0fY?rlkey=wqbn5yk8zdpf4lo5d248qc8yu&st=nnktx43h&dl=0) ### *Mainers are hearing all about how FBI anti-corruption agents sought broader investigation into alleged pay-to-play scheme involving Collins and major donor before probe died after Trump returned to office.* --- ## News: Troy Jackson Vows To Fight For Affordable Health Care At Community Conversation With Dr. Nirav Shah URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-vows-to-fight-for-affordable-health-care-at-community-conversation-with-dr-nirav-shah *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7yrkgv4kvk5w53hilyjqj/ADrY27SbDrGR7hoBy193I3A?rlkey=pez0a94268ccji4mjl1cc3vkc&st=yyyd53c1&dl=0) **SCARBOROUGH, ME —** Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson held a community conversation in Scarborough with former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah focused on lowering the cost of health care, expanding access, and the importance of electing leaders who will stand up for Mainers — unlike Susan Collins, who enabled Donald Trump to gut health care to fund tax cuts for billionaires. “Troy, there are so many areas in which, as our state motto says, Maine has led, and I feel like in the Senate, you will be able to bring a lot of the lessons as to what Maine has already done to the federal level, and actually educate other states and other senators about whether it's prescription drug pricing, corrections policy, substance use, labor rights, a whole host of things,” **said Dr. Shah.** “We know it’s pretty clear who's going to show up for us and who's not going to show up for us, and I think we've all heard this evening that Troy Jackson, soon to be Senator Troy Jackson, is going to be.” “I’m damn proud to stand on stage alongside Dr. Shah and speak directly with voters about their concerns and ideas for the future of health care in this country,” **said Jackson.** “Health care is a human right, not a privilege reserved for people who can afford it. That’s why I proudly support Medicare for All, lowering drug costs, and taking on Big Pharma when I get to the U.S. Senate so that Mainers aren’t avoiding the doctor or rationing life-saving medication due to costs. Susan Collins has spent years siding with drug companies, insurance companies, and Donald Trump’s efforts to gut Mainers’ health care; I’ll always stand with Maine families.” **See local coverage of the event below:** [News Center Maine: Troy Jackson campaigns for Medicare for All, lower prescription drug prices](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/troy-jackson-campaigns-for-medicare-for-all-lower-prescription-drug-prices/97-39a4d77f-96e3-474d-ac23-2ed917d61cfa) - ***Jackson conducted an hour-long, town hall-style conversation with former Maine CDC Director and U.S. CDC Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah* ***before an audience of several hundred people.* - *Their conversation on Monday covered a range of domestic issues with a notable focus on health care. Prompted by Shah,* ***Jackson told the crowd he would like to expand federal government negotiations with pharmaceutical companies to lower prices for prescription drugs****, as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand do.* - *Jackson said, “They’re happy, and they’re safe as anywhere else, and that’s what a government can do. But right now, we’re not willing to do that in this country.* ***We’re not willing to go out and negotiate the prices of drugs, because it means less money in the health care system. For profit health care is killing this country, and that’s something I feel very strongly about.”*** - *“****It’s about prioritizing how we spend our money****,” Jackson said. “It is shocking to me that we debate this issue, and people tell us, ‘You can’t do it. It’s not right.’ * - *In the Senate, Jackson told Shah his “big swings” would include* ***advocating for universal childcare and free school breakfast and lunch for all K-12 school kids -- the latter now Maine policy from a state legislative bill he sponsored.*** - *“Right now, in this country, there is a group of people running that believes in all these things,” Jackson said. “****It is about health care. It is about prescription drugs and there’s a big group that wants to change this, and I’m really excited to be part of that.*** *You know, that* ***people right now know that there’s a moment, that they know this government is not working,*** *and they know there’s a moment right now that we can actually do things that we’ve been talking about forever but haven’t had the will do it. Well,* ***I think people have the will right now.****”* - *Asked by Shah about his differences with Collins, Jackson cited her support of tax cuts for high-income people and how* ***he would use his political power differently -- “Pushing back against corporations, pushing back against Elon Musk, making sure that we have health care in this country,”* ***he said. Jackson continued, “I’m fighting for everyday people.* ***I’m fighting for people that need government to work for them, and she’s fighting for people that already has every break in the world that government can give and want more.”*** [WMTW: Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah sit to discuss healthcare, reproductive rights](https://www.wmtw.com/article/troy-jackson-nirav-shah-sit-to-discuss-healthcare-reproductive-rights/73829154) - *Dr. Nirav Shah, who ran against Jackson for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and for Senate, is now campaigning for him. The two* ***discussed Jackson's goal of universal healthcare and childcare.*** *He repeated his sentiment that "****if government can find money for forever wars and ICE, it can find money for universal healthcare.****"* - *"****The government getting involved for negotiating prescription drug prices is the number one thing,****" Jackson said. Jackson also said* ***Sen. Susan Collins' previous actions on the "One Big Beautiful Bill" hurt Mainers****. * - ***Jackson and Shah also expressed concern over the closure of labor and delivery units at rural hospitals*** *like MaineHealth's Lincoln Hospital Miles Campus. "We were both at Miles delivery in Lincoln, that hospital.* ***It is the fourth one I have been to that is closing. You know, they know what is coming****," Jackson said to Shah.* - *The two also* ***bashed Collins on her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which they said led to overturning Roe v. Wade.*** *The two blamed Collins and said* ***"she knew that would happen"*** *when she cast her vote.* [Portland Press Herald: Nirav Shah joins Troy Jackson at Scarborough campaign event](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/21/nirav-shah-joins-troy-jackson-at-scarborough-campaign-event/) - *[…]* ***The loudest applause on Monday night in Scarborough was for Jackson.*** *Early on,* ***Shah asked Jackson how it felt to take on Big Pharma*** *during his time in the state Legislature, crediting him with* ***being “a leader on this front.”*** ***Jackson said it felt “incredibly satisfying,” resulting in a cheer.* ***But he noted how difficult it is to take on the for-profit healthcare system. In D.C., taking on Big Pharma will require the federal government “getting involved in negotiating (drug) prices,” Jackson said.* - *“****We’re already spending the money for universal healthcare in this country, way over,” Jackson said, from routine appointments to emergency room bills.