Troy Jackson shut up comment resurfaced Sunday after the Democrat said he does not regret telling Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” during a candidate debate that was briefly interrupted by an anti-data center protester.
Jackson addressed the moment on CNN’s State of the Union, where host Dana Bash asked whether he wished he had chosen different words. He replied that he did not, reiterating his position following the exchange with the Republican senator from Maine.
The clash occurred as moderators worked to regain control of the stage after the protester’s interruption. According to Jackson, the heated words came amid efforts to return the debate to the planned topics.
Troy Jackson shut up comment draws fresh scrutiny
Jackson’s remark quickly circulated online and drew fresh scrutiny from political observers. He maintained on Sunday that his response reflected the intensity of the moment and that he stood by it.
Collins, a longtime GOP incumbent, is facing Jackson in a closely watched Maine race. The comment has since become a flashpoint as both campaigns seek to define the tenor of the contest following the protest disruption tied to data center opposition.
Jackson did not retract the phrasing during the CNN interview, and he emphasized that he is focused on the issues at stake in the race. Collins has not publicly shifted her stance in response to the exchange.
