U.S.POLITICS

Super PAC blames its vendor for ad in wrong Portland

The Republican super PAC behind the attack ad on Maine's Democratic Senate candidate says its vendor ran it in Oregon by mistake; the PAC has not said whether it gets a refund.

On air: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on BBN Tonight
Published 8:48 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Susan Collins — Photo: U.S. Congress · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by The New York Times: “An Ad Targeting Susan Collins’s Opponent, Troy Jackson, Airs in the Wrong Portland”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 8:48 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
Topics: Portland, PAC, Susan Collins, Jackson.
BBN covered this story before: Government spent $10 million on pro-Trump ads after president said… (October 12).

The real story

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The New York TimesAn Ad Targeting Susan Collins’s Opponent, Troy Jackson, Airs in the Wrong Portland

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAs promised, the Portland ad: a Republican super PAC executive now says the vendor is to blame for an attack ad on Troy Jackson running in Oregon instead of Maine.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe ad was meant to hurt Susan Collins's Democratic opponent, and instead it introduced him to a lot of people in Oregon who cannot vote for him.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI would like a location confirmation check-in on every ad buy from now on.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWhich Portland?
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe New York Times reports the PAC paid for it and the vendor pressed the button.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSo the money is gone and nobody is holding the bag.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOregon gets a free civics lesson, and Maine keeps its quiet. Everybody wins, Dale.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorEverybody except the vendor, who is about to learn what a map costs.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA map.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSomebody get that man an atlas and a sticky note that says Maine is the one with the lobsters.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI said this afternoon that by November nobody will know where Ohio is, and I would like to revise that.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNobody will know where Portland is, and Portland is two places.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe vendor has had a very long Monday, and the PAC has not said whether the money comes back.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorOregon, if you're watching, you owe Maine a thank-you card.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorReturn to sender. Wrong Portland.