Susan Collins

Susan Collins has built one of the most frustrating political brands in modern politics: the perpetual moderate who agonizes publicly before siding with her party on almost every issue that matters. Born in 1952 in Caribou, Maine, near the Canadian border, both her parents served as mayor. She was inspired by meeting Senator Margaret Chase Smith as a high school senior. She worked for Senator William Cohen for 12 years, absorbing his moderate approach. Collins was elected in 1996 as a genuine centrist — voting against Clinton's impeachment, supporting campaign finance reform. She was one of three Republicans to save the ACA in 2017. The pivotal moment was her 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh after Christine Blasey Ford's testimony. She gave a lengthy floor speech saying she believed Kavanaugh would uphold Roe v. Wade — spectacularly wrong when he voted to overturn it in Dobbs. Her response was expressing 'disappointment' that Kavanaugh was 'inconsistent,' earning bipartisan ridicule. Her key relationships reflect her swing-vote status. Every lobby targets her because her vote is often decisive. Top donors include healthcare organizations, defense contractors, and corporate PACs. Fellow moderate Lisa Murkowski is her closest ally. Her relationship with William Cohen shaped her institutionalist approach. Contradictions are the most documented in the Senate. She positions as pro-choice but confirmed three justices who overturned Roe. She expressed 'concern' about Trump so often it became an ironic meme. She voted to acquit Trump in his first impeachment, saying he'd 'learned a lesson' — a claim he contradicted within days. Her 2020 reelection was Maine's most expensive ($80M+ total). She won comfortably, proving voters valued her seniority over her national reputation. She has never missed a Senate vote — one of the longest streaks in history. Collins represents the last vestige of New England Republicanism. Whether she preserved or betrayed that tradition depends on which votes you weight most heavily.