BIOGUIDE C001035 · FEC S6ME00159
Susan Collins
U.S. Senator (since 1997)RINCUMBENT
- Race
- U.S. Senate · Maine
- Result
- Troy Dale Jackson, projected winner
- Opponents
- Troy Dale Jackson (D); Ashley Webb (D); Sigrid Ann Olson (D); Joseph Steinberger (Faith in Humanity Party); Brent Andrews (Unaffiliated); Michael Turcotte (Unenrolled); Gina Oswald (IND)
- Research
- Basic
Party line14 votes tracked
Broke with Republicans on
With party = voted the same way as most Republicans who voted.
Said vs. did4 statements · 14 votes
extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for two years and putting a reasonable income cap on these subsidies
Expand public health coverage
Compare statements with votes ›On the ballotU.S. Senate
2026-11-03
| Susan Collins R | incumbent |
| Troy Dale Jackson D | challenger |
| Ashley Webb D | challenger |
| Sigrid Ann Olson D | challenger |
| Joseph Steinberger Faith in Humanity Party | challenger |
| Brent Andrews Unaffiliated | challenger |
| Michael Turcotte Unenrolled | challenger |
| Gina Oswald IND | challenger |
Said vs. did
Each documented position next to the recorded floor votes we map to the same issue. Votes are compared one at a time; no overall stance is inferred from them.
extending the Affordable Care Act enhanced premium tax credits for two years and putting a reasonable income cap on these subsidies
In December 2025 Collins joined Sen. Moreno in introducing the CARE Act, which extends the enhanced ACA premium tax credits for two years while adding an income cap and a $25 minimum monthly premium.[6]
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements.[7]
1 of 1 vote point the same way as the statement
I support the abortion rights established by Roe v. Wade and affirmed by Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
In 2022 Collins and Sen. Murkowski introduced the Reproductive Choice Act to codify the abortion rights established by Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey; Collins said she supports those rights.[8]
No recorded floor vote in our key-vote set maps to this issue.
these tariffs often harm Maine's economy and consumers
Collins cosponsored the Trade Review Act of 2025, which would end new tariffs after 60 days unless Congress approves them, and said tariffs on Canada often harm Maine's economy and consumers.[9][10]
- YESResolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30), which would have ended the emergency used to impose global tariffs.[11]
- YESResolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30), which would end the emergency used to impose global tariffs.[12]
2 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
The Constitution gives Congress an essential role in decisions of war and peace
In an April 2026 statement on her vote for a resolution directing removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran, Collins said the Constitution gives Congress an essential role in decisions of war and peace.[13]
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Iran (S.J. Res. 59, 2025-06-27), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Iran to a vote.[14]
- NOWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela (S.J. Res. 90, 2025-11-06), a motion to bring a war powers resolution on Venezuela to a vote.[15]
0 of 2 votes point the same way as the statement
No statement on this issue in our sources.
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7]
No statement on this issue in our sources.
- NOOne Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-07-01), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7]
Biography
Susan Collins is the Republican U.S. Senator from Maine, first elected in 1996 and serving her fifth term, and lost re-election on November 3, 2026 to Troy Jackson. A native of Caribou, she worked for Sen. William Cohen, held Maine and federal appointive posts and was the Republican nominee for governor in 1994 before entering the Senate, and she chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee.[1][2][3][4][5]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Susan Collins was born on December 7, 1952, in Caribou, Maine, one of six siblings raised by Pat and Don Collins. Her family runs a lumber business founded in 1844, and both of her parents served as mayor of Caribou.[1] She graduated from Caribou High School in 1971 and from St. Lawrence University, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1975.[1]
Collins began working for Maine Rep. William Cohen in 1975 and stayed on his staff when he was elected to the Senate, rising to staff director of the Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee of the Committee on Governmental Affairs.[1] Gov. John McKernan appointed her Commissioner of the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in 1987, and President George H.W. Bush appointed her director of the Small Business Administration's New England regional office in 1992. She served as a deputy state treasurer of Massachusetts in 1993.[1][2][17] In 1994 she became founding executive director of the Center for Family Business at Husson College, now Husson University.[1]
That year Collins won an eight-way Republican primary on June 14 and became the first Maine woman to receive a party nomination for governor. On election night she conceded to the two front-runners, Angus King and Joseph Brennan, with her own tally in third place at 23% of the vote.[4][18][17]
Collins was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, succeeding Cohen, and was re-elected in 2002, 2008, 2014 and 2020. Her Senate biography says she was the first Republican woman to win a fifth term and has cast more than 10,000 consecutive votes.[1] In the 2025-2026 session she chairs the Appropriations Committee and also serves on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Intelligence committees.[1][2] Her Senate biography says she is married to Thomas A. Daffron and lives in Bangor, Maine.[1] She received 46.8% of the vote to Troy Jackson's 53.1%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[5]
Recent votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passageH.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · roll call ↗Democrats 23–24 · Republicans 48–5 |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · roll call ↗Democrats 28–18 · Republicans 49–2 |
| 2025-11-10 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · roll call ↗Democrats 8–39 · Republicans 52–1 |
| 2025-11-06 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 2–51 |
| 2025-10-30 | Against partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 4–47 |
| 2025-07-01 | Against partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passageH.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3 |
| 2025-06-27 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–1 · Republicans 1–52 |
| 2025-06-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — Senate passageS. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · roll call ↗Democrats 18–28 · Republicans 50–2 |
Showing the 8 most recent of 14 votes.
