# Susan Collins Five-term Republican senator from Maine, serving since 2003. Historically positioned as a moderate / institutional Republican, frequently cited as one of the Senate's decisive swing votes on nominations and close legislation. Chairs Senate Appropriations (2025–). ## Career highlights - First elected 1996 succeeding William Cohen; currently Maine's senior senator - Voted to convict Trump at 2021 impeachment trial (one of seven R senators) - 2024 vote for the 2022 [[Respect for Marriage Act]] codifying same-sex marriage federal recognition - Mixed record on Trump Cabinet confirmations 2017 and 2025 ## 2026 cycle Announced re-election February 2026. As the only Republican senator defending a seat in a state Harris carried in 2024, she is the highest-leverage GOP incumbent on the map. Faces no serious intra-party primary challenge as of 2026-04-23. General-election opponent to be determined in the Democratic primary June 9 between [[Graham Platner]] and [[Janet Mills]]. See [[ME-Sen-2026]] for full race context. ## Ideological positioning - Traditional New England moderate Republican archetype; aligned with centrist committee operations more than with any MAGA-movement current - Reproductive-rights voting record is her core general-election asset against a Democratic opponent; her 2018 Kavanaugh confirmation vote remains the central Democratic line of attack - Strong constituent-services brand in Maine, particularly with seniors and rural voters ## Related - [[ME-Sen-2026]] - [[MAGA]] — frame for her strained relationship with the dominant GOP current ## Joint-fundraising structure — disclosed 2026-10-04 Collins for Senator (FEC **C00314575**) filed **three amended Form 1s** on 2026-10-04 — files **2016710**, **2016712** and **2016713** — disclosing **10 joint-fundraising representatives**. Amendment 7 lists nine; amendments 8 and 9 add **[[Keep the Senate]]**, which is the one relationship that can be shown to be new on that date. Three of the ten — [[One Team Senate Majority]], Team Moreno JFC and New England Victory Fund — also appear on [[John E. Sununu]]'s amended Form 1 in [[NH-Sen-2026]], filed the same day. Three of the ten file from **421 Office Park Drive, Mountain Brook, Alabama**, which is also the registered address of the independent-expenditure committee [[Civic Renewal Fund]]. Full record and the address clusters: [[Collins and Sununu Joint Fundraising Disclosures October 2026]].