Sen. Susan Collins tells Trump to stay out of Maine during Senate debate
Republican Sen. Susan Collins told former President Donald Trump to stay out of Maine during her first televised Senate debate with Democratic challenger Troy Jackson on Oct. 7, 2026.
When asked whether she would stump for Trump if he visited the Pine Tree State, Collins replied, “I don’t think that President Trump is going to come to Maine… I’ve heard nothing from his office, and I’m not exactly his favorite senator.” Pressed again, she added, “I would say that he is not coming to Maine.”
Trump had earlier suggested he might swing through Maine as part of a midterm campaign blitz, saying, “I think we’re going to Maine too,” though no concrete schedule has emerged.
The exchange underscores a sharpening rift between Collins and Trump ahead of the 2026 Senate race. Collins, the state’s sole Republican in the Senate, has repeatedly framed herself as independent of Trump’s agenda, citing a study that shows she voted against her party more than any other senator on either side of the aisle.
During the debate, Collins also pushed back against Jackson’s attempts to tie her to Trump’s policies. She highlighted her opposition to Trump‑era tariffs on Canada, noting she helped remove concrete, pulp and road‑salt from the tariff list. She also said she voted to end the Iran war, stressing that “Canada is not China” and that the war’s fuel costs hurt Mainers.
Jackson focused on Maine’s high cost of living, pointing to the state’s fourth‑highest electricity rates, steep housing costs and property taxes, which he blamed on “Augusta’s failed policies.” He also pressed Collins on her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh, asking what it would take for her to admit she was ever wrong. Collins responded that she evaluated nominees on qualifications and experience, and reiterated that she is the only pro‑choice senator on the stage.
Collins’ clear rebuff of Trump and her emphasis on independent voting aim to reassure voters who may be wary of the former president’s influence, especially after Trump lost Maine to Kamala Harris by about seven points in the 2024 presidential election.
The debate marked the first of four scheduled debates in the race, and both candidates indicated the campaign will intensify as the Nov. 3 midterms approach.
