In Maine Senate debate, Collins says she's "not exactly" Trump's "favorite senator", tell me about this news today
07-10-2026
In their first televised Senate debate ahead of the midterm elections, Republican Senator Susan Collins pointedly distanced herself from Donald Trump while facing off against her Democratic challenger, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.
The GuardianWhen debate moderator Gregg Lagerquist mentioned suggestions that Trump might visit Maine to campaign, Collins downplayed the possibility, saying:
“I don’t think that President Trump is going to come to Maine. He’s talking about going to a lot of different states. I’ve heard nothing from his office, and I’m not exactly his favorite senator.”
The GuardianKey Takeaways from the DebateEmphasizing Independence: Collins leaned heavily into her reputation as a centrist and independent lawmaker, an essential pitch in Mainea state Trump lost in all three of his presidential runs.
KRDOPolicy Breaks with Trump: Collins highlighted specific breaks with Trump administration policies, explicitly stating her opposition to tariffs on Canada (“Canada is not China. It’s our neighbor and our friends”) and pointing to her votes against foreign military interventions.
The GuardianJudicial Nominations & Abortion: Jackson challenged Collins on her past judicial votes, notably asking whether voters could trust her with future Supreme Court appointmentsespecially amid speculation surrounding Samuel Alito’s potential retirement.
KRDOState vs. Federal Records: Collins targeted Jackson’s legislative effectiveness in Augusta, arguing he failed to rally support even within his own party on certain bills. Jackson pushed back, asserting that Collins misunderstands the legislative process and arguing that voters want systemic change.
CBS News+ 1High Stakes: With polls showing the race neck-and-neck, this is the first of four scheduled debates between Collins and Jackson over a 10-day span in one of the most closely watched Senate contests in the country.
KRDO