* ***He later said it was “****shocking” to him that so many politicians are against the measure. “It’s an embarrassment to not do that, especially if you’re on government-sponsored healthcare,” Jackson said. *** - ***Jackson also said he believes “reproductive rights is healthcare****,” and his past opposition to abortion access shifted through conversations with women.* ***Shah said he admired Jackson’s ability to change his views, saying “somebody studying an issue and then changing their position” seems rare in the modern political climate.*** - *One of the* ***loudest rounds of applause*** *came when Shah turned the topic to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the agency’s facility in Scarborough.* ### Troy Jackson held a community conversation in Scarborough with former Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah focused on lowering the cost of health care, expanding access, and the importance of electing leaders who will stand up for Mainers — unlike Susan Collins, who enabled Donald Trump to gut health care to fund tax cuts for billionaires. --- ## News: Troy Jackson Hosts Meet and Greet With Maine Voters At Locally-Owned Portland Bar URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-hosts-meet-and-greet-with-maine-voters-at-locally-owned-portland-bar *Additional photos and b-roll available* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/7eclyiiofb8tki8qhb15a/AI5J9kyalf4_8a9mFGzQzeI?rlkey=me9zxalh3z4tda5qq2zqqwwgf&st=y1m0rypc&dl=0) **PORTLAND** — Fifth-generation logger, former President of the Maine Senate, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson met with voters and shared his commitment to fighting for Maine at the Supper Club in Portland Wednesday evening. “I have spent my whole life watching what happens when working people decide they have had enough and start standing together – you can feel it happening again right now,” **said Jackson.** “Let’s defeat Susan Collins, let’s send a working-class voice to the United States Senate, and let’s build a government that finally works as hard for working people as working people have always worked for this country.” “Troy Jackson has always shown up for Mainers and union nurses know that firsthand – he’s always stood shoulder to shoulder with us whether we’re taking on hospital executives, fighting for better conditions, or walking a picket line,” said **Kelli Brennan, co-president of the Maine State Nurses Association**, who introduced Jackson to the crowd. “We’ve seen that commitment year after year. While Susan Collins has sold us out and voted with Donald Trump 96% of the time, we know with Troy in the Senate Mainers will have the voice and advocate we deserve. We’re ready to get to work knocking doors, talking to our neighbors, and doing everything we can to elect Troy Jackson.” **###** Troy Jackson met with voters and shared his commitment to fighting for Maine at the Supper Club in Portland Wednesday evening. --- ## News: Ahead of Debate, Jackson Highlights Reproductive Freedom On Anniversary Of Collins’ Kavanaugh Vote URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/ahead-of-debate-jackson-highlights-reproductive-freedom-on-anniversary-of-collins-kavanaugh-vote *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/5n5ymfb3z6hzut41i0r2i/APXMKnctx_WSWt0AHxQkV64?rlkey=tlp7gbjwdbuyxuamtq2lrtv9k&st=7xsfiest&dl=0) **MAINE, USA** — Ahead of tonight’s first U.S. Senate debate and on the anniversary of Susan Collins’ vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, Democratic nominee Troy Jackson is highlighting his commitment to protecting reproductive freedom after joining Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund leaders and Mainers for events on Monday. At a Monday evening town hall in Bath with Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund President and CEO Nicole Clegg, Jackson heard from Mainers and outlined his commitment to protecting access to reproductive health care in the U.S. Senate. Jackson and Clegg discussed the consequences of Collins’ votes to confirm three of the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade. Despite millions of women losing access to abortion care, Collins has said she has no regrets about those votes. They also discussed how Maine’s next U.S. senator could help decide who fills the next Supreme Court vacancy—and whether reproductive rights face further threats. “I feel proud that I was part of a team of people that made sure that women in Maine didn’t lose their reproductive rights,” **said Jackson.** “We made sure that lower-income women had care and Mainecare. You know, these things are a big, big deal.” “I just want to thank you for the work that you do,” **said Nicole Clegg, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund.** “And then I'm gonna just say I find it really fascinating that Susan Collins and her campaign keep saying that ‘well, these aren't problems in Maine’ and the reason they're not problems in Maine is because of the work that you do.” Earlier in the day, Troy attended a roundtable with Planned Parenthood leaders and advocates, hearing their personal experiences with reproductive health care and discussing his commitment to defending their rights in Washington. ### Ahead of tonight’s first U.S. Senate debate and on the anniversary of Susan Collins’ vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, Democratic nominee Troy Jackson is highlighting his commitment to protecting reproductive freedom after joining Planned Parenthood Maine Action Fund leaders and Mainers for events on Monday. --- ## News: NEW VIDEO: Corrupt Collins Embroiled In A Pay-To-Play Scheme Involving Millions Of Taxpayer Dollars URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/new-video-corrupt-collins-embroiled-in-a-pay-to-play-scheme-involving-millions-of-taxpayer-dollars **PORTLAND, ME —** A new video released by the Jackson for Maine campaign outlines the [bombshell investigation](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) into illegal donations made to support Susan Collins’ campaign. Using clips from the dozens of local stations and national cable hits, the video pieces together the narrative, following how Susan Collins steered millions of taxpayer dollars in federal contracts to a corrupt campaign donor. [Countless local and national outlets](https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/bombshell-investigation-surrounding-collins-operation-drawing-wave-of-local-and-national-scrutiny?source=28e03f5f-e18a-4cd6-993a-04b049c89570) are reporting on Collins’ history of corruption — shocking, disappointing, and motivating Mainers to hold her accountable this November. **Watch “**[Corrupt Collins](https://x.com/aaronparnas/status/2103093293810852131?s=46)**” here: ** **Read the full transcript of “**[Corrupt Collins](https://x.com/aaronparnas/status/2103093293810852131?s=46)**” below: ** - ***Anchor 1:* ***ProPublica is reporting that the FBI sought to open a bribery investigation into Republican Senator Susan Collins's interactions with a top donor, a guy named Martin Kao, the CEO of a defense company called Navatek.* - ***Anchor 2:* ***Emails show Collins' office pushed the Navy to award specific contracts to Navatek. * - ***Anchor 3:* ***Quote, “Agents had enough evidence to pursue a sweeping bribery probe, but then President Trump returned to office, purged the FBI's anti-corruption unit, and the investigation reportedly died.”* - ***Anchor 4:* ***After meeting with Collins' political team, Kao directed a $150,000 Super PAC donation through a shell company.