Collins and Jackson Face Off in First Televised Debate of Maine's U.S. Senate Race
The first televised debate of Maine's closely watched U.S. Senate race took place on the evening of October 6, pitting Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins against Democratic Maine House Speaker Troy Jackson. The two clashed over voter ID, immigration enforcement, abortion rights and the 2018 confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Voter identification was a central flashpoint. Jackson pushed for expanded no-excuse absentee voting and same-day registration, accusing Collins of backing federal legislation that would restrict voting access; Collins countered that Maine's traditional voting system works well and said she opposed a federal takeover of state elections. On immigration, Collins defended Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and accused Jackson of supporting sanctuary-style policies, while Jackson condemned federal deportation actions for tearing Maine communities apart.
Kavanaugh's confirmation resurfaced as a major line of attack. Jackson told the debate audience that Collins' 2018 vote to confirm Kavanaugh was the worst vote of her career; Collins stood by her decision, saying she believed Kavanaugh would respect precedent on abortion rights. According to the Associated Press and the New York Post, the race is among the most competitive Senate contests in the country, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has made it a top 2026 midterm target.
Jackson, Maine's youngest-ever House speaker, hails from a northern Maine logging community and campaigns on working-class issues; Collins, first elected in 1996, is known for her moderate profile. Both campaigns declared victory after the debate. A second debate is expected later in October.
(Sources: New York Post, Associated Press, USA Today)
Source: 纽约邮报、美联社
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: LR.127, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
