Susan Collins bucks trend as an incumbent pushing for more debates
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has agreed to participate in four debates against her Democratic opponent, former State Senator Troy Jackson, during the upcoming Senate race. While Collins has a history of debating her challengers and has agreed to debates hosted by local media, Jackson has yet to commit, as he prefers town hall-style debates. Collins plans to hold the first debate in early September, before early voting begins, but Jackson has challenged her to participate in town halls instead, emphasizing the importance of direct interaction with voters. The debate negotiations reflect broader tensions in the 2026 elections, with incumbents and challengers differing on debate formats and participation.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) has agreed to four debates against former state Sen. Troy Jackson, her Democratic opponent, as the two face off for Collins’s seat in the Senate.
Collins agreed to the four debates hosted by local media outlets, while Jackson, who entered the race in late July, has yet to agree to any. The circumstance bucks the norm in debates, where incumbents typically are not the first to agree to multiple debates, as they often have more to lose than lesser-known challengers looking to make a name for themselves.
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“Senator Collins believes that Maine people deserve the chance to see both candidates answer the same questions, in the same room, more than once, and as soon as possible,” Shawn Roderick, a Collins campaign spokesman, said in a statement.
Collins has a history of debating her challengers, meeting Democratic challenger Sara Gideon for five debates in 2020. After Gideon initially challenged Collins to five debates, Collins fired back, calling for 16 debates, one in each Maine county. The two candidates ultimately settled on five debates. Collins also participated in multiple debates against her 2014 challenger, Democrat Shenna Bellows, her 2008 challenger, Democrat Tom Allen, and her 2002 challenger, Democrat Chellie Pingree. She also debated former Democratic Rep. Joseph Brennan in her first Senate race to succeed then-Sen. Bill Cohen.
The Collins campaign said the five-term senator is pushing for the first debate, hosted by NewsCenter Maine, Maine Public, and the Portland Press Herald, to be held in early September, one month before early voting begins in the race on Oct. 5.
Jackson’s team said the Democrat has not agreed to the four debates with Collins, as he is seeking town hall-style debates.
“Susan Collins hasn’t held a public town hall in 25 years,” Jackson said in a statement. “If she wants to debate, great — I’m looking forward to it. But Mainers deserve more than politicians talking past each other in a television studio. They deserve the chance to look us both in the eye, ask us the questions that matter to their families, and hear our answers directly.”
He invited the incumbent senator to join the three town halls his campaign is hosting next week.
“We believe any debates should be town hall debates — with Mainers in the room asking the questions that matter to their families,” Dan Gottlieb, a spokesman for the Jackson campaign, told the Portland Press Herald.
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Sparring between candidates over holding debates and debate styles has spread throughout the 2026 elections, but typically, either challengers to incumbents or the lesser-known candidates are the first to accept debate invitations.
In Arizona, incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) has refused to debate her GOP challenger, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), following her pattern of refusing to face Republican Kari Lake when the two faced each other in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
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