* - ***Reporter:* ***He said “very smart” response to Martin Kao suggesting using a shell company for donations to Senator Collins’ PAC.* - ***Steve Abbott, Collins’ Campaign Manager:* ***I might also say the same thing.* - ***Anchor 5:* ***In return, Collins allegedly helped secure $32 million in naval contracts, meeting directly with Kao and noting financial support was expected.* ### Using clips from the dozens of local stations and national cable hits, the video pieces together the narrative, following how Susan Collins steered millions of taxpayer dollars in federal contracts to a corrupt campaign donor. --- ## News: Pay-to-Play Scandal Grows As Second Report Calls Out Collins’ “Inaccurate” & “Misleading” Claims URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/pay-to-play-scandal-grows-as-second-report-calls-out-collins-inaccurate-misleading-claims **MAINE, USA —** The questions surrounding U.S. Senator Susan Collins and an alleged pay-to-play scheme continued to grow Thursday after [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) published a [second report](https://www.propublica.org/article/debunking-susan-collins-fbi-navatek-investigation-claims) finding that several claims Collins and her representatives made in response to its original investigation were “incorrect,” “misleading” or “not accurate.” The follow-up comes after Collins and her campaign repeatedly denied wrongdoing and argued that the allegations had already been investigated and resolved years ago. But ProPublica reported that Collins remained interested in the conduct of Collins and her staff until the Trump administration dismantled the anti-corruption teams working on the case. And [Bangor Daily News](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/23/politics/elections/scott-reed-propublica-susan-collins-report/) and the [New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/politics/weeks-before-the-election-collinss-ties-to-a-fund-raiser-are-under-scrutiny.html) highlighted that the corruption didn’t stop there — as additional scrutiny is falling on longtime Republican operative Scott Reed, a central figure in ProPublica’s original investigation and a major player in Collins’ current reelection effort. “Mainers deserve answers about what happened, what investigators found, and why the FBI inquiry ended when it did,” **said Jackson spokesperson Dan Gottlieb.** “Every new report raises more questions about Collins’ account of the investigation and the people around her. She should answer them directly.” [ProPublica: Susan Collins Dismissed Our Reporting as Old News. Some of Her Claims Aren’t True](https://www.propublica.org/article/debunking-susan-collins-fbi-navatek-investigation-claims) - *After the story published, Collins and her campaign denied any wrongdoing in numerous media appearances.* ***Some of the statements made by Collins and her representatives are not accurate.*** - *An FBI spokesperson told ProPublica the agency had investigated claims against Collins years ago “and ultimately found nothing implicating Senator Collins or Senator Collins’ campaign.” But* ***the investigation at the center of ProPublica’s story was based on claims Kao made between 2022 through 2024 — not seven years ago, as Collins states.*** ***That investigation did not conclude under President Joe Biden but under Trump, in 2025, after his administration purged the agents and Department of Justice attorneys assigned to the case.*** - *FBI records reviewed by ProPublica show* ***the agency remained interested in the conduct of Collins and her staff right up until the most recent phase of their investigation was shut down under Trump.*** - *The judge in Kao’s sentencing* ***ultimately offered him no benefit for his cooperation with federal authorities****, sentencing him to 87 months in federal prison. * - ***ProPublica*** ***did not simply take Kao at his word*** *but reviewed a trove of evidence gathered by the FBI.* ***It also examined thousands of pages of legal records and interviewed dozens of people*** *familiar with Navatek, its Washington operations and the FBI inquiry*** *to independently corroborate much of Kao’s account.*** [Bangor Daily News: Operative at center of ProPublica report is still a top outside money man for Susan Collins](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/23/politics/elections/scott-reed-propublica-susan-collins-report/) - ***Scott Reed, the longtime Republican strategist at the center of ProPublica’s report*** *alleging U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and other lawmakers may have been involved in a pay-to-play scheme,* ***remains a major force in the five-term incumbent’s inner circle.*** - ***Reed now helms Pine Tree Results PAC, which has booked more than $28 million in ads in Collins’ reelection bid against Democrat Troy Jackson****, according to AdImpact data. Her campaign and the Reed-led group raise money together through a joint committee. * - ***Reed’s lobbying firm, Chesapeake Enterprises, paid the senator’s husband, Tom Daffron, as a consultant last year.*** - *ProPublica reported the FBI was still digging into Navatek’s donations, along with potential bribery involving Collins and other lawmakers, by late 2024 before the second Trump administration dismantled the agency’s anti-corruption teams.* - ***Pine Tree Results PAC, the new Reed-led group, relies on many of the same billionaires who funded the 1820 PAC*** *of the 2020 cycle, led by Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who has given the new group $3 million. In all, 21 donors have given to both super PACs.* - ***The new group also leans heavily on organizations whose own funders aren’t disclosed,*** *including $3 million from the group Stronger America, which is running its own pro-Collins ads, and $1.25 million from the Lexington Fund, part of a network linked to conservative legal activist Leonard Leo.* - ***Reed was a central figure in separate complaints from Campaign Legal Center and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington a decade ago.*** *In those complaints, a Reed-linked group was accused of flouting campaign finance laws.* ***His lobbying firm, Chesapeake Enterprises, faced allegations of failing to file required lobbying reports.*** - *Brendan Fischer, who heads Campaign Legal Center’s strategic investigations team, said* ***Reed had been “involved in super PACs and dark money groups pushing the legal envelope.”*** *He also said Kao’s brazenness, including telling Reed in an email that he was using an LLC to make a six-figure donation, offered a rare “peek behind the curtain.”* - ***The FEC’s general counsel in 2024 recommended a finding that Reed’s PAC violated regulations by failing to refund the $150,000 donation from an LL****C established by Kao “once it discovered the illegality of the contribution,” according to a report in the case file.* ***But the FEC, which found Kao’s donation violated campaign finance laws, took no action.*** [New York Times: Weeks Before the Election, Collins’s Ties to a Fund-Raiser Are Under Scrutiny](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/us/politics/weeks-before-the-election-collinss-ties-to-a-fund-raiser-are-under-scrutiny.html) - *Long before Donald J. Trump upended the Republican Party, Scott Reed was one of its go-to political operatives. * - *One of his closest relationships was with Senator Susan Collins of Maine, and her husband, Tom Daffron, a former Capitol Hill staffer and lobbyist.