Maine Senate Candidate Jackson Does Not Regret Telling Collins to 'Shut Up'

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson stated he does not regret telling Republican Sen. Susan Collins to shut up during their recent debate.

The exchange occurred after Collins suggested a protester who interrupted her speech was a Jackson supporter. Jackson, who is challenging Collins for her sixth term, told CNN that Collins accused him of setting up the disruption, which he denied. He said he responded because he felt Collins was talking down to him. The protester, identified by The New York Times as 19-year-old Henry Elgie, a student at Bowdoin College, told the newspaper he had zero coordination with Jackson's campaign.

The Sunrise Movement claimed the protester was one of its members. Collins' campaign stated Jackson's response seemed like a very telling example of his mistreatment of women. Jackson's campaign has also faced scrutiny over his understanding of foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran, during an interview with CNN's Dana Bash. Former Sen. Joe Manchin is scheduled to campaign with Collins in Maine to emphasize her bipartisan credentials.