Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson engaged in a heated fourth debate on Thursday night, focusing on billionaire campaign donors, party loyalty, and personal backgrounds as they approach the Nov. 3 general election. The exchange, which took a notably personal turn, comes as control of the U.S. Senate remains at stake in the pivotal Maine race.
The debate featured sharp exchanges over whether either candidate has truly maintained independence from their respective party leaderships and wealthy donors. Jackson, a former logger, challenged Collins on her voting record with President Donald Trump, while Collins questioned Jackson’s adherence to his campaign promise to reject billionaire support. Both candidates defended their records and attacked the other’s credibility on key issues affecting Maine voters.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic challenger Troy Jackson argued that Sen. Susan Collins lacks meaningful independence from President Donald Trump, stating, "100% of the time when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there. That has happened time and time again." Jackson cited his own history of clashing with Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills, noting that she vetoed 40 of his bills during his tenure in the state Senate, as evidence that he is not a "rubber stamp" for his party.
Jackson also faced scrutiny over his campaign financing but admitted that billionaire donors aligned with his campaign had contributed, stating, "I haven’t made any deals like Senator Collins has with those billionaires. I’m going to tax those billionaires when I get to the U.S. Senate." He framed the election as a choice between a working-class representative and an incumbent who he implied looks down on everyday Mainers, asking Collins, "is it just me that you look down on, or is it working-class people overall?"
What the Right Is Saying
Sen. Susan Collins defended her bipartisan record, asserting that she is "the most bipartisan member of the Senate" and voting "very independently." She challenged Jackson’s characterization of her voting alignment with President Trump, arguing that he overstated the frequency. "You have heard Troy say that I vote with the president 92 or 94% of the time; that takes only a third of the votes," Collins said. "If you look at 90% of the votes, you will find that I vote with him 72% of the time, not 95% of the time."
Collins pointed to her opposition to the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as evidence of her willingness to defy her party, stating, "At one point, I had organized people to vote against Secretary Hegseth. As you undoubtedly have read, at the very last minute, one of our Republicans changed his mind. Otherwise, he would have been defeated for that job." She also rejected Jackson’s suggestion of elitism, highlighting her own working-class roots: "I grew up in Caribou. My first job was picking potatoes. I have worked since I was age ten... I have enormous respect for all the people of Maine."
What the Numbers Show
According to the debate remarks, Collins disputed Jackson’s claim that she votes with President Trump 92-94% of the time, stating her own analysis shows a 72% alignment rate when looking at 90% of votes. Jackson highlighted that Gov. Janet Mills vetoed 40 of his bills during his time in the state Senate. Collins referenced the Senate vote on Pete Hegseth’s confirmation, noting that a single Republican’s change of heart allowed the nomination to proceed despite her organized opposition. The debate was the fourth between the two candidates, occurring just weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
The Bottom Line
The fourth debate underscored the high stakes for control of the U.S. Senate, with both candidates attempting to define the other’s loyalty and character in the final stretch of the campaign. Collins continues to position herself as a moderate independent voice, while Jackson seeks to capitalize on populist anger and question the incumbent’s consistency. Voters in Maine will decide between the two on Nov. 3, a race that could determine the balance of power in Washington.