Troy Jackson refuses to apologize to Susan Collins after debate outburst
Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson said he will not apologize to Republican incumbent Susan Collins for telling her to “shut up” during a recent debate.
In the last of four televised debates for Maine’s Senate race, incumbent Republican Susan Collins identified a protester as a Troy Jackson supporter, to which Jackson responded, “shut up.” Asked whether he regretted the comment, Jackson flatly refused to apologize, arguing that he will not tolerate being spoken down to. He emphasized that despite heated exchanges, he has always greeted Collins with a handshake after each debate.
Jackson also criticized recent Republican-funded advertisements that allege he behaved rudely toward female colleagues, saying such claims are false and have been withdrawn from the air. Collins denied ever talking down to him, noting her long work history. A poll from late September to mid-October shows Jackson holding a narrow lead of less than two points over Collins in a race the GOP views as crucial for the midterms.
Why it matters
The exchange highlights the tense rhetoric in a closely watched Senate race that could affect party control in Congress.
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