* ***Mr. Daffron previously worked at Mr. Reed’s government relations firm, and last year it paid him for consulting****, according to the senator’s financial disclosure. * - ***The longstanding ties between Mr. Reed and the senator and her husband are now under intense scrutiny*** *following a report by ProPublica that said the F.B.I. had sought to begin a pay-to-play investigation examining Ms. Collins’s interactions with a donor seeking federal contracts.* ***Mr. Reed, who headed a pro-Collins super PAC, exchanged emails with the donor, Martin Kao, according to ProPublica.*** - *Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday,* ***Ms. Collins described Mr. Reed as “a person of great integrity.”*** - *Mr. Reed, 66, said he never communicated with Ms. Collins, her staff or Mr. Daffron about Mr. Kao or his company. On Wednesday,* ***he also told The Times that he would continue to raise money for a recently launched super PAC supporting Ms. Collins, Pine Tree Results. The group has spent or reserved $28 million on advertising this campaign cycle****, according to AdImpact.* - *In 2020, Mr. Reed abruptly left the Chamber [of Commerce], citing its endorsements of several Democrats and claiming the organization was insufficiently defending the Republican majority in the Senate. A spokeswoman for the group at the time said* ***Mr. Reed had been pushed out “for cause” and accused him of breaching the organization’s confidentiality rules. That same year, Mr. Reed leveraged his wide political network to bankroll a super PAC boosting Ms. Collins’s re-election campaign. *** - *Two years later, Mr. Kao was indicted on charges of making illegal campaign contributions, and he began to detail a* ***sweeping cash-for-contracts operation on Capitol Hill that involved Ms. Collins and Mr. Reed,*** *according to the ProPublica report.* - ***Mr. Reed’s firm, Chesapeake Enterprises, paid Mr. Daffron more than $1,000 last year****, according to the senator’s financial disclosure form.* - ***Mr. Reed’s Pine Tree Results super PAC has raised $20.6 million*** *as of the end of June, records show,* ***largely from out-of-state megadonors.*** **See coverage of the scandal over the past few days below:** **In print: ** **AP:** [Maine Dems hammer Collins over report of pay-to-play probe. The GOP senator calls it ‘totally false’ ](https://apnews.com/article/susan-collins-maine-senate-troy-jackson-ff12b149bdf8c81c34755f8d1904cf82) **CNN:** [Maine Democrats criticize Susan Collins over reported allegations of pay-to-play scheme](https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/23/politics/susan-collins-propublica-maine-democrats-senate) **Portland Press Herald:** [Facing heat from Democrats, Collins team calls corruption allegations ‘outrageous’](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/23/facing-heat-from-democrats-collins-team-calls-corruption-allegations-outrageous/) **WGME:** [Maine Dems demand answers from Sen. Collins after report claims 2020 campaign took bribes ](https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-democrats-demand-answers-from-senator-susan-collins-after-report-claims-2020-campaign-took-bribes-republican-propublica-navatek) **USA Today:**[The closed FBI investigation into Susan Collins' campaign, explained](https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/politics/2026/09/23/susan-collins-maine-investigation-explained/91910513007/) **Washington Sun:**[Susan Collins’ Campaign Is Eager to Put Corruption Allegations to Rest](https://www.washingtonsun.com/campaigns/susan-collins-campaign-corruption-allegations-response) **The Hill:**[Collins rips report on pay-for-play allegations: ‘Partisan hit job’](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6107282-collins-denies-pro-publica-report-pay-for-play/) **ABC News:**[Collins denies allegations in corruption report: 'Absolutely outrageous'](https://abcnews.com/Politics/collins-denies-allegations-corruption-report-absolutely-outrageous/story?id=136685553) **Fox News:**[Susan Collins tears into bribery allegations as new claims emerge during critical Senate battle](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/susan-collins-tears-bribery-allegations-new-claims-emerge-during-critical-senate-battle) **Mediaite:**[ProPublica Helps Democrats In the Maine Senate Race with Biased Hit on Susan Collins](https://www.mediaite.com/opinion/propublica-helps-democrats-in-the-maine-senate-race-with-biased-hit-on-susan-collins/) **The Guardian:**[Democrats accuse Susan Collins of corruption after bombshell ‘pay-to-play’ report](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/23/susan-collins-corruption-allegation-report-propublica) **Daily Caller:**[FBI Accused Of Shutting Down Investigation Into Alleged Wrongdoing By Susan Collins’ Campaign Staff](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/23/fbi-susan-collins-martin-kao-allegations/) **Law Commentary:**[What Turns a Campaign Donation Into a Federal Bribe?](https://www.lawcommentary.com/articles/campaign-donation-federal-bribe-quid-pro-quo-susan-collins-navatek) **Red State: 'Desperate':**[Conveniently Timed ProPublica Hit Piece Against Susan Collins Gets Quickly Picked Apart](https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/09/22/hackery-an-attempted-propublica-smear-campaign-against-susan-collins-quickly-falls-apart-n2207247) **The Federalist:**[Discredited Activists At ProPublica Cite Other Discredited Activists To Concoct Susan Collins Hit Piece](https://thefederalist.com/2026/09/23/discredited-activists-at-propublica-cite-other-discredited-activists-to-concoct-susan-collins-hit-piece/) **Portland Press Herald:**[Facing heat from Democrats, Collins team calls corruption allegations ‘outrageous’](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/23/facing-heat-from-democrats-collins-team-calls-corruption-allegations-outrageous/) **WABI:**[Sen. Collins responds to pay-to-play scheme allegations](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/09/23/sen-collins-responds-pay-to-play-scheme-allegations/) **Bangor Daily News:**[Operative at center of ProPublica report is still a top outside money man for Susan Collins](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/23/politics/elections/scott-reed-propublica-susan-collins-report/) **Maine Morning Star:**[Democrats have been trying to nail Collins on corruption for years. Will this time be different?](https://mainemorningstar.com/2026/09/23/democrats-have-been-trying-to-nail-collins-on-corruption-for-years-will-this-time-be-different/) **Portland Press Herald: Opinion:**[Susan Collins’ donors are the people we need to be worrying about](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/09/23/susan-collins-donors-are-the-people-we-need-to-be-worrying-about-opinion/) **Substack: Contrarian:**[A Pay-for-Play Investigation Gets Unburied](https://www.contrariannews.org/p/a-pay-for-play-investigation-gets) **WABI:**[Report claims Collins was target of FBI campaign finance probe](https://www.wabi.tv/2026/09/22/report-claims-collins-was-target-fbi-campaign-finance-probe/) **Bangor Daily News:**[How a ‘bombshell’ report on Susan Collins washed over Maine politics](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/22/politics/elections/susan-collins-propublica-corruption-investigation-maine-politics/) **Bangor Daily News:**[How UMaine got caught up in allegations of a bribery scheme between Susan Collins and a defense contractor](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2026/09/22/bangor/bangor-education/umaine-caught-up-in-allegations-susan-collins-bribery-scheme/) **Central