Susan Collins knew what she was doing.
Asked whether Democratic challenger Troy Jackson’s personal life would be fair game in Maine’s Senate race, Collins offered this: “Well, I’m not going to bring up the fact that the mother of his two children is his second cousin,” Collins told Politico. “I don’t know whether people know that or not.”
The reporter caught the move immediately.
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“But you just mentioned it.”
Exactly.
The exchange exploded online, with Republican operative Jesse Hunt dubbing Collins a “silent killer.”
Politico editor Mike DeBonis called the exchange a demonstration of just how “stone-cold a political combatant” Collins can be, while GOP communicator Steve Guest declared it “Susan Collins from the top rope.”
Others saw a warning for Democrats who think the longtime Maine senator is vulnerable.
“Count Collins out (like everyone did in ’20) at your own peril,” Republican strategist Matt Gorman wrote.
Watch the clip below:
Would Troy Jackson be a tougher opponent than Graham Platner?
Sen. Susan Collins argued the two have “different vulnerabilities” but took aim at Jackson’s record on electric rates and his family ties.
Watch her full interview with our @jmart: https://t.co/omt4o33sdt pic.twitter.com/m5P8xFgp5o
— POLITICO (@politico) September 2, 2026
