Misleading GOP Ad Falsely Accuses Maine Candidate Troy Jackson’s Family

Controversial GOP Ad Targets Maine Senate Candidate Troy Jackson’s Family

An ad released by the Senate Leadership Fund PAC has come under scrutiny for its misleading portrayal of the involvement of Maine U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson and his family in the legislative process.

The advertisement accuses Jackson of undermining an environmental bill to benefit his son, a lobbyist. The narrative suggests that Jackson played a significant role in the bill’s failure, a claim that is not supported by the facts.

In the ad, a voiceover states, “One polluter wanted to stop a bill cracking down on emissions. They paid Jackson’s son and, with Jackson in charge, the bill went up in smoke.”

The legislative measure in question, LD 1707, was introduced in 2019 during Jackson’s tenure as the leader of the Maine state Senate. The bill aimed to mandate independent testing for environmental permit compliance.

Jackson’s son, Chace, was associated with a lobbying firm registered to oppose the bill. However, his role was limited to an associate position, with the primary lobbying efforts spearheaded by the principal lobbyist.

The bipartisan Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the legislature unanimously decided against the bill’s passage. Jackson was not a member of this committee, nor is there evidence that he influenced the committee’s decision.

According to Maine legislative rules, a unanimous committee recommendation not to pass a bill necessitates a two-thirds majority in both legislative chambers for reconsideration. LD 1707 did not secure such support and thus, never reached a floor vote.

The ad further alleges that Chace “raked in almost $200,000 from special interests.” However, this figure pertains to the earnings of Chace’s employers, not Chace himself. This distinction is clarified in a Washington Beacon report.

“Chace Jackson did not struggle to land clients, according to the Maine Ethics Commission’s lobbyist disclosure database, which only goes back to 2024,” the article notes. “During that year, his firm received $182,500 in lobbying compensation from nine of Jackson’s clients.”

An analysis by the Bangor Daily News from 2024 found no evidence that Jackson’s political decisions were influenced by his son’s lobbying activities.

As Jackson competes against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the upcoming election, a Beacon Research poll from August indicates a slight lead for Jackson, showing him ahead by 2 points.