Senator Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson participated in the first of four scheduled debates on October 6, broadcast by WGME in Maine. The event marked their first direct confrontation as polls show a tight Senate race in the state, with neither candidate holding a clear lead.
The debate comes as Maine’s Senate contest remains one of the most competitive in the nation ahead of the November 3 elections. While Maine has historically leaned Democratic—voting against former President Donald Trump in all three of his runs—Collins has maintained electoral success due to her moderate image and strong personal approval among Maine voters. However, Democrats view her as more vulnerable this cycle amid Trump’s declining approval ratings, voter frustration with the economy, and rising gas prices linked to the Iran conflict.
Both candidates addressed key issues during the debate, including the economy, healthcare, and foreign policy, which have been top concerns for voters. The remaining debates are scheduled for October 8 (WMTW), October 13 (WABI and WAGM), and October 15 (News Center Maine).
Jackson’s viral ad draws criticism
Separately, Jackson faced backlash over a viral campaign ad that critics—from both parties—labeled as tone-deaf. The ad features Jackson sipping boba tea while questioning the impact of Republican ad spending, with text overlay reading “sips boba tea” and a boba emoji. The ad’s caption references Jackson’s opponent, Senator Collins, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, suggesting only “the 1%” would be swayed by Republican ads.
The ad, which has garnered over 2 million views on X (formerly Twitter), sparked widespread mockery. Some Democrats and liberal commentators criticized it as unhelpful and cringey, while Republican strategists questioned Jackson’s working-class messaging given the ad’s stylistic choices. Jackson has not publicly addressed the backlash as of the debate’s conclusion.
Both campaigns declined to comment when reached by Newsweek via email.