All 14 recorded votes
| Date | Party line | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-30 | With partyvoted yes | Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — Senate passageH.R. 7148 · Bill Passed 71–29 · roll call ↗Democrats 23–24 · Republicans 48–5The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026. |
| 2025-12-17 | With partyvoted yes | National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passageS. 1071 · Motion Agreed to 77–20 · roll call ↗Democrats 28–18 · Republicans 49–2The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. This vote sent the House-Senate compromise version to the President, who signed it into law the next day. |
| 2025-11-10 | With partyvoted yes | Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending voteH.R. 5371 · Bill Passed 60–40 · roll call ↗Democrats 8–39 · Republicans 52–1The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. Eight members of the Democratic caucus joined nearly all Republicans to pass it. |
| 2025-11-06 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 90 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 49–51 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 2–51S.J.Res. 90 would have directed the President to end military hostilities within or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized, after U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the region. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, blocking a vote on final passage. |
| 2025-10-30 | Against partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 88 · Joint Resolution Passed 51–47 · roll call ↗Democrats 47–0 · Republicans 4–47S.J.Res. 88 terminates the national emergency the President used to impose broad tariffs on imports from most countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Unlike an earlier April 2025 attempt, this resolution passed the Senate, though it still required House and presidential action to take effect. |
| 2025-07-01 | Against partyvoted no | One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passageH.R. 1 · Bill Passed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and increases border security and defense spending. It reduces projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adds new work requirements; Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. |
| 2025-06-27 | With partyvoted no | War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to dischargeS.J. Res. 59 · Motion to Discharge Rejected 47–53 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–1 · Republicans 1–52S.J.Res. 59 would have directed the President to end U.S. military hostilities against Iran that Congress had not authorized, following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier that month. A motion to discharge the resolution from committee failed, preventing a vote on final passage. |
| 2025-06-17 | With partyvoted yes | GENIUS Act — Senate passageS. 1582 · Bill Passed 68–30 · roll call ↗Democrats 18–28 · Republicans 50–2The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation to clear Congress. |
| 2025-04-30 | Against partyvoted yes | Resolution to end the global tariff emergencyS.J. Res. 49 · Joint Resolution Defeated 49–49 · roll call ↗Democrats 46–0 · Republicans 3–49S.J.Res. 49 would have terminated the national emergency the President declared in April 2025 to impose broad tariffs on imports from most U.S. trading partners. The resolution failed on a tied 49-49 vote. |
| 2025-03-14 | With partyvoted yes | Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 — Senate passageH.R. 1968 · Bill Passed 54–46 · roll call ↗Democrats 2–45 · Republicans 52–1The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations. |
| 2025-02-13 | With partyvoted yes | Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS SecretaryPN Kennedy · Nomination Confirmed 52–48 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 52–1The Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, overseeing federal health, food-safety, and drug-regulatory agencies. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote against the nomination. |
| 2025-02-04 | With partyvoted yes | Confirmation of Pamela Bondi as Attorney GeneralPN Bondi · Nomination Confirmed 54–46 · roll call ↗Democrats 1–46 · Republicans 53–0The Senate confirmed Pamela Bondi, Florida's former attorney general, to serve as U.S. Attorney General, leading the Justice Department. The vote fell largely along party lines. |
| 2025-01-24 | Against partyvoted no | Confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of DefensePN Hegseth · Nomination Confirmed 50–50 · roll call ↗Democrats 0–47 · Republicans 50–3The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer, to serve as Secretary of Defense. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote after three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against the nomination. |
| 2025-01-20 | With partyvoted yes | Laken Riley Act — Senate passageS. 5 · Bill Passed 64–35 · roll call ↗Democrats 12–35 · Republicans 52–0The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions. |
On the record
Official actions: bills, executive acts, filings and court records.
