Susan Collins said she is “not exactly” Donald Trump’s “favorite senator” during the Susan Collins Troy Jackson Debate on Tuesday night in Maine. Troy Jackson used the exchange to argue that she has not pushed back hard enough against the Trump administration as the November Senate race tightens.
Collins, who is running for a sixth term, said she has been able to bring home federal dollars to help ease the burden on taxpayers. She also pointed to “knowledge, experience, seniority and relationships” as strengths in the race.
Susan Collins and Troy Jackson
The debate turned on Collins’ record, her votes on Trump-backed legislation, and her response to the Trump administration. Jackson pressed her on whether she has used her power effectively, while Collins said she has broken with Trump on major issues and has not followed him simply to do it.
Collins said she has “always look[s] at their qualifications” when asked about Supreme Court nominees. Jackson asked, “Would you trust her to pick the next Supreme Court justice?” after pressing her on her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Jackson also criticized Collins for voting yes on an earlier procedural measure to advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Collins said she opposed the bill because of its Medicaid cuts, but that letting it move forward on the Senate floor allowed her to secure a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals. Jackson replied, “Senator Collins is like an arsonist who helped set the fire, and then she wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put it out.”
Collins said Jackson “misrepresent[ed] the facts” on the bill. She said she had been able to use the process to bring home federal dollars for taxpayers, while still opposing the legislation itself.
Iran and Roe v. Wade
Collins also pointed to her votes to restrict Donald Trump’s power to wage war against Iran, while Jackson criticized her for voting against prior Iran measures. She described the war in Iran as “not well-thought out,” adding another point of contrast with Trump.
She also said she disagreed with the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and told Jackson there is “only one of us on this stage who has always been pro-choice.” The exchange left the race framed around whether Collins’ breaks with Trump outweigh Jackson’s argument that she has not used her position aggressively enough.
That question matters in November, when voters in the Maine Senate race decide a contest that polls show is razor-thin and could help determine which party controls the upper chamber next year. Collins also said, “I've heard nothing from his office, and I'm not exactly his favorite senator,” when asked about whether Trump may travel to Maine before the election.
