Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, has responded to reports concerning her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, fathering two children with his second cousin. When asked by a Politico reporter if Jackson's personal life would be a campaign issue, Collins stated, "Well, I'm not going to bring up the fact that the mother of his two children is his second cousin." She then added, "I don’t know whether people know that or not."
When the reporter pointed out that she had just mentioned it, Collins' response was captured in a clip that gained significant traction on social media. Conservatives praised her response as politically astute.
Republican political operative Jesse Hunt described the moment as Collins being a "silent killer." Politico editor Mike DeBonis characterized the clip as "a less-than-2-minute precis of how Susan Collins is as stone-cold a political combatant as the Senate has ever seen." Other political figures, including Justin Davis, the National Rifle Association's public affairs director, and Targeted Victory CCO Matt Gorman, also commented on the effectiveness of Collins' remark.
Reports about Jackson's relationship with his second cousin initially surfaced in July. The Maine Wire reported that Jackson and his longtime partner share the same great-grandparents.
This controversy comes as Jackson replaced Graham Platner as the Democratic nominee for the Senate race in Maine. Platner ended his campaign amid an allegation of rape. Commentators have also noted other aspects of Jackson's personal history, including a 1988 police report alleging assault and claims by his partner of being pushed. Jackson has disputed the latter claim and stated he does not recall a police statement being made to that effect.
Collins previously told Fox News Digital in August that Jackson "struggles to control his temper," citing widespread reporting. She emphasized the importance of vetting, referencing the situation with Platner, and stated that the responsibility for vetting lies with the Democratic Party.
During her interview with Politico, Collins also noted that Jackson, unlike Platner, has a significant political record that can be scrutinized. Jackson's campaign has characterized the focus on his personal life as a tactic to distract from issues Mainers care about, stating, "Susan Collins will do anything to distract from the fact that she votes with Trump 96% of the time and has sold out working people in Maine. Personal attacks on Troy's family are shameful and desperate."
The Jackson campaign did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital.