Tensions flared Thursday during the final Maine Senate debate after Democrat Troy Jackson told incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up.”
The fiery exchange came moments after a protester interrupted the live debate, shouting at Collins about artificial intelligence and data centers.
“AI data centers are destroying our climate,” the male protester shouted. “They are poisoning our water.”
Collins quickly responded, suggesting the protester was connected to her opponent.
“So this is obviously one of Troy’s supporters,” she said.
Jackson fired back: “Oh, shut up … I don’t even know that kid,” he told Collins.
“Oh, right,” Collins replied, before the debate resumed and authorities escorted the protester out of the venue.
Maine remains a nail-biter. Jackson leads Collins by 1.3 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average, though Collins has a history of outperforming polls quite substantially. Last weekend, Jackson campaigned alongside socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as he sought to build enthusiasm for his campaign.
Jackson has also faced questions about his ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, The Daily Wire previously reported. During a previous debate, moderators pressed Jackson about his support for Medicare for All, a policy championed by the organization, and whether he was a member. Citing polling that showed nearly 40% of Mainers held an unfavorable view of socialism, moderators asked Jackson to clarify his affiliation.
Jackson did not directly confirm or deny membership, instead pivoting to a defense of universal healthcare and criticizing pharmaceutical company profits, Collins, and President Donald Trump’s tax cuts.
“I support Medicare for all, so that people that I know across the state have healthcare,” Jackson said, arguing that people should not have to forgo medical care because they cannot afford it.
Jackson has sought to distance himself from political labels on the campaign trail, telling CNN’s Manu Raju that he doesn’t “consider myself anything” and telling MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” that he does not endorse the national platform of the Democratic Socialists of America.