Troy Jackson Says He Won't Be 'Talked Down To' by Susan Collins
The Bowdoin College student who interrupted the Maine Senate debate says he had "zero coordination" with the Democrat's campaign.
Maine Democrat Troy Jackson said he has no regrets about telling Sen. Susan Collins to "shut up" during their final debate. He made the comments in an interview on CNN that aired Sunday.
Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate, is trying to deny Collins a sixth term on Nov. 3. Collins is the longest-serving Republican woman in Senate history, PBS NewsHour reported.
Why it matters
The moment came in the last debate of a closely contested race, the AP reported. Collins cited what she said was the reputation Jackson had in the Legislature when he deals with women he disagrees with. She said the reply did not surprise her.
Key points
- Jackson told Collins to shut up after she said a debate protester was one of his supporters.
- The protester, a Bowdoin College student and Sunrise Movement volunteer, said he had no coordination with Jackson's campaign.
- Collins called the quick reply very telling; Jackson said he would not be talked down to by Collins.
What happened at the Collins-Jackson debate
A protester opposing data centers began yelling as Collins spoke during Thursday night's debate, the AP reported. As moderators asked for the person to be removed, Collins said the demonstrator was "obviously one of Troy's supporters."
Jackson responded: "Oh, shut up. I don't even know that kid."
On CNN, Jackson said Collins had accused him of arranging the disruption.
"She said that it was a Troy supporter. She accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was," he said.
Sunrise Movement protester denies ties to Troy Jackson
The Sunrise Movement, a left-wing advocacy group that backs the Green New Deal, said on Instagram that the protester was one of its members. "We're proud of this Sunrise volunteer who took action yesterday," the group wrote.
The protester, Henry Elgie, a 19-year-old Bowdoin College student, told The New York Times in an interview Saturday that he had "zero coordination" with Jackson's campaign, according to ABC News. "I do not know Troy Jackson personally or at all," Elgie said.
Susan Collins points to Jackson's record in the Maine Legislature
Collins told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Friday that she was "struck by how reflective the response, 'Oh, shut up,' was." She said "the fact that it seemed like such an automatic, quick reply was very telling."
Some state lawmakers who served with Jackson have criticized his temper, the AP reported, including one episode in which he threw a plastic water bottle on the ground while disagreeing with a female lawmaker. Jackson took responsibility and apologized at the time. Asked about it during the campaign, he said, "I wear my heart on my sleeve."
On CNN, Jackson said he shook hands with Collins after each of their debates. "But what I'm not going to be is talked down to by Sen. Collins," he said.
He said some Republicans have spent millions "attacking me and my family, making untrue claims," and that the criticism did not surprise him.
Sources
- Jackson doesn't regret telling Collins to 'shut up' after protester interrupted Maine Senate debate (Associated Press, via PBS NewsHour) — AP account of the debate exchange, Jackson's CNN interview, Collins' remarks to Hannity and the stakes of the race
- Jackson doesn't regret telling Collins to 'shut up' after protester interrupted Maine Senate debate (Associated Press, via ABC News) — AP report on the protester's identity, the Sunrise Movement's claim and Jackson's record in the Legislature