{"id":2655291,"date":"2026-09-05T19:54:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T23:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/troy-jackson-fires-back-at-susan-collins-over-relationship-comment\/"},"modified":"2026-09-05T19:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T23:56:09","slug":"troy-jackson-fires-back-at-susan-collins-over-relationship-comment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/troy-jackson-fires-back-at-susan-collins-over-relationship-comment\/","title":{"rendered":"Troy Jackson fires back at Susan Collins over relationship comment"},"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\">20<\/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%2Ftroy-jackson-fires-back-at-susan-collins-over-relationship-comment%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=2655291&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>Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson responded strongly after Sen. susan Collins accused him of personal attacks, including mentioning that the mother of his two children is his second cousin. Collins noted publicly that Jackson\u2019s partner, Lana Pelletier, with whom he has two sons, is his second cousin, based on shared great-grandparents. Jackson defended his personal life, stating he has known Pelletier since childhood and emphasizing that the race should focus on policy issues rather than family matters. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whistleblower-accuses-bbc-of-doctoring-trump-speech-and-ignoring-complaints-about-overt-bias-in-19-page-letter\/\" title=\"Whistleblower Accuses BBC of Doctoring Trump Speech and Ignoring Complaints About Overt Bias in 19-Page Letter\">controversy emerged shortly<\/a> after Jackson was chosen to replace another candidate amid a competitive race in Maine. Throughout the campaign, jackson and Collins have clashed over issues like immigration, cost of living, and tax policy, and they have agreed to participate in four debates in October. The race is significant for Democrats aiming to regain the Senate majority in the upcoming midterms.  <\/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\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\">Maine<\/a> Democratic <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/senate\/\">Senate<\/a> candidate <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/troy-jackson\/\">Troy Jackson<\/a> fired back at Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) on Saturday after she mentioned in an interview earlier this week that the mother of Jackson\u2019s two children is his second cousin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSenator Collins is going to attack, I mean she has been attacking, my personal life, my children, stuff like that, because her record sucks,\u201d Jackson said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.c-span.org\/clip\/campaign-2026\/troy-jackson-responds-to-sencollins-comments-about-his-family\/5205735\">while speaking<\/a> with voters at a campaign stop in Wells. \u201cAnd I wouldn\u2019t be trying to defend my record if I was her, too.\u201d <\/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\/4715181\/troy-jackson-susan-collins-cousin-relationship-comment\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Troy Jackson fires back at Susan Collins over relationship comment<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4715168\/maga-inc-10-million-paxton-texas\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>MAGA Inc. sends $10 million to back Paxton in Texas after repeated GOP pleas<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4715007\/missouri-supreme-court-overturn-block-congress-map\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Missouri asks Supreme Court to overturn block of new congressional map before election<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themainewire.com\/2026\/07\/relative-attraction-troy-jacksons-longtime-lover-is-his-second-cousin\/\"><em>Maine Wire<\/em><\/a> <em><\/em>reported in July that Jackson shares the same great-grandparents as his partner Lana Pelletier, with whom he has two sons. Collins noted this relationship in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/magazine\/2026\/09\/02\/can-susan-collins-survive-trumps-america-01059975\">an interview<\/a> with <em>Politico<\/em> that aired on Wednesday, saying, \u201cI\u2019m not going to bring up the fact that the mother of his two children is his second cousin.\u201d<\/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\">Jackson responded to the viral moment on Saturday by offering more information about the roots of his relationship with Pelletier and saying he, too, has personal information about Collins\u2019s family. Though Jackson has not denied the reporting about the relationship, his campaign has maintained that the focus in the race should be on the policies impacting Mainers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLook, me and Lana have been together since I was in the fifth or sixth grade,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s who I love, and why I know it\u2019s OK is because I have two unbelievable sons, and I wouldn\u2019t have had them but for the fact that we\u2019re together. But in the end, I would like to talk about the issues that are affecting people like this right here, as opposed to my family, and stuff like that. I know all kinds of stuff about Senator Collins\u2019s family that I am not disclosing because I don\u2019t think that means anything about this race. I think issues do, and let\u2019s talk about those issues.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The report about Jackson\u2019s personal life surfaced just days after he was selected by Maine Democrats to replace <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\">Graham Platner<\/a> on the ticket, whose campaign had been marred by allegations of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4637858\/sexual-assault-allegation-fractures-platner-faithful-online-following\/\">sexual assault<\/a>, since-deleted social media comments, and a tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. Democrats keen on retaking the upper chamber in November\u2019s midterm elections <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4686534\/these-states-will-make-or-break-a-senate-majority-in-november\/\">have widely seen<\/a> Maine as one such opportunity, given that President Donald Trump lost the state to former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.<\/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\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4707767\/pro-choice-ad-campaign-susan-collins\/\"><strong>PRO-CHOICE GROUP LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN AGAINST SUSAN COLLINS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former state senate president made the comments after meeting with residents of the Blueberry Ridge Mobile Village in Wells to discuss affordable housing, according to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2026\/09\/05\/troy-jackson-takes-on-affordable-housing-issue-at-mobile-home-park-in-wells\/\"><em>Portland Press Herald<\/em><\/a>. Collins and Jackson have sparred throughout the race over Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the cost of living, and tax policy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mainemorningstar.com\/2026\/09\/04\/maine-u-s-senate-candidates-agree-to-debates-though-format-remains-up-in-the-air\/\">recently agreed<\/a> to debate each other four times in October, though the formats have not yet been confirmed.<\/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<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jackson responds to Collins&#8217; family comment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3238,"featured_media":2655292,"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\/09\/image-collage-h8i67vk8u-1788644039474-e1788644146534.jpg?1788629737&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50410,3896,5894,34870,82490],"class_list":["post-2655291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-controversy-2","tag-debate","tag-politics","tag-susan-collins","tag-troy-jackson"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/image-collage-h8i67vk8u-1788644039474-e1788644146534.jpg?1788629737&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655291","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\/3238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2655291"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2655295,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655291\/revisions\/2655295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2655292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2655291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2655291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2655291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}