Maine:**[What to know about the pay-to-play allegations against Susan Collins](https://www.centralmaine.com/2026/09/22/what-to-know-about-the-pay-to-play-allegations-against-susan-collins/) **News Center Maine:**[Susan Collins' campaign and staff respond to new questions about illegal campaign donor](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-campaign-staff-respond-new-questions-about-illegal-campaign-donor-maine-politics-fraud-investigation/97-8ebf6ad3-609b-4c2c-82b4-fb1fef236c6d) **Spectrum News Maine:**[Democrats pounce on report tying Collins to defense contractor](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/me/maine/politics/2026/09/22/democrats-pounce-on-report-tying-collins-to-defense-contractor) **WMTW:**[Sen. Susan Collins' staff denies corruption allegations made in ProPublica report](https://www.wmtw.com/article/susan-collins-propublica-allegations-corruption-bribery/73836588) **New York Times:**[F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/politics/fbi-susan-collins-donor.html) **TMZ:**[Senator Susan Collins – FBI Looked Into Bribery Claims Before Trump Purged Agency](https://www.tmz.com/2026/09/22/susan-collins-was-investigated-for-bribery-by-fbi/) **The Hill:**[Collins opponent says ‘jig is up’ after ProPublica report; her aide calls it ‘categorically false’](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6104394-jackson-attacks-collins-corruption-navatek/) **Rolling Stone:**[Susan Collins Was Target of Federal Bribery Case … Until Trump Gutted the FBI](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/susan-collins-target-fbi-bribery-probe-1235629871/) **MS NOW: Opinion:**[Susan Collins’ brush with an FBI probe shows how Trump has enabled public corruption](https://www.ms.now/opinion/susan-collins-fbi-investigation-trump) **Forbes:**[Susan Collins Bribery Report Throws Wrench Into Razor-Thin Senate Battle](https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2026/09/22/susan-collins-bribery-report-throws-wrench-into-razor-thin-senate-battle/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=se-breaking) **USA Today:**[FBI probed Sen. Susan Collins campaign corruption until 2025: reports](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/09/22/maine-susan-collins-campaign-propublica-investigation/91885844007/) **Newsweek:**[Susan Collins Blasted by Troy Jackson Over FBI Probe Report—‘Corruption’](https://www.newsweek.com/susan-collins-blasted-by-troy-jackson-over-fbi-probe-reportcorruption-12474119) **Washington Sun:**[Susan Collins denies wrongdoing after bombshell report on FBI corruption](https://www.washingtonsun.com/senate/susan-collins-fbi-corrpution-maine?redirected=notus_org) **The Daily Beast:**[FBI Bribe Probe Into Must-Win Republican Senator Is Exposed](https://www.thedailybeast.com/fbi-bribe-probe-into-must-win-republican-senator-is-exposed/) **MS NOW: Maddow Blog:**[FBI’s anti-corruption team eyed Susan Collins’ operation. Then Trump’s purge began](https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/susan-collins-fbi-navatek-navy-contract-corruption-allegations) **The New Republic:**[Trump’s FBI Killed Bombshell Bribery Investigation Into Susan Collins](https://newrepublic.com/post/215704/fbi-targeting-susan-collins-bombshell-bribery-probe-until-trump) **Punchbowl News:**[Susan Collins slams ‘political hit job’ on Justice Department probe](https://punchbowl.news/article/senate/collins-propublica-report/) **Boston Globe:**[Key takeaways from a ProPublica report on the FBI’s anti-corruption squad looking into Senator Susan Collins](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/22/nation/propublica-report-susan-collins-takeaways/) **New York Magazine:**[Do Voters Care Whether Susan Collins Is Corrupt?](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/do-voters-care-whether-susan-collins-is-corrupt.html) **Raw Story:**['September surprise' rocks Susan Collins' campaign and sparks frenzy: 'Call your lawyer'](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2677914439/) **People’s World:**[Susan Collins in trouble: Pay-for-play scheme exposed](https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/susan-collins-in-trouble-pay-for-play-scheme-exposed/) **Raw Story:**['We literally have the emails!' Susan Collins flak skewered for denying corruption story](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2677917936/) **Mediaite:**[FBI Anti-Corruption Investigators Targeted Susan Collins in Bribery Probe — But Then Trump Happened: Report](https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/fbi-anti-corruption-investigators-targeted-susan-collins-in-bribery-probe-but-then-trump-happened-report/) **Raw Story:**[Susan Collins 'angrily' blames corruption story bombshell on Senate colleague: report](https://www.rawstory.com/susan-collins-2677921570/) **Esquire:**[It’s Totally Not Sketchy at All That Trump’s DOJ Is Giving Up on Public Corruption Cases](https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a73841600/trump-department-of-justice-public-corruption-federal-bureau-of-investigation-cases/) **Jezebel:**[Turns Out Susan Collins Was Way More of a Sellout Than We Thought](https://www.jezebel.com/turns-out-susan-collins-was-way-more-of-a-sellout-than-we-thought) **Daily Kos:**[What concessions did Susan Collins make to Trump before FBI dropped the probe into her pay-to-play scheme? – Jackson should start asking](https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/9/22/800101753/community/what-concessions-did-susan-collins-make-to-trump-before-fbi-dropped-the-probe-into-her-pay-to-play-scheme-jackson-should-start-asking/) **Tickle The Wire:**[FBI Shut Down Inquiry Into Alleged Scheme Tied To Susan Collins](https://ticklethewire.com/fbi-shut-down-inquiry-into-alleged-scheme-tied-to-susan-collins/) **Common Dreams:**[‘Incredible Story of Corruption’: Bombshell Report Puts Susan Collins at Center of Massive Bribery Scheme](https://www.commondreams.org/news/incredible-story-of-corruption-bombshell-report-puts-susan-collins-at-center-of-massive-bribery-scheme) **Adam Kinzinger:**[BREAKING: Susan Collins’ Bribery Scheme Exposed, Trump's Press Ban Backfires, GOP Breaks With Trump on Diesel, and more…](https://www.adamkinzinger.com/p/breaking-susan-collins-bribery-scheme) **The Parnas Perspective:**[NEWS: Trump Snaps at CNN for Still Covering Him, GOP Senators Ask to Investigate Trump Jr., DOJ Scrubs Pardon Information, Trump TV Ratings Flop](https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-trump-erupts-at-cnn-for-still) **Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance:**[A Bad Tuesday in Maine if Your Name is Susan Collins](https://joycevance.substack.com/p/a-bad-tuesday-in-maine-if-your-name) **Puck News:**[Collins Under Fire & Iowa’s Upset Watch](https://puck.news/collins-under-fire-and-iowas-upset-watch/?utm_medium=organic_social&utm_source=twitter) **Substack: Adam Kinzinger:** [BREAKING: Susan Collins’ Bribery Scheme Exposed, Trump's Press Ban Backfires, GOP Breaks With Trump on Diesel, and more… ](https://www.adamkinzinger.com/p/breaking-susan-collins-bribery-scheme) **Substack: The Parnas Perspective:** [NEWS: Trump Snaps at CNN for Still Covering Him, GOP Senators Ask to Investigate Trump Jr., DOJ Scrubs Pardon Information, Trump TV Ratings Flop](https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-trump-erupts-at-cnn-for-still) **Substack: Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance:** [A Bad Tuesday in Maine if Your Name