The Radical Reading Room

Kelly Kusnirak, a laundromat owner in Maine, told journalist Steven Robinson in an interview publicized October 29, 2026, that she had agreed to a videotaped interview in the spring because she believed the recording was for Republican Sen. Susan Collins' campaign. She said she was surprised to find the footage later used in a digital political advertisement promoting Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson, whom she does not support.

According to the interview distributed by The Maine Wire and The Robinson Report, Kusnirak says a videographer visited her business around March or April and represented that the footage was for Collins. The later ad displayed her comments about Maine's cost of living, criticized Collins and promoted Jackson. It was financed by the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy PAC, and its disclaimer stated it was not authorized by any candidate. Jackson became the Democratic nominee in July after Graham Platner withdrew from the race.

The central allegation of misrepresentation comes from Kusnirak's account. The Daily Wire and Daily Caller reported that interview, and Mediaite separately described its publication and sought comment from Jackson's campaign and the PAC. Those follow-up reports do not independently establish the videographer's identity, instructions or intent. The PAC and Jackson campaign had not supplied a public response in the cited reporting. The reported events should not be taken as a proven finding of campaign misconduct.