Troy Jackson
stated on August 28, 2026 in an X post:

When Sen. Susan Collins “had the chance to actually vote to stop Trump’s tariffs from driving up costs for Maine families and businesses, she voted NO.”

2026 Midterms Congress Trade Troy Jackson

Toronto residents Douglas Bloomfield and his son Phoenix, who are on vacation in Washington, hold a Canadian flag and an ice hockey stick to show their support for Canada regarding trade tariffs, as they pose with with another visitor to the city wearing a mask of President Donald Trump, in front of the White House in Washington, March 13, 2025. (AP)

By Amy Sherman
September 2, 2026

In Maine Senate race, Troy Jackson misleads about Sen. Susan Collins voting record on Trump tariffs

If your time is short

In 2025, Sen. Susan Collins voted against an amendment to rescind tariffs on some countries if they resulted in increased costs for U.S. consumers on items such as groceries.
Troy Jackson’s attack cherry-picks Collins’ voting record because it ignores four other 2025 votes in which Collins opposed Trump’s tariffs.

See the sources for this fact-check

President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war with Canada could create economic fallout for northern border states, and Maine Sen. Susan Collins’ Democratic rival Troy Jackson said she shares in the blame.

Collins, a Republican, wrote an Aug. 28 letter to Trump administration officials that said tariffs on Canada will hurt Maine employers and add extra costs for small businesses and municipalities that rely on goods from their northern neighbor, such as road salt or cement.

Jackson, a former state senator, replied on X, “Oh look, another strongly worded letter. Give me a break. When Susan Collins had the chance to actually vote to stop Trump’s tariffs from driving up costs for Maine families and businesses, she voted NO. Mainers don’t need more fake concern.”

Collins has pointed to her votes against Trump’s tariffs, and her work introducing legislation to exempt small businesses from tariffs on Canadian imports.

Jackson’s attack cherry-picks Collins’ voting record, ignoring four votes in which Collins joined Democrats to oppose Trump tariffs.

Jackson cites Collins’ vote against a 2025 tariff amendment

When contacted for comment, Jackson’s campaign pointed to Collins’ April 4, 2025, vote against a tariff amendment, although it wasn’t specifically about Canada. It came during a “vote-a-rama,” in which the Senate took a long series of votes on budget plan amendments. As is common during such votes, the amendments had no chance of passing but allowed the minority party to force politically difficult votes on various topics.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York introduced an amendment to rescind tariffs on some countries if they resulted in increased costs for U.S. consumers on items such as groceries. It failed 46-53 on party lines; Collins joined Republicans in voting against it.

Jackson’s campaign also cited Collins’ votes to confirm members of Trump’s Cabinet who defended his trade actions. One example is Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who told lawmakers he favored “across the board” tariffs on countries. All Republicans who were present voted to confirm Lutnick.

Voting to confirm Trump’s nominees is not equivalent to voting to support Trump’s tariffs. The president campaigned on tariffs and planned to enact them regardless of who the Senate confirmed.

Collins joined Democrats in multiple 2025 anti-tariff votes

Jackson omitted other Collins votes in which she joined Democrats in rebuking Trump’s tariffs.

Trump declared April 2, 2025, as “Liberation Day,” when he planned to roll out tariffs.

That day, Collins was one of four GOP senators to join Democrats voting in favor of a non-binding resolution to reverse Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports.

In a floor speech, Collins said Canada is a vital trading partner with Maine and the tariffs would hurt consumers, manufacturers, lobstermen and farmers. “And as price hikes always do, they will hurt those the most who can afford them the least,” she said.

The resolution passed 51-48. Trump criticized the four Republicans — Collins, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska plus Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky — for their votes.

As the president continued to push for tariffs, Senate Democrats forced Republicans to take related votes.

In late October 2025, Collins was one of a few Republicans who joined Democrats to vote in favor of three measures that would have ended the national emergency on tariffs Trump enacted that spring related to Brazil, Canada and other countries.

The resolutions Collins voted for passed the Senate but did not receive votes in the House.

Our ruling

Jackson said when Collins “had the chance to actually vote to stop Trump’s tariffs from driving up costs for Maine families and businesses, she voted NO.”

Jackson cited one 2025 vote by Collins against rescinding Trump tariffs if they resulted in increased costs on items such as groceries. It was one of a string of votes related to a Trump budget plan. Jackson’s campaign also cited Collins’ votes to confirm Trump Cabinet members who support tariffs.

However, Jackson omitted that Collins joined Democrats in four 2025 votes against Trump tariffs, one of only a few Republicans to do so. None of the measures had the needed support in the Senate and the House to overcome a Trump veto if they’d reached his desk.

We rate this claim Mostly False.