BANGOR - Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson faced off in their fourth and final Senate debate in front of a live audience on Oct. 15.
Collins' bid for a sixth term is one of the most-watched races in the country, as she is the only Republican senator up for reelection in a state that President Donald Trump lost in 2024.
Jackson has repeatedly invoked Trump in the first debates, focusing on Collins record of voting with the president and the high cost of living pushed up by the Iran war. Collins has redirected to her biggest selling point: bringing money back to Maine.
The fourth debate, unlike the first three, took place in front of a live audience at Husson University in Bangor, ME. Both campaigns were given an equal
number of tickets to invite people, making the audience a mix of strong supporters for each candidate.
The crowd gave a running reaction track as the candidates raised several talking points they had covered in previous debates. At one point, the debate was interrupted by a young man addressing Collins directly. Here were some key moments:
Laughter and outbursts in front of a dueling crowd
Before the candidates took the stage, the supporters erected competing demonstrations outside Gracie Theater on Husson's campus. Collins crowd, coordinated in red shirts that made her presence visible in the theater, first congregated in front of her tour bus holding giant "SUSAN" letters and following chants led over a bullhorn.
Jackson's team lined the street in front of the building with music and a giant inflatable rat, a nod to his union roots and strong union backing in the state.
Adam Wilson, a Maine representative of Sheet Metal Workers Local 17 union, traveled about 100 miles from Livermore to be at the event. Though he identifies as an independent willing to split a ticket, he is supporting Jackson.
"I understand (Collins) is on the Appropriations Committee, but what has she done for the working class of Maine?" he told USA TODAY.
Inside, the candidates came onto the stage for photos after the crowd had already filed in. Whereas Jackson took his place first with no fanfare, Collins drew great applause and cheers from her supporters.
But during the debate, Jackson landed a few zingers that resonated with his supporters. Jackson's mention of the political ads from a Collins-aligned group thataired in Portland, Oregon, instead of Portland, Maine, kicked up a big storm of laughs. Collins crowd was quieter, though some did have a small outburst when Jackson admitted Collins was accurate in saying he has billionaires backing his campaign.
Still, Sofia Pride, a 19-year-old University of Maine student volunteering with the Collins campaign, was pleased with how it went for her candidate.
"I'm really excited about how this debate went tonight," she told USA TODAY after the debate. "I think she did a really good job keeping herself poised and being really mature about it."
Heckler escorted out after anti-Collins outburst
Though the moderators asked the crowd before going live to minimize any disruptions, one person stood up, apologized for interrupting, but spoke directly to Collins
"I'm a young person, and I'm terrified," he said, speaking about data centers and their potential threats to the environment. "30 years, for what?" Collins was first elected in 1996.
He was quickly escorted out by security, yelling all the way out the door.
Collins does not regret RFK Jr. confirmation, Jackson reluctant for Hegseth impeachment
As in other debates, Trump's presidency and Congress's role in checking the presidency were at the forefront of the conversation. That includes confirming some of Trump's more controversial nominees, which Collins has voted in favor of at times. She touted her efforts to try to stop the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as an example of her bipartisanship, though she was unsuccessful.
Jackson was also asked whether or not he would support an impeachment effort against Hegseth, which had started in the House before lawmakers left DC early for the midterms.
"Do I think that's what we should be doing? No. I mean, I think we need to deliver for the American public," Jackson said. "If there was a vote to impeach him, yeah, I would vote for that, but that's not my focus."
Collins was also asked if she regretted her vote to confirm Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., eventually giving a definitive "no."
"I agree with him on some issues; I disagree with him on others," she said, earlier citing his vaccine skepticism as a point of disagreement and focus on chronic disease as a point of agreement. She also added that he was helpful in getting early release of funds for low-income Mainers, her key talking point.
Jackson says Maine has a culture of 'people being able to buy guns'
Nearly three years ago, a man in Lewiston, Maine, opened fire inside a bar and a bowling alley, killing at least 18 people and injuring several others. The tragedy was mentioned on stage, and the candidates were asked whether they were open to raising the age to buy a gun from 18 to 21.
Collins, a Republican, said she was open to it, and also signaled openness to a "reasonable limit" on a magazine capacity, as well as pointing to her previous votes in favor of some reform policies.
Jackson, on the other hand, was not open to increasing the age requirement to buy a gun, but would support banning assault weapons.
"We do have a culture here in Maine, you know, people being able to buy guns, stuff like that," Jackson said.
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She is reporting from Maine for the 2026 midterm elections. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: '30 years, for what?' Heckler removed from Maine Senate debate. Recap
