Susan Collins doesn’t regret putting Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court

Maine Senate Democrat Susan Collins Says She Won’t Regret Confirming Brett Kavanaugh

Portland, Maine – At a banking conference in downtown Portland on Friday, Sen. Susan Collins (R‑Maine) addressed reporters about her past support for Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh and the court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In a candid statement, Collins said she does not regret her confirmation vote but disagrees with the court’s ruling on abortion.

“I do not regret that (confirmation) vote,” Collins told the crowd. “I do disagree with Justice Kavanaugh’s vote. I would point out that in that decision, several Supreme Court justices, whom I supported, voted the other way.” The senators she referenced were Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, all of whom dissented in the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision.

Collins’s remarks come as the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Maine moves into a new phase. Her 2018 confirmation vote was a point of contention during her 2012 reelection campaign, and the court’s abortion ruling has become a flashpoint for voters and activists.

The 2018 Meeting

When Kavanaugh first met Collins in 2018, the senator assured her that Roe v. Wade was “settled law” and that Kavanaugh respected judicial precedent. That meeting followed accusations that Kavanaugh had faced sexual‑harassment allegations during his confirmation hearings. Collins later testified that Kavanaugh had convinced her that he would not alter the law in ways that would undermine established rights.

The Court’s 2022 Decision

Four years later, Kavanaugh cast the decisive vote in the 5‑4 ruling that removed federal constitutional protection for abortion. The decision has prompted backlash across the country. In Maine, Gov. Janet Mills and a Democratic majority in the legislature have enacted measures to expand abortion access and protect providers from prosecution under more restrictive state laws.

“Thanks to Susan Collins’ decisive vote for Brett Kavanaugh, the freedom to choose was stripped away from millions of women,” said Ben Chin, campaign manager for Democrat Graham Platner, Collins’ 2026 opponent. The statement, released in a written message, echoed criticism from reproductive‑rights groups that Collins’s vote helped enable the abortion ban.

Collins’ Ongoing Judicial Nominations

Collins’s record on federal judicial appointments has also drawn scrutiny. She has confirmed more than a dozen judges, several of whom have been described as anti‑abortion by advocacy groups. A recent example is Katie Lang, a former Republican National Committee attorney, who received a “not qualified” rating from the American Bar Association. Despite the rating, Collins approved Lang’s nomination to a lifetime judgeship, citing her experience and qualifications.

Kristi Johnston, spokesperson for the Maine Democratic Party, said, “Every time she gets the chance, Susan Collins votes to put anti‑abortion judges on the bench. Her vote for Brett Kavanaugh helped overturn Roe and her continued support for anti‑abortion judges makes it clear that she has no interest in protecting reproductive rights.”

Collins counters that her focus is on a nominee’s qualifications, integrity, background and experience rather than their political affiliation. “When I look at a justice, I look at their qualifications, their integrity, their background and their experience in reaching a decision,” she explained to reporters.

Public Reactions

A rally held last week in Bar Harbor saw Platner remind supporters of the Kavanaugh vote: “She looked him in the eyes and he told her that he would never do such a thing. Either she lied to us or she’s a fool. Either way, you shouldn’t be a United States senator from the state of Maine.” The crowd responded with chants for a “new Senate” and calls for Collins to face voters.

In Maine, reproductive‑rights advocates point to the court’s decision as a turning point that has shifted the legal landscape. According to the health‑policy organization KFF, 13 states have banned abortions, and another seven have imposed limits of six or 12 weeks. The state’s legislature has responded by expanding rights, a move that Collins says has not affected Maine, citing state‑level protections.

Looking Ahead

Collins’s comments were made before the 2026 election, where she faces a Democratic challenger who frames her record as an obstacle to abortion access and other progressive issues. Whether her defense of the Kavanaugh vote will sway voters remains to be seen, but the debate over the Senate seat has already entered the public forum.

The final decision will be made by Maine voters in the spring, as they weigh Collins’s long‑standing service against her controversial judicial endorsements. In the meantime, the Senate race continues to capture the attention of both sides of the aisle, as the state grapples with national issues that are now being decided by local ballots.