is Susan Collins](https://joycevance.substack.com/p/a-bad-tuesday-in-maine-if-your-name) **On the airwaves:** **WGME (Portland CBS):** [Collins Campaign, Super PAC Took Illegal Campaign Donations for 2020](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s3d291xyzlxhfbcefm4gs/WGME-Portland-CBS-Collins-Campaign-Super-PAC-Took-Illegal-Campaign-Donations-for-2020.mp4?rlkey=k2eyi4gkstic0zniv8hnrka5f&st=lk8pn5gn&dl=0) **WAGM (Presque Isle):** [Susan Collins at the Center of an FBI Probe into Corruption Allegations](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8bhjod8qjck288byd8xon/WAGM-Presque-Isle-Susan-Collins-at-the-Center-of-an-FBI-Probe-into-Corruption-Allegations.mp4?rlkey=oht2lmssuspan3pqp16v1gazi&st=w6mitd0p&dl=0) **WVII (FOX Bangor):** [FBI Investigation into Susan Collins Campaign Donor Fraud](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x6bexwi2yl3h130p085vt/WVII-FOX-Bangor-FBI-Investigation-into-Susan-Collins-Campaign-Donor-Fraud.mp4?rlkey=2a0m59tdf171n9h0ak5aaup0k&st=kll4nc5d&dl=0) **News Center Maine:** [New Article Revives Collins Campaign Contributor Questions ](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vV2ZKgKqwv70n-GyOXo4VLBP08qez9JE/view?usp=sharing) **WMTW (Portland ABC):** [Senator Collins’ Staff Denies Corruption Allegations Made in New Report](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/papf4uzklpah07esuo1n6/WMTW-Portland-ABC-Senator-Collins-Staff-Denies-Corruption-Allegations-Made-in-New-Report.mp4?rlkey=rhoburyt8t2uh650tasziaads&st=geiunqse&dl=0) **WABI (Bangor):** [Susan Collins at the Center of an FBI Probe into Corruption Allegations](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wyffwpyow1eiwm06m3c80/WABI-Bangor-Susan-Collins-at-the-Center-of-an-FBI-Probe-into-Corruption-Allegations.mp4?rlkey=n0bxiojz79kmxljiz18c3orys&st=lywp7u47&dl=0) **State of Play with Peter Alexander:** [Norm Eisen Calls Collins’ Corruption “Shocking”](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kDXn6i-TNnF-er2KA3t-Iv2CqEXtcD0Q/view?usp=sharing) **NBC: Top Story with Tom Llamas:** [Propublica Reports FBI Investigated Senator Collins](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/s8uacd1aacpcj57o9rw9i/NBC-Top-Story-with-Tom-Llamas-Propublica-Reports-FBI-Investigated-Senator-Collins.mp4?rlkey=b4cau2xuudnc260dymwtmq40q&st=upixnzsd&dl=0) **The Lead With Jake Tapper:** [Pay to Play? Interview with Propublica Reporter William Turton on Collins Corruption Report ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/qhap0spbjh2knhrwe8eq4/The-Lead-With-Jake-Tapper-Pay-to-Play-Interview-with-Propublica-Reporter-William-Turton-on-Collins-Corruption-Report.mp4?rlkey=hu4kaq57d5qt2lhalvmm7y3fg&st=0qayq5cy&dl=0) **Deadline: White House:** [ProPublica Assistant Managing Editor Jesse Eisinger Speaks on Collins Corruption Report ](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/bhqkjdw9pl8nd3c3g7ip8/AIH4WZD-E6vojurkcxdmhIQ?rlkey=w3s7mrk5vce2cvtzu70m0jvx1&st=fufe408h&dl=0) **The Briefing With Jen Psaki:** [Bombshell report links Susan Collins to FBI Corruption Probe](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cfiok3q1orj9qp411yd1f/AML-_mRydigoAV_xsig1gjw?rlkey=mplnv0eqy2goa05olct1ki86f&st=d2flonf6&dl=0) **Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell:** [Former FBI Counsel Andrew Weissman Discusses Report Tying Susan Collins to Alleged Pay-To-Play Scheme](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ttlsofbj004rgu344m4u2/AHwLaQrVSwvrs0beB7vY0fY?rlkey=wqbn5yk8zdpf4lo5d248qc8yu&st=nnktx43h&dl=0) ### The questions surrounding U.S. Senator Susan Collins and an alleged pay-to-play scheme continued to grow Thursday after [ProPublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) published a [second report](https://www.propublica.org/article/debunking-susan-collins-fbi-navatek-investigation-claims) finding that several claims Collins and her representatives made in response to its original investigation were “incorrect,” “misleading” or “not accurate.” --- ## News: Jackson Joins Canvass Launches Across State, Cheers on UMaine Football Team URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-joins-canvass-launches-across-state-cheers-on-umaine-football-team *Additional photos* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/08xdr6hhe2ouuiswacj0z/ANGUQVC_T4I2fZjT_X1rQDg?rlkey=22ccgv91b07xot46o4d1nzxb1&st=i6lzqg6k&dl=0) **MAINE** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson met with workers, union members, and voters at Democratic office openings in Rockland and Bangor, and attended a tailgate event at the University of Maine Orono football game for the Maine Black Bears on Saturday. “This is the most energy I have ever seen for a race in Maine,” **said Jackson.** “My promise to all of you is to be a partner in this fight, to never back down, and to build a government that finally works as hard for working people as working people have always worked for this country.” In Rockland and Bangor, Troy rallied volunteers before they headed out to knock doors for candidates up and down the ballot. Later that day, Jackson rallied with voters and students ahead of the UMaine football game. ### Troy Jackson met with workers, union members, and voters at Democratic office openings in Rockland and Bangor, and attended a tailgate event at the University of Maine Orono football game for the Maine Black Bears on Saturday. --- ## News: EIGHT YEARS AFTER COLLINS’ KAVANAUGH VOTE, JACKSON WILL PUT ABORTION RIGHTS FRONT & CENTER AT DEBATE URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/eight-years-after-collins-kavanaugh-vote-jackson-will-put-abortion-rights-front-center-at-debate **PORTLAND, ME —** Eight years to the day after Susan Collins voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson will face Collins in their first debate tonight. Collins must answer for helping put the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade on the Court, voting with Donald Trump 96% of the time, and backing an agenda that raises costs and threatens Mainers’ health care. Jackson will make the case for a senator Mainers can trust to protect their freedoms, lower their costs, and put working people first. A fifth-generation logger from Allagash and former Maine Senate President, Jackson has a record of delivering for working Mainers. He helped lower prescription drug costs, expand access to health care, secure collective bargaining rights for loggers, deliver free school meals, and strengthen abortion protections after Roe fell. [Tonight’s hour-long debate airs on WGME at 7:00 p.m. ET.](https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-senator-susan-collins-troy-jackson-set-to-face-off-in-cbs13fox23-us-senate-debate) **What you need to know ahead of tonight’s debate:** - **Tory Jackson is a fifth-generation logger from Allagash, lifelong fighter for workers' rights, and a former Maine Senate President. ** - **Troy knows working Mainers because he is one.** A lifelong logger and union member, Jackson entered politics fighting for workers who had been pushed aside. He has [won tough races](https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/maine-senate/what-susan-collins-vs-troy-jackson-race-might-look?utm_medium=email_action&utm_source=customer.io) in northern Maine, including [Aroostook County](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/20/nation/troy-jackson-susan-collins/). - **He has delivered on the costs families face every day.