Maine, that beautiful, small blue state, famous for lobster and blueberries, might not be considered a significant political driver. But don't discount the power of one feisty moderate Republican who has defied the odds, winning election after election and openly criticizing Donald Trump once too often. Meet the thorn in 47's side that he needs, whether he realizes it or not: Sen. Susan Collins.
The president has hinted that he would like a "better option," but Collins might be the only and best one, no matter how often she defies Trump's legislative agenda. As an incumbent, she has said she will run for re-election in 2026.
Most Maine Republicans – confident that Collins is the best person for the job – are not in search of a more MAGA-leaning candidate. "But candidly, I think she's made her announcement, and she is the kind of person that doesn't do those things lightly. She certainly has my support even when I disagree with her," said Andre Cushing, a Penobscot County commissioner and former Republican state senator.
The lazy days of summer under a Trump second term are anything but, and Collins is chum in the water.
Trump and the Democratic Party Want Collins Gone
Collins has been the focus of national attention – and scorn among Maine Democrats – as Republicans pushed through Trump's partisan plans for tax cuts while slashing billions of dollars from foreign aid and public broadcasting. Collins also voted against the Big Beautiful Bill, as did Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Challenging the comeback kid of recent politics has Trump pondering a possible replacement, while the Democratic Party in the Pine Tree State circles the waters.
The onslaught from Democratic Party leaders and the local media has not been kind. Maine Democratic Party spokesman Tommy Garcia called out Collins' leadership of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. "Susan Collins has failed to stop Republicans from handing even more power over to Donald Trump, flying in the face of her own campaign promises to use her power and seniority to deliver for Mainers," Garcia said. He capped the untruth by adding, "This will lead to her defeat in 2026." Talk about flipping the narrative for sheer propaganda purposes.
The relentless and misleading attacks have paid off, and Collins has suffered in the most recent polls. The Morning Consult found that 54% of Mainers disapprove while only 38% approve of Collins' job performance. But it would be foolish to count her out this early in the game, especially with no one from the GOP side champing at the bit to replace her. According to Maine Republican Party leaders, she's the only one who can win, and, without her, the GOP loses a crucial Senate seat that could reset the balance of power in the upper chamber.
"We do have a wonderful pool of candidates and in Maine, we are lucky that we have people willing to step up to the plate and take on this challenge," the Maine Democratic Party's Vice Chair Imke Schessler-Jandreau told the local statehouse reporter.
The Democratic Party is raising money by the truckload for the midterms. Still, Collins' cupboards are not bare: She currently has $5 million in cash on hand and has raised a total of $6 million, according to Federal Election Commission reports. The moderate lawmaker has super-PACs collecting money, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee is planning a big media splash. A thinking person would not count her out quite yet.
Quiet Power
Collins has been re-elected four times since 1996. That means in 2020, she made history by becoming the first Republican woman to win a fifth term in the Senate and the first popularly elected senator from Maine to earn a fifth term.
Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine GOP, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Collins has been doing a "tremendous job" and said her work has touched every community throughout the state – something voters won't forget when it comes to the 2026 midterms.
"There's generally broad support within our committee and elected officials here," Savage said. That one poll may just be an anomaly in Collins’ case.
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