Republican Sen. Susan Collins stated Friday that her Democratic challenger in the Maine U.S. Senate race, Troy Jackson, apparently “struggles to control his temper.” Collins broke her silence on the matter after a resurfaced 1988 police record detailed accusations that Jackson assaulted a man and pushed his longtime partner during a late-night confrontation in Fort Kent, Maine.
Jackson, a former state Senate president, was selected by Maine Democrats to replace Graham Platner, who withdrew from the race last month amid rape allegations he denied. Jackson is challenging Collins in a pivotal race that could impact the slim Republican Senate majority.
When asked by Fox News Digital about the reports concerning Jackson, Collins responded, “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 remarks to reporters after commencing a statewide bus tour in Kittery, Maine.
A Fox News poll released Wednesday showed Jackson holding a slight two-point lead over Collins, within the survey's margin of error. Collins is the only Republican incumbent seeking re-election in a state President Trump lost in 2024.
The Bangor Daily News reported this week that the 1988 police report accused Jackson, then 19, of assaulting another man during a brawl around 2 a.m. The altercation reportedly began over Jackson’s then-longtime partner, Lana Pelletier, who is also his second cousin. According to the report, Pelletier told officers Jackson “pushed her around,” a statement she now denies making.
The report further indicated that Jackson kicked in a door at a Fort Kent home, grabbed the other man by the throat, and punched him in the face, causing a cut. A friend reportedly intervened to break up the ensuing fight. The case was resolved with a $50 fine, according to the Jackson campaign.
The Republican National Committee criticized Jackson, stating, “Troy Jackson is Graham Platner 2.0: Violent and unhinged.” The National Republican Senatorial Committee urged Democratic leaders to call on Jackson to withdraw from the race.
In a statement, Jackson acknowledged the incident, saying, “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.” He added, “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 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.” She also stated, “I understand Maine voters want to learn about Troy as he seeks to represent them but personal attacks on my family are unacceptable.”
Recently, the Maine Wire reported a separate allegation from an individual who claimed to have witnessed Jackson strike Pelletier years ago. Jackson, who previously served in the state legislature for 20 years, has also faced reports regarding his temper, workplace conduct, and past anti-abortion stance.
When asked last month about vetting concerns, Jackson stated he believed he had been vetted and tested through his legislative tenure, asserting, “People know exactly what I’m fighting for. I have their back. And they know they can trust me.”
Collins, when questioned about the Democrats' vetting process for Jackson, remarked, “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.”
Jackson, a former conservative Republican who switched to the Democratic party over two decades ago, is campaigning on a platform that includes raising taxes on billionaires, supporting Medicare-for-all, and abolishing ICE. He also opposes military aid to Israel.