WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • Troy Jackson reportedly skipped a “Women for Troy” press conference organized to endorse him and reassure female voters.
  • Jackson previously told Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” during a debate and later refused to apologize during a CNN interview.
  • Supporters argued Jackson would advocate for abortion rights and recognize both paid and unpaid women’s labor.
  • The event instead highlighted criticism and allegations surrounding Jackson’s treatment of women.

The Maine Senate race has entered its final stretch with Democrat nominee Troy Jackson facing another self inflicted embarrassment. An event assembled by women to bolster his candidacy instead highlighted the very problem his supporters were trying to contain, as reported by Red State.

The trouble accelerated during the final debate of the election cycle, held one week earlier. A heckler disrupted the proceedings and began yelling at Jackson’s opponent, Sen. Susan Collins.

Collins told the moderators, “So this is obviously one of Troy's supporters,” prompting Jackson to fire back, “Oh, shut up.” He then appeared to catch himself and added, “I don't even know that kid.”

Collins did not wilt in response, but Jackson’s remark poured more fuel onto questions about his treatment of women who disagree with him. Collins is also 14 years older than Jackson, making the spectacle even less flattering for the Democrat.

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Those questions include allegations that Jackson threw a water bottle at a female state lawmaker while he was a state senator. Another reported incident from 1988 involved Jackson allegedly “pushing around” his girlfriend, whom he is still with, during a jealous rage after he admittedly punched a man.

Jackson had another opportunity to contain the damage two days after the debate. During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, however, he refused to apologize or express regret for telling Collins to shut up.

That refusal hardly helped Democrats portray Jackson as someone prepared to stand up for women rather than disrespect them. With criticism and “negative ads” building, a group called “Women for Troy” sprang into action.

The group included former and current female state lawmakers. On Wednesday, its members held a press conference with preprinted signs, endorsed Jackson, and sought to reassure female voters that he would represent their interests.

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Maine Women’s Lobby Executive Director Destie Hohman Sprague made the case for Jackson at the event. “If we want to secure rights and health and safety for women in Maine, we need to make sure we are electing people who are representing our needs in Augusta and D.C., and endorsements are an important way that we can help do that,” she said.

Hohman Sprague said she believes Jackson, if elected, would advocate for abortion rights as well as paid and unpaid women’s labor. “Troy understands that women's labor is also labor. And he has been fighting for it for years,” she said.

There was one rather conspicuous problem with the event. Jackson reportedly did not show up for the press conference organized by women trying to defend him and repair the damage surrounding his campaign.

When one of the women was asked about his absence, she became chippy and said Jackson was “on the campaign trail.” That explanation did little to improve the optics of a candidate missing an event specifically designed to demonstrate his support among women.

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Jackson’s absence turned the gathering into another campaign fumble. Women appeared onstage to assure voters that he cared about their concerns, while the candidate himself apparently could not be bothered to appear beside them.

The women supporting Jackson are also angry that Collins voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, which paved the way for Roe v. Wade to be overturned. Their backing of Jackson centers heavily on his support for abortion rights despite the criticism surrounding his conduct.

Whatever one thinks of Collins, she has fought for women during her 30 years in the Senate. Jackson, by contrast, is carrying allegations involving his treatment of women while his supporters insist his position on abortion should reassure female voters.

The latest event did not erase Jackson’s debate remark, his refusal to apologize, or the allegations already hanging over the campaign. Instead, his empty spot at “Women for Troy” handed critics one more image of a campaign stumbling through the homestretch.

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