Susan Collins Heads Into Maine Primary Carrying a Voting Record That Often Put Her at Odds With Her Own Party

Susan Collins entered Maine's primary election Tuesday seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate, carrying a voting record that has often put her at odds with leaders of her own party in Washington. After nearly 30 years in office, she remains one of the most recognizable names on a Maine ballot.

Polling places opened across the state as voters began choosing nominees for several offices, including a Senate seat that could help shape control of the chamber in Washington. Along coastal towns and inland communities, campaign signs stood beside highways while volunteers made final phone calls before ballots were cast.

Among the Democrats hoping to reach November was Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and former Marine whose campaign has drawn national attention. As reported by the Associated Press, Collins' history of breaking with Republicans on major votes helped turn a race that might otherwise have stayed local into one watched closely across the country.

One of the clearest examples came during debate over President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." The package combined immigration provisions, tax changes and Medicaid reductions into a sweeping piece of legislation backed by the White House.

Collins joined two other Republicans in opposing the final measure, arguing that its Medicaid provisions would place too much pressure on healthcare access in Maine. The vote separated her from one of Trump's most important legislative priorities and highlighted the independent political brand she has spent years cultivating.

"I did the right thing for the people of Maine and I am proud of my no vote," Collins said while defending her position.

The final stretch of the campaign left few corners of the state untouched. Television ads filled commercial breaks, fundraising emails arrived daily, and glossy mailers stacked up in mailboxes as candidates tried to reach voters before primary day.

Trump chose not to endorse Collins during the primary season, an unusual decision given her seniority within the Republican conference. Their relationship has shifted between cooperation and disagreement over the years, particularly when Collins broke from party leadership on major nominations and legislation.

Tuesday's results will determine who advances to the fall campaign. For Collins, the primary marks the opening step in a bid for another six years in the Senate. For Democrats, it begins the effort to defeat one of the longest-serving and most durable political figures in modern Maine history.