In their own words
Priorities
- Campaigned on her experience and seniority in the Senate, citing her role as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.[19]
Campaign money$16.2M raised · 89% from individuals · FEC through 2026-06-30
Totals this cycle
Bars share one scale (raised = full). Cash on hand can include money carried over from earlier cycles.
Who gave
- Individuals $10.5M
- PACs & committees $1.2M
- Party $62K
Largest committee contributions
- NRSC Party$62K
- Republican Jewish Coalition Political Action Committee (Rjc-Pac) PAC$14K
- National Association of Broadcasters Political Action Committee (Nabpac) PAC$12K
- Oorah! Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- American Seniors Housing Association (Seniors Housing PAC) PAC$10K
- Waterpac - National Rural Water Association Political Committee PAC$10K
- Union Pacific Corp. Fund for Effective Government PAC$10K
- Associated General Contractors of America Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- O'melveny & Myers Political Action Committee PAC$10K
- The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers Political Action Committee PAC$10K
Direct contributions only; outside spending is not included. Individual donors are itemized in the FEC’s receipts. All itemized receipts ↗ FEC filing ↗
Profile: /people/susan-m-collins
Where they stood out
Voted against most of their party on 140 of 841 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (54), Foreign affairs & defense (44), Health & care (25)
Booker Amdt. No. 6805; To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.
A yes vote would have adopted Amendment 6805, which would increase the limit on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury coverage for student athletes. (AI-written)
What it does: Protect College Sports Act of 2026 This bill establishes requirements for name, image, or likeness (NIL) agreements for college student athletes and provides a limited antitrust exemption for schools and conferences t…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 45–0, Republicans 2–50
Sep 28, 2026Official record ↗
H. Con. Res. 89; A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
What it does: This concurrent resolution directs the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities against Iran or any part of its government or military unless a declaration of war or authorization to use military force f…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 43–1, Republicans 4–49
Sep 24, 2026Official record ↗
Confirmation: Todd Blanche, of Florida, to be Attorney General
What it does: Confirms Todd Blanche as Attorney General.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 50–2
Aug 8, 2026Official record ↗
Their votes on the most contested roll calls
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
- Yes
With most of their party · Agreed to 46–45 · Yes 45–No 45 · Democrats 0–43, Republicans 45–0
May 11, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Passed 49–47 · Yes 47–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 47–0
Feb 12, 2026Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–46 · Yes 46–No 46 · Democrats 0–44, Republicans 46–0
Jun 4, 2025Official record ↗
- No
With most of their party · Rejected 46–49 · Yes 46–No 46 · Democrats 44–0, Republicans 0–46
Jan 15, 2025Official record ↗
- Yes
With most of their party · Confirmed 48–47 · Yes 48–No 47 · Democrats 0–45, Republicans 48–0
Jul 23, 2026Official record ↗
Compare all 8 candidates side by side ›
Sources cited in this profile
- 1.About Senator Collins · U.S. Senator Susan Collins Official record
- 2.Susan Collins (Maine) · Ballotpedia Reference
- 3.United States Senate election in Maine, 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
- 4.Susan Collins: A life of service · Bangor Daily News · 2017-10-13 News report
- 5.U.S. Senate · Maine results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 6.Senators Collins, Moreno Unveil Legislation to Extend and Reform Enhanced ACA Premium Tax Credits · Office of Sen. Susan Collins Official record
- 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
- 8.Senators Collins and Murkowski Introduce Bill to Codify Supreme Court Decisions on Reproductive Rights · Office of Sen. Susan Collins Official record
- 9.Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Bill to Reassert Congressional Authority Over Tariffs · Office of Sen. Susan Collins Official record
- 10.Senator Collins' Statement on SCOTUS Striking Down Emergency Tariffs · Office of Sen. Susan Collins Official record
- 11.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
- 12.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record
- 13.Senator Collins' Statement on Her Vote to End Hostilities in Iran Ahead of 60-Day Deadline · Office of Sen. Susan Collins Official record
- 14.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-06-27 Official record
- 15.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-11-06 Official record
- 16.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
- 17.Susan Collins · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 18.Snowe, Baldacci claim victory; King-Brennan race a tossup · Bangor Daily News · 1994-11-09 News report
- 19.United States Senate election in Maine, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference