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 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, 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.”

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