<p>Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has agreed to participate in four debates against former state Senator Troy Jackson, her Democratic opponent, as they compete for Collins’s Senate seat.</p>
<p>Collins has confirmed her participation in the debates, which will be hosted by local media outlets. Jackson, who entered the race in late July, has not yet agreed to any debates. This situation is notable as incumbents typically do not initiate multiple debates, given that they often have more at stake than less-known challengers.</p>
<p>“Senator Collins believes that Maine people deserve the chance to see both candidates answer the same questions, in the same room, more than once, and as soon as possible,” said Shawn Roderick, a spokesperson for Collins, in a statement.</p>
<p>Collins has a history of engaging in debates with her challengers, having met Democratic challenger Sara Gideon for five debates in 2020. Initially, Gideon challenged Collins to five debates, to which Collins responded by proposing 16 debates, one in each Maine county. The candidates ultimately agreed on five debates. Collins has also debated other Democratic challengers in previous election cycles.</p>
<p>The Collins campaign has indicated that the first debate, hosted by NewsCenter Maine, Maine Public, and the Portland Press Herald, is planned for early September, one month prior to the start of early voting on October 5.</p>
<p>Jackson’s campaign stated that he has not agreed to the four debates with Collins, as he prefers town hall-style debates.</p>
<p>“Susan Collins hasn’t held a public town hall in 25 years,” Jackson remarked in a statement. “If she wants to debate, great — I’m looking forward to it. But Mainers deserve more than politicians talking past each other in a television studio. They deserve the chance to look us both in the eye, ask us the questions that matter to their families, and hear our answers directly.”</p>
<p>He invited Collins to participate in three town halls his campaign is hosting next week.</p>
<p>“We believe any debates should be town hall debates — with Mainers in the room asking the questions that matter to their families,” said Dan Gottlieb, a spokesperson for the Jackson campaign.</p>
<p>Debate-related disputes between candidates have become common in the 2026 elections, with challengers or lesser-known candidates often being the first to accept debate invitations.</p>
<p>In Arizona, incumbent Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) has refused to debate her GOP challenger, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), continuing a trend from the 2022 gubernatorial race when she also declined to debate Republican Kari Lake.</p>