A Facebook group for supporters of Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Troy Jackson apparently removed his personal account this week after members argued over whether the account was really him.
The argument started on a thread about campaign events, with members discussing whether some had been canceled. Jackson’s account called the post “sad” and pointed to an upcoming event in Belfast in his race against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a five-term Republican.
A supporter then replied that it “cannot be Troy speaking” because “he would not speak so insultingly and patronizingly to regular people let alone supporters,” according to screenshots shared by Republican strategist Lauren LePage on X. After a debate around who he was, one supporter said he had been removed temporarily from the group.
The episode came days after Jackson was mixing it up with critics in Facebook comment sections. He attacked a Republican former lawmaker for supporting a “child rapist” in President Donald Trump and cursed at another critic. It also comes as his campaign shows signs of strain. Sources told New York Magazine that consultants now running the operation have clashed with the Maine progressives who helped Jackson replace Graham Platner on the ballot.
The campaign declined to answer the magazine’s detailed questions about its strategy. It said Jackson’s positions had not changed and that it does not screen questions at events.
The Jackson campaign declined to comment on the Facebook group but pointed to a host of upcoming events and town halls that have not been canceled. He has fundraisers scheduled around Washington, D.C., on Thursday and Friday, according to Politico.
After Jackson’s comments, the argument shifted from what the account said to whose account it was. Some members disputed that the comments were rude at all. Others questioned whether the account was legitimate or an impostor, according to other screenshots obtained by the Bangor Daily News.
One commenter accused the account of pretending to be the candidate and linked it to the consultants described in the magazine piece.
“You … seem to be posing as Troy Jackson,” the commenter said. “And that is as smarmy as the DC operatives mentioned in this story.”
“I love your passion and energy, but I assure you that the profile you’re replying to is the Real McCoy Troy Jackson,” another member replied.
A commenter then told the group the account had been removed “while things settle and we keep an eye on things.” Multiple commenters said it was Jackson himself who had been kicked out.
Trudy Miller, a group member from Belfast, said in an interview that she wasn’t sure whether the account was the real Jackson, calling it “very easy to set up fake Facebook accounts that look like someone else.”
“I think there was a body of opinion — which may or may not be correct — that any posts on that Facebook page were not actually him,” she said.
But Miller said she didn’t think Jackson was being rude to anyone, and she remains a strong backer of the Democrat’s bid against Collins, who is seeking a sixth term.
“I guess I would be surprised if he’s spending his time that way, but I don’t care, I’m strongly supporting him,” she said.