Maine voters overwhelmingly reject Senator Susan Collins’ re-election bid with 71% opposing her return to Washington, while fellow Republicans increasingly turn against the longtime moderate lawmaker.
At a Glance
- A new poll shows 71% of Maine residents believe Senator Susan Collins should not be reelected, including 53% of Republicans
- Collins is now less popular than President Donald Trump in Maine, with only 24% approval compared to Trump’s 44%
- Democratic leaders see Maine as their best opportunity to flip a Senate seat in the 2026 midterms
- Potential Democratic challengers include Governor Janet Mills and Representative Jared Golden
- Collins faces at least one primary challenge from former police officer Daniel Smeriglio
Republicans Turn Against Collins as Approval Plummets
Senator Susan Collins, once a stalwart of Maine politics, finds herself in increasingly troubled waters as she looks toward a potential 2026 reelection campaign. A comprehensive survey conducted from April 17 to April 21, which interviewed 2,850 Maine residents, revealed that 71% of participants believe Collins does not deserve reelection.
Only 21% support her return to Washington, while 8% remain unsure. Perhaps most concerning for the longtime senator is the erosion of her Republican base, with 53% of GOP voters now opposing another term for Collins, compared to just 40% who still support her.
The Public Policy Polling survey paints an even bleaker picture of Collins’ overall standing, showing just 24% of Mainers approve of her performance while 61% hold a negative view. This puts her significantly behind President Donald Trump in popularity within the state, where he maintains 44% approval despite 52% disapproval.
The dramatic shift appears linked to Collins’ occasional breaks with Republican orthodoxy, including her opposition to certain Trump policies and tariffs, plus votes with Democrats on issues like Medicaid funding.
Democrats Eye Potential Flip Opportunity
Democratic strategists now view Maine as their most promising opportunity to flip a Senate seat in the 2026 midterm elections. The survey assessed potential Democratic challengers, finding varying levels of enthusiasm for possible candidates.
Governor Janet Mills shows the strongest potential, with 40% of voters supporting a Senate run, though 56% oppose and 5% remain undecided. Representative Jared Golden garners less immediate support, with only 28% wanting him to run against Collins, while 62% oppose and 9% are undecided.
Despite these challenges, Collins has indicated she does not plan to retire, setting up what could become one of the most hotly contested Senate races of the 2026 cycle. Her position on the powerful Appropriations Committee and her decades-long familiarity with Maine voters offer potential advantages as she navigates these turbulent political waters. Collins also faces pressure from within her party, with at least one Republican primary challenger already announced—former police officer Daniel Smeriglio.
Collins’ History of Defying Political Predictions
National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Nick Puglia expressed confidence in Collins’ resilience, dismissing the recent polling. “Chuck Schumer literally ran out of things to spend money on last time he tried to take down Susan Collins and she still won. In 2026, Mainers will reelect Susan Collins again and no amount of partisan polling or openly begging any Democrat to run against her will change that.”
This confidence isn’t entirely unfounded. Collins has repeatedly overcome political headwinds throughout her career through what observers call “old-fashioned retail politics” and careful positioning on hot-button issues. Her moderate stances on abortion and LGBTQ+ rights have historically helped her maintain support from centrist voters, though political analysts note this middle ground is becoming increasingly difficult to occupy in today’s polarized environment.
The comprehensive survey, with its relatively large sample size of 2,850 Maine adults and a margin of error of ±3.2%, provides a sobering snapshot of Collins’ current standing. However, with the election still two years away, the political landscape could shift significantly as national issues evolve and candidates formally enter the race. What remains clear is that Maine’s 2026 Senate contest has already become one of the most closely watched races in the upcoming election cycle.