** In the State Senate, Troy helped [lower prescription drug costs](https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-signs-law-comprehensive-prescription-drug-reform-package-2019-06-24?), [deliver](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/new-law-requires-free-school-meals-for-all-maine-public-students-regardless-of-family-income-starting-2022-2023/97-4e822474-cd25-4641-958e-c0c8599971c3) free school meals, [pass](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/06/maine-house-passes-budget-with-paid-family-leave-program-tax-cut-for-retirees/) paid family and medical leave, [expand](https://www.ellsworthamerican.com/news/bill-to-increase-funding-for-ambulance-services-heads-to-legislature/article_28690840-657a-5fda-be11-d941e3507991.html) health care, win collective bargaining rights for loggers, and invest in rural communities. - **He acted to protect reproductive freedom when Collins led to the fall of Roe.** Jackson gave Mainers some of the [strongest](https://www.pressherald.com/2023/07/19/mills-signs-law-expanding-abortion-access/) abortion protections in the country. - In the U.S. Senate, Troy will fight to: - **Lower costs for Maine families** by passing Medicare for All, cutting prescription drug prices, lowering electricity bills, building more housing, and making child care more affordable. - **Put working Mainers before corporations and billionaires** by cutting taxes for working people, making the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share, banning congressional stock trading, overturning Citizens United, and getting big money out of politics. - **Protect Mainers’ rights and freedoms** by restoring a federal right to abortion, passing comprehensive civil rights protections for LGBTQ+ Americans, and strengthening unions and the right to organize, dismantling and abolishing ICE. **Meanwhile, Susan Collins has voted with Donald Trump** [96%](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/08/04/politics/elections/maine-republicans-shrug-donald-trump-jab-susan-collins-joam40zk0w/) **of the time — selling out Mainers to serve billionaires and fund her own campaign at the expense of rolling back reproductive rights, gutting health care, and writing blank checks to ICE. ** **What Collins must answer for tonight:** - **Her pivotal vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.** Kavanaugh helped overturn Roe v. Wade, and Collins [still says she does not regret supporting him](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/susan-collins-brett-kavanaugh-vote-graham-platner-maine-senate-race/97-b2ec9709-ce9a-4bc3-a213-18d771ca1931?link_id=0&can_id=f077ed7c890fcd159e28ece052037ffa&source=email-icymi-as-iran-war-raised-gas-prices-oil-interests-sent-68m-to-senate-gop-american-journal-news&email_referrer=email_3286185&email_subject=watch-i-do-not-regret-that-vote-nil-collins-defends-kavanaugh-confirmation&&&link_id=4&can_id=eb0d458620a7181d9f20338ea95a4e9d&email_referrer=email_3293351&&&email_subject=mdp-launches-no-regrets-susan-collins-accountability-campaign-ahead-of-dobbs-anniversary). She also voted to confirm [more than five dozen Trump-appointed anti-abortion judges](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-democrats-blame-susan-collins-kavanaugh-confirmation-supreme-court-reversal-abortion-rights/97-5c9b29c0-8969-4169-b7e8-1d0f18ec3bf0). - **Her record of voting with Trump** [96% of the time](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/08/04/politics/elections/maine-republicans-shrug-donald-trump-jab-susan-collins-joam40zk0w/)**.** Collins cast a pivotal vote to [advance legislation cutting Medicaid](https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-06-30/as-vote-nears-sen-king-calls-trump-budget-bill-irresponsible-while-collins-remains-undecided?link_id=4&can_id=b800056cdc2f7ec92bed12a7d148c309&source=email-collins-confirms-two-more-anti-choice-judges&email_referrer=email_2955715&email_subject=freudian-slip-susan-collins-appeared-to-take-credit-for-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act&&) and delivering tax breaks for billionaires, putting [tens of thousands of Mainers’ health coverage at risk](https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/571213e9-247f-4821-858c-2bac03d3bc89/6.30---jec-minority-health-insurance-losses.pdf). - **Her blank checks for ICE.** Collins voted to give ICE [$70 billion](https://mainebeacon.com/stop-funding-fear-and-death-mainers-protest-collins-support-for-ice/) with [no meaningful reforms or guardrails](https://newrepublic.com/article/213371/trump-ice-maine-screws-susan-collins) and opposed requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras. - **The pay-to-play corruption scandal surrounding her campaign.** [Bombshell investigation from Propublica](https://www.propublica.org/article/fbi-susan-collins-navatek-campaign-donations-investigation) revealed that Susan Collins was being examined by the FBI for steering federal contracts to a major donor — until Donald Trump ended the investigation. - **Her ties to corporate money and opposition to a congressional stock trading ban.** Collins took hundreds of thousands of dollars from [private equity](https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/susan-collins-trump-tax-bill-wall-street-private-equity-1235420525/), [insurance companies](https://mainebeacon.com/susan-collins-accepts-thousands-from-insurers-while-health-costs-soar-for-mainers/), and special interest PACs, and the wealthy — including [Epstein](https://meidasnews.com/news/more-donations-from-epstein-contacts-to-susan-collins-uncovered) [associates](https://meidasnews.com/news/campaign-donations-tie-susan-collins-pacs-to-figures-linked-to-jeffrey-epstein) — while Washington kept delivering for the wealthy and she kept opposing a [Congressional stock trading ban](https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/08/01/politics/washington/susan-collins-doesnt-support-proposed-stock-trading-ban-joam40zk0w/). ### Eight years to the day after Susan Collins voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson will face Collins in their first debate tonight. --- ## News: JACKSON WINS FIRST DEBATE, HOLDS COLLINS ACCOUNTABLE FOR BETRAYING MAINERS URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/jackson-wins-first-debate-holds-collins-accountable-for-betraying-mainers *WATCH THE TOP MOMENTS OF TONIGHT’S DEBATE* **PORTLAND, ME —** Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson won tonight’s first Maine Senate debate, drawing a sharp contrast between his record of fighting for working people and Susan Collins’ record of siding with Donald Trump, billionaires, and big corporations. Eight years to the day after Collins voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, Jackson held her accountable for helping put justices who overturned Roe v. Wade on the Supreme Court. He challenged Collins over her votes with Trump 96% of the time, her role in advancing devastating Medicaid cuts, and the serious pay-to-play allegations detailed by ProPublica. Jackson also laid out his vision for Maine: protecting reproductive freedom, lowering prescription drug costs, keeping rural hospitals open, and making Washington answer to working people. Major moments of the night came as Jackson slammed Collins for her record voting with Trump 96% of the time, confirming Brett Kavanaugh who overturned Roe v. Wade, and engaging in a pay for play scandal with a campaign donor and defense contractor. “Troy Jackson won tonight because he made clear who he’s fighting for — and who Susan Collins has been siding with 96% of the time,” **said campaign manager Hilary Barrett.