Nirav Shah joins Troy Jackson at Scarborough campaign event
Senate Candidate Troy Jackson Meets Dr. Nirav Shah in Scarborough for “Health‑Care Community” Debate
Scarborough, Maine – Monday night, more than 200 residents filled The Landing at Pine Point for a campaign event that brought together two of the state’s most‑watched political figures. Former Maine Center for Disease Control director Dr. Nirav Shah moderated a discussion with Senate candidate Troy Jackson, who is seeking to unseat longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 race.
The evening began at just after 7 p.m. with a welcome to the crowd, the sound of a few clapping hands, and the opening remarks from Shah, who had previously finished second in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. His presence as moderator was not accidental: Shah won Scarborough in that contest with more than 1,600 votes, while Jackson, who came in fourth, trailed the eventual primary winner Hannah Pingree and Shenna Bellows.
The moderator’s role was to steer the conversation toward healthcare – a topic that has dominated both the primary and the general election. “It’s a gargantuan task to bring universal healthcare to the federal level,” Shah told the audience. He then asked Jackson how his legislative experience in Augusta would translate to a role in Washington, D.C., and what concrete steps he would take to implement his agenda if elected.
Jackson answered that fighting Big Pharma had been “incredibly satisfying,” a sentiment that earned him a cheer from the crowd. He noted the difficulty of confronting the for‑profit health‑care system and said that a federal role would require the government to negotiate drug prices. When the topic turned to a universal health‑care plan, Jackson dismissed the claim that he would raise taxes. “We’re already spending the money for universal health‑care in this country, way over,” he said. He added that it was “shocking” that many politicians opposed the measure, calling it “an embarrassment to not do that, especially if you’re on government‑sponsored health‑care.”
The discussion also touched on more contentious issues. Jackson was asked whether his views on abortion and gun rights had changed. He said he had once opposed abortion access, but after conversations with women he now sees reproductive rights as part of health care. He supports the state’s yellow‑flag law, but the shooting in Lewiston prompted him to back the red‑flag law that voters approved in November 2025. “Reproductive rights is healthcare,” he said, and praised the willingness to adapt his positions.
A particular point of debate was U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its facility in Scarborough. When Shah raised the topic, Jackson referenced a statement made by Republican congressional candidate and former governor Paul LePage, who suggested that ICE should target criminal offenders first. “That’s what we’ve been saying all along,” Jackson said, indicating that the state’s approach aligns with federal enforcement priorities.
Throughout the evening, Jackson received the loudest applause, especially after he addressed the challenge of negotiating drug prices and his plan to roll out universal health care. The event was an early showcase in a campaign that is only six weeks from Election Day. Jackson’s opponent in the general election is Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has served in the Senate for five terms.
The turnout—over 200 attendees at a community‑centered venue—underscores the growing interest in local policy issues and the national implications of state politics. While the evening’s focus remained on health care, it also highlighted the broader policy battles that will play out in Maine’s Senate seat, from pharmaceutical regulation to immigration enforcement and reproductive rights.
As the campaign season heats up, the conversation between a former disease‑control director and a Senate hopeful illustrates the complex interplay between state experience and federal aspirations. Whether Jackson can translate the enthusiasm of a packed Scarborough hall into a decisive victory against a seasoned incumbent remains to be seen, but the event set the stage for a vigorous, issue‑driven campaign in the weeks ahead.
