By John Rupert | Strange Maine | October 24, 2026

With less than two weeks until Election Day in Maine’s high-stakes U.S. Senate race, a controversial radio attack ad has pushed campaign tactics to center stage.

​The 60-second radio spot, funded by the Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), formatted its message as a country song targeting Democratic nominee Troy Jackson’s personal life and relationship with his partner, Lana Pelletier, who is also his second cousin.

​The ad triggered an immediate firestorm across the state:

​Lana Pelletier’s Response: In a candid op-ed published in the Bangor Daily News, Pelletier pushed back against outside political groups using her family as a “caricature,” writing: “Sen. Collins has been quick to demand respect and decency for herself. My family deserved the same.”

​Collins Calls for Removal: U.S. Senator Susan Collins publicly denounced the radio spot, stating she had no involvement due to federal coordination rules and called on the Senate Leadership Fund to pull the ad off the airwaves.

Jackson’s Campaign: Jackson’s team called on Collins to issue a direct apology, arguing that outside Super PAC spending has escalated personal attacks to unprecedented levels in Maine politics.

As millions of dollars in national outside money pour into Maine down the home stretch, the backlash highlights a growing fatigue over personal campaign warfare.