Susan Collins, Joe Manchin take breakfast at Lewiston’s Simones’ Hot Dog Stand
On a crisp Wednesday morning in Lewiston, Maine, Simones' Hot Dog Stand became the backdrop for a high-profile political visit that underscored the stakes of the 2026 election. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was joined by former Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia for a campaign stop, where the two shared breakfast and conversation with local supporters and officials. The event, bustling with media attention, highlighted both the alliances and controversies surrounding Collins' reelection bid.
Manchin, a consultant and former conservative Democrat who left the party in 2024, traveled to Maine to offer his endorsement of Collins. Speaking to reporters after the meal, Manchin praised her as a rare independent voice in the Senate, calling her "the soul of the Senate" and warning that "you lose Susan Collins, you lose the soul of the Senate." He emphasized their 14-year partnership on bipartisan legislation, noting that they worked together under multiple presidential administrations without changing their principles. "You want your president to succeed, you want to work with him, but you want to speak truth to power when it's not right," Manchin said, highlighting Collins' consistency.
Collins expressed gratitude for Manchin's support, recalling their collaboration on key bipartisan initiatives, including infrastructure bills that funded roads and bridges, broadband expansion, and COVID-19 response efforts. "I am delighted to have him here, and I just so enjoy our partnership in getting things done for Maine, for West Virginia, and for America," she said. The visit also drew local figures, including Lewiston mayoral candidate Rick LaChapelle, House District 96 candidate Lee Clement, and former Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque, who joined the table for discussions. Levesque praised Collins' contributions to the area, stating, "Lewiston and Auburn are really the hub of Maine’s future... She’s done so much for Lewiston and Auburn, it’s just unbelievable."
The breakfast meeting, where both Collins and Manchin opted for sausage, egg, and cheese sandwiches, was not without its tensions. Outside the stand, a group of protesters gathered with signs criticizing Collins and Manchin's past support for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. One advocate said, "It’s just time for her to go. She does not listen to people in her district, she does not support women’s health," while others accused Collins of being a "rubber stamp" for the Trump administration. The Maine Democratic Party amplified these criticisms, with spokesperson Misha Linnehan stating that Collins and Manchin had "betrayed Maine women and sold out Maine workers" by supporting Kavanaugh and being linked to private equity firms. Specifically, Manchin's role as an adviser to Apollo Global Management was cited in the closure of paper mills in Jay and Bucksport, which resulted in over 1,000 job losses.
During the media availability, Collins addressed several policy issues. She reaffirmed her opposition to certain sanctions on Russia, calling the conflict in Ukraine unprovoked and criticizing deals that might fund Russia's aggression. On energy, Manchin advocated for increased supply, saying, "We want to send West Virginia gas to Maine... The Northeast should not be paying these high prices," while Collins discussed her efforts to secure early release of low-income heating assistance funds and her stance on tariffs. She distinguished between tariffs on China and those on Canada, emphasizing the latter's impact on allies and farmers: "Canada is our friend, our neighbor, our biggest trading partner, our ally. That’s very different from tariffs on China."
The visit encapsulated the complex dynamics of Collins' campaign, blending strong endorsements from figures like Manchin with persistent criticism from opponents. As the November election approaches, the event at Simones' Hot Dog Stand served as a microcosm of the broader debate over Collins' legacy and the direction of Maine's representation in Washington.
