Ocasio-Cortez joins Troy Jackson at Portland town hall in Maine Senate race
In short
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared with Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson at a "Students vs. Billionaires" town hall in Portland, Maine. Jackson is challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race that outlets describe as close and possibly decisive for Senate control.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, joined Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson at a town hall in Portland, Maine, on Thursday, according to The Boston Globe and Newsweek. The event was titled "Students vs. Billionaires". Newsweek reported that it was hosted by the progressive organization More Perfect University. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsweek said the event lasted about an hour and that the two took questions from college students based in Maine on healthcare, transgender rights and foreign policy. Ocasio-Cortez said Collins "paved the way" for healthcare cuts by helping advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, legislation backed by President Donald Trump. Newsweek noted that Collins has touted her vote against the bill, but Democrats have criticized her for voting to advance it in procedural votes, which they said ultimately helped its passage. [ 2 ]
The New York Post reported that a self-described transgender student accused the Democratic Party of abandoning that community. Ocasio-Cortez told the student she was ashamed that "there are people out there that scare so easily after an election", and said that "the moment you compromise the rights of a trans person in America, you compromise the rights of every citizen in America." She added that she supports the rights of trans women "because I'm a girl's girl". The Post also reported that most attendees directed questions to Ocasio-Cortez rather than to Jackson, and that she criticized the Trump administration over a raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's D.C. home to probe her citizenship status. [ 3 ]
The Globe said Jackson's bid could be critical to Senate control as Democrats look to flip the seat that Collins has held for three decades. Newsweek described Jackson as a former president of the Maine Senate challenging a longtime incumbent in a state Trump lost in all three of his elections. It said polls point to a close race, that Collins has won by large margins in the past, and that both parties anticipate a close race on November 3. [ 1 , 2 ]
Newsweek said Jackson is working to win over independent voters and to motivate his party's progressive base, and has appeared in recent weeks with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. The Globe added that Collins enlisted former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin this week. [ 1 , 2 ]
The Globe described the Maine stop as the latest on Ocasio-Cortez's midterm campaign swing. Last week she campaigned with Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and transferred $1 million from a political account to boost his chances against Republican Mike Rogers. She told The New York Times: "I'm leaving everything I can on the field." The Globe also said she has campaigned in Ohio for Rep. Emilia Sykes and in New York alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul, and that she has said she is weighing her next steps in politics, which could include a 2028 presidential run. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The Globe and Newsweek describe Maine as one of the states that could decide control of the Senate after the midterm elections. The appearance shows Jackson's campaign working to motivate the party's progressive base, according to Newsweek.
Key facts
- Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, appeared with Troy Jackson at a town hall in Portland, Maine. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The event was titled "Students vs. Billionaires"; Newsweek said it was hosted by the progressive organization More Perfect University. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Jackson, former president of the Maine Senate, is challenging Republican Sen. Susan Collins. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Newsweek said the event lasted about an hour and Maine college students asked about healthcare, transgender rights and foreign policy. [ 2 ]
- Ocasio-Cortez said Collins "paved the way" for healthcare cuts by helping advance the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. [ 2 ]
- The Globe said Ocasio-Cortez last week campaigned with Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and transferred $1 million from a political account to boost his chances. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Collins helped the One Big Beautiful Bill Act pass. Ocasio-Cortez said Collins paved the way for healthcare cuts; Collins has touted her vote against the bill, while Democrats criticize her procedural votes to advance it (Newsweek only).
- The Post's account of the raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home. Only the New York Post mentions it, and gives no further details beyond saying the raid was to probe her citizenship status.
- Who wins the Maine Senate race. Newsweek says polls point to a close race and both parties anticipate it.