{"id":2651152,"date":"2026-08-28T13:03:04","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T17:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/susan-collins-bucks-trend-as-an-incumbent-pushing-for-more-debates\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T13:08:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T17:08:25","slug":"susan-collins-bucks-trend-as-an-incumbent-pushing-for-more-debates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/susan-collins-bucks-trend-as-an-incumbent-pushing-for-more-debates\/","title":{"rendered":"Susan Collins bucks trend as an incumbent pushing for more debates"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsusan-collins-bucks-trend-as-an-incumbent-pushing-for-more-debates%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2651152&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >debate negotiations reflect broader tensions<\/a> in the 2026 elections, with incumbents and challengers differing on debate formats and participation.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) has agreed to four debates against former state Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/troy-jackson\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23248\">Troy Jackson<\/a>, her Democratic opponent, as the two face off for Collins\u2019s seat in the Senate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4704029\/susan-collins-bucks-trend-incumbent-more-debates\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Susan Collins bucks trend as an incumbent pushing for more debates<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4702821\/battleground-republican-casts-prosecutor-opponent-soft-on-crime\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018She lets the worst criminals out of jail early\u2019: Battleground Republican casts prosecutor opponent as soft on crime<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4703065\/deflock-flock-cameras-surveillance-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DeFlock started from one man\u2019s curiosity \u2014 now Flock cameras are a midterm issue<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSenator 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,\u201d Shawn Roderick, a Collins campaign spokesman, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/susancollins.com\/press-release\/press-release-collins-accepts-four-debates-with-maine-television-stations-and-their-media-partners\/\">said<\/a> in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Collins has a history of debating her challengers, meeting Democratic challenger Sara Gideon for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bangordailynews.com\/2026\/08\/27\/politics\/susan-collins-troy-jackson-debates\/\">five debates<\/a> in 2020. After Gideon initially challenged Collins to five debates, Collins fired back, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2638163\/susan-collins-call-for-16-debates-follows-underdog-playbook\/\">calling for 16 debates<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Collins campaign said the five-term senator is pushing for the first debate, hosted by NewsCenter Maine, Maine Public, and the <em>Portland Press Herald<\/em>, to be held in early September, one month before early voting begins in the race on Oct. 5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson\u2019s team said the Democrat has not agreed to the four debates with Collins, as he is seeking town hall-style debates.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSusan Collins hasn\u2019t held a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-retreats-following-dark-money-funded-town-hall-protests\/\" title=\"GOP retreats following dark money-funded town hall protests\">public town hall<\/a> in 25 years,\u201d Jackson said in a statement. \u201cIf she wants to debate, great \u2014 I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He invited the incumbent senator to join the three town halls his campaign is hosting next week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe believe any debates should be town hall debates \u2014 with Mainers in the room asking the questions that matter to their families,\u201d Dan Gottlieb, a spokesman for the Jackson campaign, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2026\/08\/27\/susan-collins-announces-plans-to-attend-4-u-s-senate-debates\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Portland Press Herald<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4699108\/rogers-agree-debate-el-sayed-michigan-senate\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4699108\">ROGERS AGREES TO DEBATE AFTER EL SAYED REPEATEDLY CHALLENGED HIM<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Arizona, incumbent Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/katie-hobbs\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8904\">Katie Hobbs<\/a> (D-AZ) has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine-washington-briefing\/4684388\/katie-hobbs-refuses-in-person-debate-arizona-governor\/\">refused to debate<\/a> her GOP challenger, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/andy-biggs\/\">Rep. Andy Biggs<\/a> (R-AZ), following her pattern of refusing to face Republican Kari Lake when the two faced each other in the 2022 gubernatorial race.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sen. Collins to debate Jackson; Jackson yet to agree<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2651153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26197603828736-e1785881895756.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[15571,5894,34870],"class_list":["post-2651152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-debates","tag-politics","tag-susan-collins"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP26197603828736-e1785881895756.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651152","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2651152"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651152\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2651156,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2651152\/revisions\/2651156"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2651153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2651152"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2651152"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2651152"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}