Incumbent
Polling Average
80%60%40%20%0%
66.5%
Maine Republican Senate nominee?
$34.6K
JUN 10, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleU.S. Senator
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyModerate Republican
Age73 years old (Dec 7, 1952)
GenderFemale
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LocationMaine
BackgroundU.S. Senator
EducationSt. Lawrence University (B.A., Government, 1975)
Notable personal detailsSusan Margaret Collins is a Republican politician serving as the senior U.S. senator from Maine, first elected in 1996 and in office since January 1997. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence University (B.A., 1975) and previously worked on Senator William Cohen’s staff, served in Maine state government, and held leadership roles connected to small business and professional/financial regulation. She is married to Thomas A. Daffron and resides in Bangor, Maine.
SourcesShowHide
collins.senate.govcongress.goven.wikipedia.orgbritannica.comarchive.phwashingtonpost.comhistory.house.govaxios.comtime.comcortezmasto.senate.govtheguardian.comwww-staging.washingtonpost.comapnews.comappropriations.senate.govsenate.govhsgac.senate.govrepublicanleader.senate.govhelp.senate.govvanhollen.senate.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports tax relief for low- and middle-income families and tax reform that she says will spur economic growth; voted for the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while seeking amendments to protect middle-income taxpayers and has opposed broad tax increases. She has also sponsored or supported targeted tax changes (e.g., SALT deduction adjustments, extensions of tax credits) to benefit families and small businesses.
Healthcare
Supports preserving key Affordable Care Act protections (including for people with pre-existing conditions) and has opposed major GOP efforts to repeal the ACA while working on targeted health-care funding and rural access initiatives. Focuses on protecting consumer protections and expanding access to services such as mental health, substance use treatment, and workforce training rather than pursuing full privatization or repeal.
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Immigration & Border
Susan Collins emphasizes strengthening border security and increased enforcement while supporting some measures to ensure humane treatment and oversight of immigration enforcement. She has sponsored and cosponsored legislation to tighten border security and transparency, urged extensions of enforcement policies like Title 42, and also called for protections such as body cameras and de‑escalation training for ICE personnel.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports preserving the federal protections from Roe v. Wade while allowing some limits and exceptions; has backed codifying Roe/Casey into law but opposed broader measures she viewed as too expansive. Has said abortion access should be consistent nationwide while permitting state regulations like parental notification and has expressed opposition to late‑term abortions except in specified health exceptions.
Climate & Energy
Supports moderate clean-energy investments and energy efficiency, backs measures to reduce greenhouse gases (including methane regulations) while also supporting increased domestic energy production and energy independence. Works in bipartisan fashion on clean energy legislation and infrastructure, and has authored provisions promoting renewables, energy efficiency, and grid modernization.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanded background-check measures, red flag (extreme risk protection order) laws with due-process protections, and targeted firearm restrictions such as a federal ban on bump‑stock devices while stating respect for law‑abiding gun owners and Second Amendment rights.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedMar 14, 2026
Susan Collins is in the spotlight as new polling suggests she could face a very tight 2026 Maine Senate race, with Democrat Graham Platner slightly ahead of her in some general-election matchups and Collins roughly tied with Gov. Janet Mills in another. The same polling also shows Platner leading Mills in the Democratic primary, shaping who Collins may ultimately face. The contest is already drawing huge spending, with more than $78 million in Maine Senate ads reported so far and major Republican reservations aimed at boosting Collins.
collins.senate.gov+19
Articles
BDBangor Daily News3 months ago
3 lessons from the barrage of early TV ads in Maine’s US Senate race
Positive
NNewsweek3 months ago
Graham Platner vs. Janet Mills Chances Against Susan Collins in Maine-Polls
Negative
NNewsweek4 months ago
Graham Platner’s Chances of Beating Susan Collins in Senate Race: Poll
Negative
NNewsweek3 months ago
Susan Collins Chances of Losing to Democrats in Maine Senate Race-New Poll
Neutral
Polls
Maine Republican Senate nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$12.2M
$9.1M
$6.1M
$3.0M
$0
2022
2024
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2022
$1.1M
$1.6M
$834.0K
$34.8K
Cycle 2024
$1.6M
$2.6M
$645.1K
$26.9K
Cycle 2026
$12.2M
$9.7M
$5.1M
$298.1K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements