Collins Announces Re-Election Bid
Susan Collins, the Republican senator from Maine and a key target in this year’s midterm elections, officially launched her campaign for a sixth term on Tuesday. Her re-election race is anticipated to be one of the most challenging contests of the cycle, as Democrats aim to flip her seat to regain control of the Senate and impede former President Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.
First elected in 1996, Collins is among the few Republican senators who occasionally oppose the former president. She is also the only Republican senator representing a state that Trump did not carry during his successful 2020 re-election campaign.
“True leaders bring both sides together to seek common ground, not shout the loudest or seek the most social media clicks. I have a proven record of working for you, and I’m running for reelection because my experience, seniority and independence matter,” Collins wrote in an op-ed published in the Bangor Daily News of Bangor, Maine.
Collins’ Complex Relationship with Trump
Collins has maintained a complicated relationship with Trump since he began his second term. While she supported the confirmation of many of his cabinet nominees, she opposed several controversial picks, including defense secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI director Kash Patel. Additionally, she voted against the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was a signature legislative effort of Trump’s administration, as well as another bill that would have cut funding from public media and foreign aid programs.
Recently, Trump criticized Collins and other senators who supported a war powers resolution aimed at blocking further military actions in Venezuela, stating they “should never be elected to office again.”
Campaign Focus and Legislative Record
In her announcement, Collins positioned herself as an independent thinker and advocate for Maine amidst the partisan environment in Washington, D.C. She highlighted her support for President Joe Biden’s $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and noted her role in securing hundreds of millions of dollars for Maine through her leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“I consistently approach issues with an eye toward pragmatic results rather than through the distorting lens of ideology. My record is based on achieving outcomes for Maine and the nation, and that speaks louder than any vague, sweeping campaign promise,” Collins stated.
Democratic Challengers and Primary
Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, is among the Democrats seeking to unseat Collins. She will compete against Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and marine veteran, for the Democratic nomination in the primary scheduled for June 9.
Significance of the Race
Maine is one of four states—alongside North Carolina, Ohio, and Alaska—that Senate Democrats are targeting to overturn the GOP’s 53-seat majority in the chamber. Although Maine has not supported a Republican presidential candidate since 1988, Collins has successfully defeated multiple Democratic challengers, including former statehouse speaker Sara Gideon in 2020, in what was the most expensive political campaign in the state’s history.
“Collins talks about independence, then votes with Donald Trump when it matters most,” said Lauren French, spokesperson for Senate Majority PAC, an organization supporting Democrats. “Maine deserves leadership that understands today’s challenges and has the energy to actually fight for working people, not another six years of excuses and fake concerns.”
