The Midterm Editor's note: This page was last updated October 27, 2026. Election rules, candidate fields, and poll numbers change; confirm the latest details with the linked official source before you vote.
Susan Collins at a glance
Quick facts
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Party | Republican |
| Office sought | U.S. Senate, Maine |
| Current office | U.S. Senator from Maine (since 1997) |
| Official bio | Senator Susan Collins |
| Campaign website |
Biography
Collins has served in the U.S. Senate since 1997. That gives her a long record to defend.
She chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee writes the 12 annual spending bills that fund federal agencies, which gives its chair leverage over how federal money is spent.
Policy positions
This section describes the federal issues a Maine senator votes on and points to Collins's campaign for her own positions. We do not put a specific position in a candidate's mouth without a source.
Federal spending and the budget
As Appropriations chair, Collins helps set the spending levels that Congress votes on each year. The committee's bills fund defense, health programs, transportation, and research. Her campaign is the source for her own budget and spending proposals.
Health care
The Senate votes on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, and the Appropriations Committee funds public health agencies. Her campaign is the source for her own health-care proposals.
Abortion
Abortion law is now set mainly by states, but the Senate votes on federal legislation and on judicial nominees. Her campaign is the source for her own position.
Defense and foreign policy
The Senate votes on defense authorization and on treaties. Her campaign is the source for her own defense proposals.
Climate and energy
The Senate votes on energy law and on funding for research and resilience programs. Her campaign is the source for her own climate and energy proposals.
Elections and the rule of law
Senators vote on federal election law and confirm the judges who hear election cases. Her campaign is the source for her own position.
The 2026 race
Collins faces Democrat Troy Jackson, the president of the Maine Senate and a former logger. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. The Maine voting guide lists the registration and absentee deadlines that come first.
Republicans hold 53 Senate seats and Democrats hold 47. Democrats need a net gain of four to reach 51, and a 50–50 chamber would be controlled by Republicans because the vice president breaks ties. Maine is one of the Republican-held seats Democrats hope to flip.
The contrast is tenure: Collins has served in the Senate since 1997 and chairs Appropriations, while Jackson leads the Maine Senate. Our Maine Senate race hub tracks the matchup, the people desk lists the candidates, and the Senate hub tracks the majority.
Polls and money
This profile does not publish poll numbers because we have not verified a specific survey for this race. Polling averages change daily; see the 270toWin Senate tracker.
Campaign finance figures change with each filing. The Federal Election Commission publishes reports at fec.gov.
Endorsements
No endorsements are listed on this page. Endorsements are listed as they are announced; see the campaign website. We name the endorser when the campaign or a major outlet confirms one.
Controversies and scrutiny
No controversy is documented in the source material for this profile. The public record is covered by the Associated Press and her official Senate office, both linked below. We do not speculate beyond that record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What committee does Susan Collins chair?
She chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, which writes the annual federal spending bills.
What party is Susan Collins?
Republican. She is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine.
How long has Susan Collins served in the Senate?
She has served since 1997 and is running for reelection in 2026.
What does Susan Collins stand for?
Her campaign materials are the source for her issue positions. This profile describes the federal issues the Senate handles and does not paraphrase a position without a sourced statement.
Sources
- Senator Susan Collins — official Senate office site. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- Congress.gov — bills, votes, and member records. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- Associated Press — wire coverage. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- 270toWin: 2026 Senate elections. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
- Federal Election Commission — campaign finance filings. Accessed Oct. 27, 2026.
Last updated October 27, 2026. This profile is updated as sourced information becomes available.