PORTLAND, Maine (WGME) — Democratic challenger Troy Jackson says he doesn’t regret telling Republican Sen. Susan Collins to ‘shut up’ after a protester interrupted a Senate debate on Thursday night.
The demonstrator started shouting during News Center Maine’s debate about the environmental impacts of AI data centers when Collins chimed in and Jackson reacted.
“This is obviously one of Troy’s supporters,” Collins said.”Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid,” Jackson responded.
The unscripted moment capped an evening in which the two candidates traded barbs over their conflicting visions for Maine’s future.
On Friday during an interview with CBS13, Jackson addressed the controversial moment.
He denied Collins’ claim that the protester was one of Jackson’s supporters. He also says he has tried to keep the race respectful but claims Collins’ campaign has attacked him and his family.
CBS13 reporter Max Williams asked: “I just want to address the debate last night. I know there was a heated interaction with the protester there and when the protester came in, Collins basically referred them to one of your supporters. Then you told Susan Collins to shut up. This has obviously been across national news across social media with a lot of people calling it misogynistic, bad choice of words, unprofessional. Do regret saying that to Senator Collins?”Jackson responded: “No. Look, I mean, you know, we’re in the middle of a debate. She accused me of setting that up, which is completely untrue, but it’s like what Susan Collins has been doing to me all throughout this campaign.I mean we had four debates. I shook her hands. I, you know, referred to her as senator Collins, showing respect. But she spent millions of dollars attacking me, my family, making outrageous claims. Some of them they had to take down. You know, just in a way that I don’t think is professional either. You know, I’m not going to mince words anymore.I think the people in Maine should be offended at Susan Collins for the job that she’s been doing here in this state, you know. I’m going to fight for everyday Mainers and like I said, I’m just not going to get pushed around by someone like her or Donald Trump.”
The Collins campaign disputes Jackson’s interpretation of ads being taken down.
A Collins campaign spokesperson responded to CBS 13’s inquiry about Jackson saying ‘shut up’ during the debate.
“This is yet another example of Troy Jackson’s angry outbursts with female colleagues, and it raises a serious question about how he handles women who disagree with him,” the spokesperson said.