In the first showdown of Maine's high-stakes Senate race, Republican incumbent Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson traded sharp barbs over the Trump administration's tariffs on Canadian goods, exposing a stark divide on trade policy and economic priorities.
Collins, seeking a sixth term, defended her record on trade, emphasizing the deep economic ties between Maine and Canada, a relationship she said is vital for the state's businesses and municipalities. She pointed to her success in securing exemptions for concrete, pulp, and road salt from the tariff list, a move she said came after months of quiet lobbying.
"I've been working behind the scenes," Collins said during the debate hosted by WGME-TV. "I was successful in getting concrete, pulp, and road salt removed from the tariff list. And if you ask towns in northern Maine and eastern Maine, they get all of their road salt from Canada."
Collins referenced an August letter she sent to the administration, urging a resolution to what she called the "unfortunate breakdown in trade negotiations" and highlighting Maine's 611-mile shared border with Canada. The exemptions were announced in September, a win she touted as a direct result of her efforts.
Jackson, a state senator and former House majority leader, was unimpressed. He acknowledged the road salt exemption but argued it did little to address the broader pain caused by tariffs on other goods, which he said are driving up costs for Maine families.
"I didn't mock the fact that she got road salt back. I mock the fact that: what about everything else? I mean, we can't eat road salt," Jackson shot back, drawing a sharp contrast between a narrow trade fix and the everyday economic struggles of voters.
Jackson went further, linking the tariffs to rising prices and geopolitical tensions, suggesting that the cumulative effect could be devastating for working families. "There's going to be so many less people to be able to afford to drive that I'm not even sure the road salt's going to be worth anything either," he said, referencing the Iran war and other factors driving up costs.
The exchange quickly became a flashpoint for both parties. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee seized on Jackson's quip, likening Collins's focus on road salt to Marie Antoinette's infamous "let them eat cake" remark. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, meanwhile, blamed Jackson's two decades in the state Legislature for Maine's economic struggles, framing the race as a choice between Collins's experience and Jackson's record.
The debate is the first of four scheduled face-offs between the candidates as the November election approaches. Polling from Decision Desk HQ shows Jackson leading Collins by a narrow margin, and analysts rate the race as a toss-up that could determine control of the Senate.
Collins, who has often positioned herself as a moderate willing to break with her party, stressed her willingness to challenge the administration on trade. But Jackson's attacks suggest that her efforts may not be enough to sway voters who are feeling the pinch of higher prices.
As the campaign heats up, the tariff debate is likely to remain a central issue, with both candidates using it to draw sharp lines on economic policy and the role of government in protecting Maine's interests. The next debates will test whether Collins can defend her record or whether Jackson's message of economic populism resonates with voters.
