Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has stated that her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, appears to "struggle to control his temper." Collins' remarks follow the resurfacing of a 1988 police report detailing accusations that Jackson assaulted a man and allegedly pushed his longtime partner during a late-night confrontation.
Jackson, a former state Senate president and logger, was chosen by Maine Democrats to replace Graham Platner, who had won the June Senate nomination but later withdrew from the race amid rape allegations, which he denied. Jackson is challenging Collins in a race considered critical for the Republican Party's efforts to maintain its slim Senate majority.
When asked about the reports concerning Jackson, Collins told Fox News Digital, "He’s the one that needs to respond to the reports. I’m not going to comment on them. But I will say that based on widespread reporting it appears that he struggles to control his temper."
Collins made these comments after beginning a statewide bus tour on Friday in Kittery, Maine. She is the only Republican incumbent seeking re-election in a state that voted for President Trump in the 2024 election. A recent Fox News poll indicated Jackson holding a two-point lead over Collins, within the survey's margin of error.
The Bangor Daily News reported this week that the 1988 police report accused Jackson of assault during a late-night incident. The report also indicated that Jackson's longtime partner, Lana Pelletier, who is also his second cousin, told officers at the time that Jackson "pushed her around," a statement she has since denied making.
According to the report, a then-19-year-old Jackson allegedly kicked in a door at a Fort Kent, Maine, home and grabbed the occupant by the throat before punching him, causing the victim's glasses to cut his face. A friend reportedly intervened to break up the fight.
The Republican National Committee criticized the development, stating, "Troy Jackson is Graham Platner 2.0: Violent and unhinged."
Jackson released a statement acknowledging the incident: "Nearly forty years ago, when I was 19 years old, I got into a fight with another man. I took responsibility for it then, and I take responsibility for it now. But let me be clear: I have never been violent with my partner Lana, or any other woman. This happened nearly four decades ago, and I assure Mainers this incident in no way reflects the man I am today or the life I've led in the years since."
Pelletier also issued a statement, saying, "I do not remember making the statements attributed to me and they are not accurate. This is the first time I have seen this report from 40 years ago. Troy and I have built a life and family together and I know the person he has been through the decades since, both as a caring partner and father."
The Jackson campaign stated that he "acknowledges going to the residence and getting into a physical confrontation with another man. The case was resolved with a $50 fine."
Earlier reports also included allegations from a man who claims to have witnessed Jackson strike Pelletier years ago.
Jackson, who previously served in the state legislature for two decades, switched from Republican to Democrat more than twenty years ago. He unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination and has since campaigned on a platform that includes raising taxes on billionaires, advocating for Medicare-for-all, and opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also opposes military aid to Israel.
Collins commented on the vetting process for nominees, noting, "From my perspective it seems that vetting is very important. We learned the failure of vetting with Graham Platner. But that’s really up to the Democrats."