The marathon of debates in the Maine Senate race has ended, but there is still one unanswered question: Just how large will President Donald Trump loom in November?
asserted
Trump → end → November
That question was at the center of the clashes between Democrat Troy Jackson and longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins as they faced off in four debates over the last two weeks, including a finale on Thursday hosted by MainePublic, the Portland Press Herald and NewsCenter Maine.
asserted
they → face → MainePublic
Jackson is betting voters’ views of Trump, who has never won Maine, will dominate their views of this Senate race, which could determine which party controls the chamber next year.
uncertain
party → bet → chamber
He repeatedly tied Collins to Trump throughout all four debates.
asserted
He → tie → debates
Collins, meanwhile, tried to appeal Mainers who want a senator willing to break with his or her party.
asserted
who → try → party
“I voted against my own party more often than any other senator on either side of the aisle,” Collins said during the final debate.
asserted
Collins → vote → debate
“That is not something that Troy could ever say.
uncertain
Troy → say → that
He’s going to be an automatic vote for the Democratic position, no matter what.
asserted
He → go → position
We have lost a lot of the centrists, and one reason I’m running again is we need people who will work across party lines.”
asserted
who → lose → lines
“The reality is that 100% of the time, when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there,” Jackson countered.
asserted
Jackson → need → her
“That has happened time and time again.”
asserted
That → happen → ?
Trump’s policies were intertwined with the major topics in covered in all four debates, including high costs, the war in Iran, immigration enforcement, and an ongoing trade war with Canada, which shares a border with Maine.
asserted
which → intertwine → Maine
On Thursday, Collins was also pressed on her support for some Trump Cabinet officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She said she did not regret voting to confirm him, while noting that she disagrees with Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism.
asserted
she → press → skepticism
Collins said Kennedy has helped release more funds from a program to help low-income Mainers purchase heating oil amid soaring prices.
asserted
Mainers → say → prices
Jackson, meanwhile, said he would vote to convict Kennedy on impeachment charges.
asserted
he → say → charges
“But that’s not my focus,” Jackson quickly added.
asserted
Jackson → ’ → ?
“My focus is delivering healthcare, prescription drugs, child care, the things that Mainers need right now more than ever, and getting out of the Iran war so we can stabilize prices.
asserted
we → deliver → prices
This one was the first in front of a live audience, with roughly 200 Mainers gathered in a theater at Husson University.
asserted
one → gather → University
Around 20 minutes into the debate, a young man stood and shouted about his concerns about data centers, exclaiming that he was scared for the future.
asserted
he → stand → future
“30 years for what?” the protester shouted as he was escorted out of the theater, referring to Collins’ time in the Senate.
asserted
he → shout → Senate
Collins claimed the protester was a Jackson supporter, and Jackson could be heard remarking, “Oh shut up, I don’t even know that kid.”
uncertain
I → claim → kid
While the protester questioned her decades in the Senate, Collins has argued that her seniority makes her an effective advocate for Maine.
asserted
her → question → Maine
She often touts her role as chairwoman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, arguing she has helped bring home huge sums of federal money to fund projects in the state.
asserted
she → tout → state
Collins stressed that she has broken with Trump on some key issues, noting she voted against Trump’s sweeping, “big, beautiful” tax and spending law in 2025, though she did vote to allow the measure to proceed on the floor.
“I nevertheless voted against the bill, even though it was the president’s top legislative priority.
asserted
it → stress → bill
I’ve also voted nine times against the president on the Iran war,” Collins said.
asserted
Collins → vote → war
Jackson has argued that Collins could have done more to oppose the military action.
uncertain
Collins → argue → action
Asked where he would break with his own party, Jackson pointed to his pledge not to accept donations from corporate PACs.
asserted
Jackson → ask → PACs
“I think the Democrats are still too close to that,” Jackson said.
asserted
Jackson → think → that
“I don’t accept corporate PACs.
asserted
I → accept → PACs
I don’t accept corporate money.
asserted
I → accept → money
This is a campaign about fighting for everyday working class people, and that’s one thing that I’ve been consistent on.”
asserted
I → fight → that
Collins tried to undermine that argument, using her one question to Jackson to ask him about ads run in coordination with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which does accept corporate PAC money.
asserted
which → try → money
Jackson countered that he does not approve those ads.
asserted
he → counter → ads
While he acknowledged he has had some support from billionaires, he said that his campaign is powered by small-dollar donors.
asserted
campaign → acknowledge → donors
Jackson raised more than $20 million from July through September, according to a fundraising report filed Thursday.
uncertain
Jackson → raise → report
Jackson, a former state Senate president and logger, then pressed Collins over her claims that he could not be effective in the Senate.
uncertain
he → press → Senate
“I have the experience fighting for working-class people and they deserve a senator that respects them.
asserted
that → fight → them
Is it just me that you look down on, or is it working-class people over all
asserted
it → look → all
?” Jackson asked.
asserted
Jackson → ask → ?
“Troy, I do not look down on you or on anyone.
asserted
I → look → anyone
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
