Maine Democratic candidate Troy Jackson says he does not regret telling Sen. Susan Collins to 'shut up' after she accused him of coordinating with a protester during their recent debate.
Key facts
- •Troy Jackson is challenging Sen. Susan Collins for a sixth term in the U.S. Senate.
- •The protester was identified by the Sunrise Movement as one of its volunteers.
- •Henry Elgie, the protester, stated he has no personal connection to the Jackson campaign.
- •Jackson stated he does not regret the comment, citing a desire not to be talked down to by his opponent.
- •Sen. Collins suggested the quickness of Jackson's reply reflected his temperament toward women.
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson stated on Sunday that he does not regret telling Republican Sen. Susan Collins to "shut up" during their final debate last Thursday. The exchange occurred after Collins suggested that a protester who interrupted her remarks was a supporter of Jackson’s campaign. Jackson, who is challenging the incumbent for her seat, denied any involvement with the demonstrator.
The Debate Interruption
During the debate, a protester opposing data centers interrupted Collins while she was speaking. Collins claimed the individual was "obviously one of Troy’s supporters." Jackson immediately responded, "Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid." The Sunrise Movement, a left-wing advocacy group, later identified the protester as one of its volunteers. The individual, 19-year-old Bowdoin College student Henry Elgie, told The New York Times he had no coordination with Jackson’s campaign.
Reactions from the Candidates
In an interview on CNN’s "State of the Union," Jackson explained that he felt Collins was "talking down" to him and stated he would not apologize for his reaction. He noted that he has shaken hands with Collins after each of their debates. Collins, speaking on Fox News, characterized Jackson's response as "very telling" and cited his reputation in the state legislature when dealing with women he disagrees with as a reason she was not surprised by the comment.
Timeline
- Thursday nightA protester interrupted the final debate between Troy Jackson and Sen. Susan Collins.
- FridaySen. Collins discussed the incident during an interview on Fox News.
- SaturdayProtester Henry Elgie told The New York Times he had no coordination with the Jackson campaign.
- SundayTroy Jackson addressed the incident during an interview on CNN.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ABC News Politics, The Hill.
