Collins Calls for Maine Senate Radio Ad Targeting Jackson to Be Removed
The episode illustrates how third-party advertising in competitive Senate races can create distance between Republican incumbents and messaging they did not authorize or endorse.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) publicly called for a radio advertisement targeting her Democratic Senate opponent, Troy Jackson, to be removed from the air, according to a report by The Hill published October 22, 2026.
The ad, airing on Maine radio stations, refers to Jackson as a "creep" and includes lyrics set to the tune of a country song. The Associated Press reported that the lyrics include the phrase, "if he'll screw his own family, he'll screw yours too." Collins stated the advertisement should be taken down, placing herself in opposition to the ad's message.
Collins did not produce the ad. The specific organization responsible for placing the buy had not been fully identified in available public reporting as of publication. Federal Election Commission filings and Federal Communications Commission public inspection files for Maine radio stations would identify the advertiser, the total spend, and any political committee affiliation. Those records are required by law to be publicly accessible at the station level.
Troy Jackson, a Democrat, is the Maine Senate President. He is challenging Collins in what independent election analysts have rated a competitive race. Maine's Senate contest has drawn national attention and outside spending from both parties in the 2026 cycle.
Collins, first elected to the Senate in 1996, has a documented history of distancing herself from messaging she considers inappropriate regardless of partisan origin. Her public posture on this ad is consistent with prior instances in which she declined to align with campaign material from aligned outside groups.
The Maine race carries particular weight in the broader battle for Senate control in November 2026. Democrats need a net gain of seats to reclaim the majority, and Maine is among a small number of states where the outcome is considered genuinely uncertain by forecasters who track polling averages and fundraising data.
Campaign finance filings submitted to the FEC through the most recent quarterly deadline would show the fundraising totals for both Collins and Jackson, as well as independent expenditure activity by outside committees in the race. Those filings are publicly searchable at fec.gov. The most recent filing period covered activity through September 30, 2026.
The content of the ad, specifically the phrase referencing Jackson's family, suggests the message addresses a personal or professional conduct allegation. The factual basis for that allegation, if any, was not established in available public reporting reviewed for this story. Court records, ethics filings, or legislative records from the Maine State Legislature would be the relevant documents to assess any underlying factual claim.
Collins's public statement does not constitute an endorsement of Jackson or a withdrawal of support for Republican candidates generally. It is a specific objection to a specific advertisement's content.
What remains unknown is who funded the ad, the total dollar amount of the radio buy, and whether the advertiser is a party committee, a super PAC, or another entity. The FEC's public database and Maine radio stations' political file disclosures, both accessible to the public, would answer those questions.