Defying Trump ended some Republicans’ careers. It could help Susan Collins win reelection in Maine

Sen. Susan Collins is seeking a sixth term in the U.S. Senate this November, facing a challenge from Graham Platner, a combat veteran and oyster farmer who positions himself as a fresh alternative to the longtime incumbent. Collins, a Republican from Maine, chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee and has built a reputation for delivering federal funds to her state while occasionally breaking with President Donald Trump on key votes.

The race underscores the broader battle for Senate control, with Democrats needing to flip four seats to regain a majority. Maine is listed among the top targets, alongside Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina. Analysts note that Trump’s recent restraint in publicly criticizing Collins suggests his campaign sees her as a difficult opponent to unseat in a state where voters have repeatedly rewarded her independence.

Collins’ campaign highlights her record of consecutive Senate votes — she recently cast her 10,000th in a row, a milestone she achieved while chairing the Appropriations Committee. Supporters point to this as evidence of her ability to secure resources for Maine. “She has been able to do and show that ‘I am bringing money and resources from the federal government to Maine to help Maine,’” said Chuck Ellis, a Republican from Westbrook who runs a digital marketing firm.

Ellis also argued that Collins’ willingness to diverge from Trump appeals to many Maine Republicans who describe themselves as pragmatic. “Ultimately a lot of your conservatives, your Republicans, are people who are a bit more pragmatic,” he said. This sentiment was echoed by political consultant Matt Mackowiak, who worked on a failed Senate campaign in Texas. Mackowiak said Collins “understands what’s too far, she understands where she needs to be” and added that “there’s just no pathway to a MAGA senator from Maine.” He observed that Trump’s operation appears to be analyzing Maine’s electorate closely and, for now, following Collins’ lead.

Platner, meanwhile, has framed the contest as a choice between continuity and change. At a recent campaign event he told supporters, “Susan Collins may have started her career decades ago in Washington with good intentions, but she has become just as spineless and corrupt as the establishment she now serves.” John Keenan of Sullivan, a Platner backer, said Maine voters are weary of the same old faces and welcomed the idea of a younger candidate offering something different from a “rubber stamp.”

Collins’ spokeswoman, Blake Kernan, emphasized the senator’s record of working with five different presidents and her willingness to support or oppose initiatives based on their merits for Maine and the nation. “When she agrees with an effort, she will support it; when she disagrees, she does not hesitate to speak up for what she believes is the right outcome for Maine and for America,” Kernan said.

Trump’s relationship with Collins has been uneven. He has criticized her publicly in the past, including a profanity‑laden phone call after she joined Democrats to debate limiting presidential military action in Venezuela. More recently, however, Trump has refrained from attacking her, a shift some interpret as a recognition that her defeat could jeopardize Republican hopes of keeping the Senate. In an interview with the New York Post, Trump remarked, “She’s always down in the polls and she survives.”

Collins’ previous electoral strength is evident from her 2020 victory over then‑House speaker Sara Gideon by nearly nine points, a margin comparable to President Biden’s win over Trump in the state that same year. Her ability to maintain high name recognition and a steady stream of federal appropriations has made her a formidable target for Democrats hoping to flip the seat.

As the campaign moves toward November, both sides are highlighting contrasting visions: Collins stresses her experience, institutional role and record of bringing money home; Platner calls for new voices and a break from what he describes as entrenched Washington politics. Voters will ultimately decide whether the incumbent’s blend of independence and pragmatism continues to resonate in a state that has repeatedly shown a willingness to split its ticket.