‘Of course I’m going to be voting for Bobby Charles,’ says Susan Collins
Senator Collins Endorses GOP Governor‑Nominee Bobby Charles in Naples
Naples, Maine – Thursday, September 10, 2026
At a gathering in Naples, Senator Susan Collins announced that she will be voting for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles in the upcoming November election. The endorsement was delivered in front of a crowd of supporters and reporters during an event celebrating Collins’s recent backing by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).
Collins, a U.S. Senator who has represented Maine for nearly three decades, is campaigning to retain her seat against Democrat Troy Jackson in a tight race. Her endorsement of Charles—who won the Republican nomination for governor in a largely online, anti‑establishment campaign—highlights the importance the party places on turnout in a season that leans toward Democrats.
Charles, a political newcomer, has positioned himself as an outsider willing to challenge the status quo. In a recording that surfaced last month, he told supporters he intended to ask the Trump administration to send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to polling places in Maine, a proposal that has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Collins made clear she is “not a fan of that idea” and opposed the plan.
Polls released by CNN and other outlets show a stark contrast between the two Republican contenders. Collins faces a close contest against Jackson, with no discernible margin in recent surveys. Meanwhile, Charles trails Democratic nominee Hannah Pingree by double‑digit percentages in the same polls. The disparity underscores the differing dynamics of the Senate and gubernatorial races.
The endorsement came a day after Charles’s sister published an opinion piece in the Press Herald endorsing Pingree. The op‑ed, which was widely circulated, added a familial dimension to an already heated electoral landscape.
Collins’s endorsement was made public during a press conference where she spoke about the importance of unity within the GOP and the need for a strong, principled candidate for governor. The NFIB’s endorsement—highlighted at the same event—reflects the organization’s confidence in Charles’s leadership and his focus on business-friendly policies.
Maine voters will have to weigh the long‑time experience of Senator Collins against the fresh approach of Bobby Charles as the 2026 election cycle unfolds. For now, the Senator’s public support signals a consolidation of Republican momentum ahead of a November ballot that promises to be contentious on both sides of the aisle.
