GOP Sen. Susan Collins and her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, sparred over President Donald Trump and abortion rights in their first debate Tuesday night in Maine’s all-important Senate race with control of the chamber at stake.
Appearing in Portland, the state’s largest city, the two had a spirited — but civil — debate that displayed two very different strategies. Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, touted her “effective leadership” securing federal funds for Maine, while Jackson sought to nationalize the race with persistent criticism of her relationship with Trump and 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who later voted to overturn the federal right to an abortion.
“Would you trust her to pick the next Supreme Court justice?” Jackson asked, days after Justice Samuel Alito told CBS News he’s “thought about” retiring.
Collins repeatedly pitched herself as unusually independent among lawmakers and cast doubt on the notion that Trump would want to visit Maine to stump for her.
“I’m not exactly his favorite senator,” she said.
Collins boasted that she has been the “most outspoken opponent of tariffs with Canada,” noting she has won exemptions for products such as road salt. Jackson suggested that was of little relevance to families who cannot afford groceries right now.
“We can’t eat road salt,” Jackson said.
It was the first of four debates the two candidates are scheduled to do over 10 days.
Collins is a top Democratic target in the midterms, seeking reelection in a state that Trump lost three times. Democrats picked Jackson, the former president of the Maine Senate, to replace Graham Platner as their nominee in July after Platner dropped out over a rape allegation, which he denies.
The race took another turn in recent days after the publication of a ProPublica story alleging a pay-to-play scheme involving Collins’ office. She said at the debate that the allegations were “completely false” and “very offensive.” Jackson said it showed how “politicians are bought and paid for.”
