Collins launches attack ads targeting Jackson

U.S. Senator Susan Collins has launched her first attack advertisements of the reelection campaign, targeting Democratic nominee Troy Jackson with ads that blame him for rising costs and remarks questioning his personal life. The campaign released two ads on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, accusing Jackson of contributing to high property taxes and electricity prices during his tenure as state Senate president. In a separate development, Collins made comments about Jackson's personal life and political record in an interview with Politico, which was released on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. When asked by journalist Jonathan Martin about whether Jackson's personal circumstances were relevant to the campaign, Collins stated, "I'm not going to bring up the fact that the mother of his two children is his second cousin." She added, "I don't know whether people know that or not." While legal in all U.S. states, the remark drew immediate attention. Collins also criticized Jackson's political evolution, noting he began as a conservative Republican and is now "essentially a democratic socialist.