---
title: "Collins Faces Tight Re-election Bid in Maine"
url: https://newscentral.site/collins-faces-tight-re-election-bid-in-maine/
language: en
publisher: "News Central Site"
section: "Politics"
published: 2026-10-21T22:20:34.000Z
updated: 2026-10-22T02:26:19.247Z
id: 66f0ae0d-b478-4d8f-89e3-c39a3e225840
source: "CBS News Politics https://www.cbsnews.com/news/susan-collins-joe-manchin-maine-senate-trump/"
attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/collins-faces-tight-re-election-bid-in-maine/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# Collins Faces Tight Re-election Bid in Maine

Senator Susan Collins is running for re-election in a state that President Trump lost in 2020, making her seat one of the most competitive in the country.

Republican Senator Susan Collins is running for re-election in Maine, a state that President Trump lost in 2020. This makes her seat one of the most competitive in the country. According to election analysts, the race is too close to call.

Collins' campaign is built on the idea that she can work with anyone across the aisle. Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, has publicly endorsed this view. After dining with Collins, he told reporters that she's not defined by her party affiliation: "She's not a Trump senator, she's not a Republican senator or a Democrat senator."

Collins' strategy is likely influenced by her past successes in tough elections. In 2020, she won re-election by more than 8 points, even as other Republicans struggled to keep up with the Democratic tide. Her seat has become increasingly competitive since Trump lost Maine in 2020, and Collins may be trying to distance herself from the President's influence.

Collins has been vocal about her opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. In a recent statement, she described Vladimir Putin as "a warmonger, a thug and emphasized that he is the aggressor in the conflict with Ukraine.

The senator has also spoken out against Trump's handling of the Iran war, stating that the president did not have a clear plan to end the conflict. Her stance on this issue reflects her willingness to diverge from the administration's policies, which she has done on several occasions.

Outside one of Collins' campaign stops, protesters gathered to voice their discontent with her voting record and tenure in office. They held signs referencing her vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a move that drew criticism from some constituents.

A Lewiston Democrat, Elaine Makas, who previously served in the state legislature from 2002 to 2008, joined the protest against Senator Collins, expressing gratitude for her service but criticizing her voting record. Despite considering Collins genuinely a nice person, Makas emphasized that being likable is not enough.

Makas echoed Jackson's criticism of Collins' voting habits, suggesting she only disagrees with Trump when it doesn't impact her vote. This sentiment was also reflected in Makas' personal assessment of Jackson, a former state Senate president, whom she knows from their time in the legislature and believes will listen" to Mainers' concerns.

---
Source: [CBS News Politics](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/susan-collins-joe-manchin-maine-senate-trump/)  
Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/collins-faces-tight-re-election-bid-in-maine/