** “Eight years after her vote for Brett Kavanaugh, Mainers are still living with the consequences. Her health care record puts families and rural hospitals at risk, and the pay-to-play corruption allegations raise serious questions about whose interests she serves. Troy has spent his life standing up for working people. Tonight, he showed Mainers he’ll bring that same fight to the United States Senate.” **TOP FIVE MOMENTS FROM TONIGHT’S DEBATE: ** **1) Jackson confronts Collins about her having no regrets for voting for Brett Kavanaugh who overturned Roe v. Wade. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107617205152092266?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** **“**What would it take for her to admit that she was wrong? She just said that she doesn't regret that, and I just think that that's unbelievable in light of what happened. Brett Kavanaugh was against abortion when she met with him. She knew that was going to happen. And now after it's been overturned, she doesn't regret the vote. Everybody else in Maine and across this country, regrets her vote. I just think it's incredible that she will not admit to being wrong.” **2) Jackson presses Collins on her participation in a pay-to-play scheme. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107614145755656650?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**But what we do know about Navatek is that as late as 2024, the FBI was circling around Senator Collins. They had emails, they knew about meetings, they got a check, obviously, a great big check for $150,000 — a pay to play scheme involving her office and our taxpayer dollars. And then, whenever President Trump came back, his administration dismantled the investigation. Now she votes with Donald Trump 96% of the time. Look, I don't owe Trump, I don't owe the billionaires nothing. In fact, I've spent my life fighting back against millionaires. But I do owe the people of Maine everything. [...] That’s why I’m fighting for them.” **3) Jackson calls out Collins over Medicaid cuts she advanced that are devastating Maine’s rural hospitals. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107610959670075555?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “Senator Collins is like an arsonist who helped set the fire, and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out. [...] All of her Republican colleagues called her a team player, she stood with Donald Trump whenever he want[s]— 96% of the time, she votes with him.” **4) Jackson promises to fight for Medicare for all and deliver a health care system that works for all Mainers.** **[**[Watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107621552804057533?s=20)**]** **Jackson:** “I support Medicare for All, so that people that I know across the state have health care. It's the worst thing in the world for somebody to lay there at night, not know what's happening to them, [...] and be afraid to go and get the services that they need because they know they can't afford it[..]. And look, I got Republicans, Democrats, Independents all across the state that are supporting my campaign because they know that health care is out of control, and it gets worse when people like Senator Collins vote with Donald Trump 96% of the time.” **5) Jackson demands accountability for ICE after Susan Collins handed over a blank check with no oversight. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/TroyJackson207/status/2107622393875210309?s=20)**]** **Jackson: “**Right now, what we have is a rogue agency pushed by Donald Trump to go after black and brown people in this country, and we saw what their training was. They murdered a man in Biddeford. It's as clear as that. I don't need an inspector general report, you can see it with your own eyes — and Senator Collins should be able to see that with her own eyes, too. You don't put more money into an agency that is killing people across this country.” **….And one for the road: Current multimillionaire Susan Collins claims that once upon a time, 32 years ago, she could very briefly relate to Mainers struggling to afford health care. ** **[**[watch here](https://x.com/Acyn/status/2107619106048675855)**]** **Collins:** “First of all, I have not been insured my whole life. I spent a year when I was running for governor in 1994 where I could not afford health insurance.” ### Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson won tonight’s first Maine Senate debate, drawing a sharp contrast between his record of fighting for working people and Susan Collins’ record of siding with Donald Trump, billionaires, and big corporations. --- ## News: Troy Jackson And Heather Cox Richardson Address Mainers’ Priorities, Take Questions In Portland URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/news/troy-jackson-and-heather-cox-richardson-address-mainers-priorities-take-questions-in-portland *Additional photos and b-roll* [here](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/s84yjs7sdiyurm44lcm1n/ANPVJlvhXCHywoWVUbWSRRA?rlkey=xwnkuxvrw9sxqaj1fnv5t2x9y&st=147ue7qy&dl=0) **PORTLAND, ME** — Fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson joined Heather Cox Richardson at Hannaford Hall Monday night for a Community Conversation to discuss his campaign priorities and take questions from Mainers in the audience. “This race is not about me,” **said Jackson.** “It is about functionally changing government in a way that we can be proud of. And the only way I'm going to win is if all of you go out and talk to your friends, family, and neighbors and tell them what this campaign is all about.” “I think that Troy is right. This is our moment,” **said Heather Cox Richardson.** “We get out there, we organize, we get people out, make sure they're registered, and we can not only put Troy Jackson in the Senate — We can reclaim American democracy and build it better this time around.” ### Troy Jackson joined Heather Cox Richardson at Hannaford Hall Monday night for a Community Conversation to discuss his campaign priorities and take questions from Mainers in the audience. --- ## Events: Bath Town Hall with Troy Jackson & Planned Parenthood of Maine Action Fund | Solidarity Forever Tour URL: https://www.jacksonformaine.com/events/bath-town-hall-with-troy-jackson-planned-parenthood-of-maine-action-fund #### Bath Town Hall with Troy Jackson & Planned Parenthood of Maine Action Fund | Solidarity Forever Tour Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Join U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson in Bath for a community conversation as part of his Solidarity Forever Tour across Maine. Troy will be joined by Nicole Clegg, CEO/President of Planned Parenthood of Maine Action Fund. Troy is a fifth-generation logger who has spent his career fighting for working people. Come hear why he’s running for U.S. Senate, share what’s on your mind, and ask Troy your questions about the issues facing Maine and the country. 6:00 PM: Doors open 6:30 PM: Live music from Peter Blachly 7:00–8:00 PM: Community conversation with a Q&A --- ## Footer [Get answers to frequently asked questions about Troy and his campaign](/375f2fc4-a0c0-47b7-b08e-0f9bac58cc41) To reach the campaign, email [info@jacksonformaine.com](mailto:info@jacksonformaine.com). For press inquiries, email [press@jacksonformaine.com](mailto:press@jacksonformaine.com). If you'd like to contribute by check, checks can be made out to Troy Jackson for Maine and mailed to: P.O. Box 3003 Portland, ME 04104