Troy Jackson, not Susan Collins, makes Mainers proud | Letter
Portland Resident Criticizes Susan Collins Campaign Flyer, Calls for Support of Troy Jackson
By Maine News Now – March 28, 2026
In a letter to the editor published in The Press Herald on Tuesday, Aaron Bergeron, a Portland resident, expressed frustration over an unsolicited flyer he found affixed to his front door that promoted the reelection campaign of U.S. Senator Susan Collins, who is seeking a second term in the 2026 Senate race.
Bergeron wrote that the flyer’s central claim was that Collins is “a leader we can be proud of.” He noted that the wording was vague, using the pronoun “we” without clarifying who that audience was. “I think it’s revealing that the flyer does not boast that ‘Mainers can be proud of’ Collins’ leadership, and instead settles for a deliriously unspecific ‘we,’” the author said. Bergeron speculated that the flyer might be appealing to a range of groups—including “out‑of‑state billionaires supporting her campaign,” “manufacturers of ICE’s shock gloves profiting from Collins’ vote to increase ICE’s funding,” or “the anti‑choice partisans celebrating Collins’ unapologetic support of Brett Kavanaugh and her history‑making role in Roe v. Wade being overturned.” He added that “it’s hard to know for certain.”
The letter was prompted by the flyer’s unsolicited delivery. Bergeron said he was “no litterbug, so I read it and was struck by its vague claim.” He concluded that the flyer, despite being poorly executed, served as a catalyst for him to be more specific in his political messaging. “I will admit I’m grateful for that unwanted, poorly executed flyer because it inspires me to be more specific,” he wrote. “I believe there is someone whose leadership will make Mainers proud and his name is Troy Jackson.”
Jackson, the former governor and current Democratic Senate President of Maine, has served in the state legislature since 1990 and was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. Bergeron’s letter positions Jackson as the alternative to Collins, whom he portrays as aligned with federal conservative agendas and controversial Supreme Court appointments.
The 2026 Senate race pits incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, who has held the seat since 1997, against a slate of challengers, including Democratic Senator Troy Jackson. The campaign has drawn attention to national issues such as judicial appointments, abortion rights, and federal immigration enforcement. Collins’s record on these issues has been cited by both supporters and critics: she voted in favor of confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and has been a leading Republican voice in the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Bergeron’s letter was part of a series of editorials and reader responses circulating in the Maine Political Report, which covers the 2026 election cycle. The letter reflects a broader conversation in Maine about the messaging strategies of candidates and the role of grassroots versus corporate support in state and national campaigns.
The flyer that sparked Bergeron’s commentary was one of several unsolicited campaign materials circulating in the weeks leading up to the primary. While campaign offices routinely distribute literature, unsolicited flyers attached directly to residents’ doorframes are less common and often prompt public reaction.
Bergeron’s letter highlights the importance of clear, audience‑specific messaging in political campaigns. Whether or not his call to support Troy Jackson gains traction, it underscores how even a brief, poorly designed flyer can provoke discussion and shape voter perceptions in the months ahead of the 2026 election.
