Why Troy Jackson says he doesn’t regret telling Susan Collins to ‘shut up’ during Maine Senate debate
Jackson Responds “Shut Up” to Collins During Final Maine Senate Debate
Bangor, Maine – Oct. 15 – In the final showdown between Democrat Troy Jackson and Republican incumbent Susan Collins, tensions flared when Jackson told Collins to “shut up” after the senator claimed a protester was a supporter of his campaign. The exchange, which has become a focal point of the race, was recorded during a debate hosted by Husson University in Bangor, just weeks before Maine’s November 3 Senate election.
The debate began amid the usual fireworks of a closely contested campaign, with moderators attempting to keep the discussion on track. During the exchange, a protester—later identified as 19‑year‑old Henry Elgie, a Bowdoin College student—interrupted Collins as she spoke about data‑center development in the state. The moderator called for the protester to leave, but Collins immediately accused the individual of being a Jackson supporter. “She said that it was a Troy supporter. She accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was,” Jackson told CNN’s “State of the Union” interview that aired Sunday.
Jackson’s reply was swift and blunt. “Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid,” he said, a statement that was captured on the debate’s live feed and quickly circulated online. Jackson added that he does not regret the comment, saying, “I’m not going to be talked down to by Sen. Collins.”
The protester’s identity and motives were clarified in a separate interview with The New York Times, where Elgie explained he had no coordination with Jackson’s campaign and was not personally acquainted with the senator. “I do not know Troy Jackson personally or at all,” Elgie told the Times.
Sunrise Movement, a left‑wing advocacy group that organized the protest, posted on Instagram that the demonstrator was a volunteer from its local chapter. The group’s caption read, “We’re proud of this Sunrise volunteer who took action yesterday.”
Collins, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 1997, responded to the incident on Fox News’ “The Fox News Report” with host Sean Hannity. “I was struck by how reflective the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was,” she said. Collins cited what she described as Jackson’s “reputation” in the Maine Legislature, particularly his interactions with women, as part of why the remark was unsurprising. “So in some ways it didn’t surprise me,” she added.
Jackson, who is campaigning for a sixth term, said he has a temper that has drawn criticism from some colleagues. “I wear my heart on my sleeve,” he told CNN. “I took responsibility for my outburst and apologized to those I had confrontations with at the time.” He recalled a past incident in which he threw a plastic water bottle while frustrated in a disagreement with a female lawmaker.
In response to accusations from Republicans that Jackson has historically been aggressive toward women, Jackson noted that “some Republicans have been spending millions attacking me and my family, making untrue claims.” He said it “doesn’t surprise me.”
The debate’s closing moments were punctuated by the two candidates shaking hands, a gesture Jackson said he does after each debate. “I’m fighting for Mainers,” he said, “and I just think that was another situation where she was talking down to me, and I’m not going to apologize for that.”
The incident has become a symbolic moment in what has been a razor‑thin race, with both sides using the exchange to illustrate their broader campaign themes: Collins framing herself as a steady, experienced voice and Jackson positioning himself as a passionate advocate for Maine’s future. The next election will decide whether Collins retains her seat or Jackson secures a historic sixth term.
