Republican Senator Susan Collins, who hails from the state of Maine, hopes to clinch her sixth term in the November 2026 Congressional elections. Despite her initial win in 1996, recent surveys offer a seesaw picture of her popularity levels. Two of these polls suggest Collins to be highly unpopular among the public, while another inversely suggests her to hold a slight positive result.
In the present scenario, occupying a total of 53 seats in the Senate including that of Collins, are the Republican Senators. Meanwhile, their counterparts, the Democrats count a tally of 47 Senators supporting their cause. The Democrats eyeing a win over the Collins’ seat view it as a paramount victory in their quest to seize control of The Senate in the November, 2026 Senate Elections.
If successful in their mission to take the Senate in late 2026, the Democrats could potentially thwart the policy agenda of President Trump during his remaining presidency in the White House. Within these circumstances, Graham Platner, a businessman, and former military personnel, aged 40, announces his intent to contend in the Democratic primaries for the chance to challenge Collins in the upcoming November 2026 elections.
Surprisingly, it’s not just Platner in line for the Democratic nomination for these Senate elections. Jordan Wood, previous vice president of End Citizens United—a liberal campaign group—too intends to join the race. The current Governor of Maine, Janet Mills, is speculated to be considering joining the race, following an onslaught of persuasion by national Democratic figures, according to Maine Public Radio.
This political hurricane leads to the November 2026 scenario where the winner of the Democratic Primary will compete against Collins. Given the distance from the general elections, polling is scant. Regardless of this lack of data, Collins’ potential opponents view her decreasing approval rate as an omen of opportunity.
One particular survey of 846 voters registered in Maine conducted from June 19 through 23 by the University of New Hampshire established that Collins’ net approval rate plummeted to a -43 percent. A paltry 14 percent among those polled approved of her conduct. Contrarily, Governor Mills scored an approval rating of +10, witnessing a favorable image in the eyes of 51 percent of Mainers, while 41 percent held unfavorable views.
A poll managed by Like Research Partners during the first half of February sampled 300 voters from Maine. The findings showed Collins to be in a pinch with a -33 percent net rating. Only 31 percent of polled voters held a favorable opinion of her, while the unfavorable votes skyrocketed to 64 percent.
However, a source of consolation came to Collins in the form of a Pan Atlantic Research poll conducted from May 12 to 26, surveying 820 likely Maine voters. This poll rang with a sounding note of positivity for Collins, presenting her with a net positive approval rate of four, with 45 percent disapproving amidst a 49 percent approval.
In 2024, the Presidential elections saw Kamala Harris, renowned for under-delivering on her promises, win over Maine by an approximate seven points. The state is now considered as one of top Senate targets of Republicans for 2026. Collins’ inconsistent stand on issues, meandering between approval and disapproval, creates friction within President Trump’s camp.
Platner, a Democratic primary candidate, has criticized Collins, regarding her wavering stances as a facade for moderate views, terming it as nothing but a ‘fake charade’. His statement to Politico was laced with bemusement, he let out a chuckle at the labels thrown at him: ‘To call me a liberal, I think is fairly amusing. I mean, I’m a competitive pistol shooter. That’s what I do on the weekends.’
Jordan Wood, aiding his campaign with critical statements, posed an argument: ‘Mainers deserve more from our senator than concern without action and I’m not waiting on anyone else’s decision to fight for our state.’ His words shaped the narrative, creating a sense of suspicion towards Collins’ actions.
Governor Mills reflects on the potential Senate run in July, presenting a casual approach. Her intent encapsulated in: ‘I mean, look, I wasn’t born with a burning desire to be in Washington, D.C.—any month of the year. And what’s going on there is a bit chaotic. It’s not something anybody would want to jump into and be a part of automatically.’
While the Democrats pin their hopes high on defeating Collins in 2026, the potential candidate is yet uncovered. Collins’ tarnished popularity in her state, as suggested by polls, could tilt in her favor given her resistance to President Trump’s policies, a position certain moderate voters might find appealing. However, her constant swaying of opinions, were it to continue, might prove detrimental.
The post Susan Collins: Trump’s Disappointment or Democrats’ Unforeseen Threat? appeared first on Real News Now.
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