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Susan Collins
ME · At-large
In plain English: One of Maine's two U.S. senators. Senators vote on federal laws, confirm judges and cabinet officials, and approve treaties.
Term
1997-01-03 – 2027-01-03
Next election
2026-11-03General election vs. Troy Jackson (D, former Maine Senate president). Race context (poll snapshot, not a forecast): CBS News poll has Collins and Jackson tied 50-50 (not the NYT/Siena batch; poll date unknown). AP-NORC national poll, 2026-10-04: Trump approval at 31 percent, the lowest recorded across either term.
Running for
U.S. Senate (ME), re-election
Committees
Appropriations (chair; ex officio on all subcommittees); Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (Primary Health and Retirement Security subcommittee); Select Committee on Intelligence
Susan Collins (R) is the U.S. Senator from Maine, in office since January 3, 1997, the first Maine senator in 92 years to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. She faces Troy Jackson (D) in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Bio source: http://ballotpedia.org/Susan_Collins_(Maine)
1. Start here: the story so far
This is our summary of the record published in full in the evidence section below. Nothing here is a claim you cannot check there.
Thirty years, one unbroken streak
Susan Collins has represented Maine in the Senate since January 1997, casting 10,000 consecutive roll-call votes, the first senator in U.S. history to reach it. She is the first Maine senator in 92 years to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. Her stated brand is independence: she says she has voted against her own party more than any other senator on either side of the aisle.
“I vote very independently. ... I am the most bipartisan member of the Senate.”COLLINS, OCT 15, 2026 DEBATE
The kitchen-table fight: heating oil
When the administration proposed zeroing out LIHEAP in its FY 2027 budget, Collins led bipartisan pushback to protect the program, and announced $36,675,395 in LIHEAP home-heating aid for Maine. She asked President Trump to release heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, calling the cost of energy “a huge issue in my state”; the administration later said it would release up to 315,000 barrels.
The hardest race of her career
Troy Jackson (D), the former Maine Senate president, entered the race in late July and raised $20.4 million in his first quarter to her $5.2 million, though she holds more than $18 million cash on hand. The polls show a dead heat: a CBS poll had them tied 50-50, a Washington Post-Schar School poll had Jackson 50, Collins 46, and a Suffolk University poll had Jackson 49, Collins 47.
Two disputes on the record
Jackson accused Collins and her husband of profiting from the Iran war; she called the accusation “absolutely outrageous” and demanded an apology. A ProPublica report alleged a pay-to-play scheme involving her office and a defense contractor; Collins said the allegations were “completely false” and “very offensive.” On the war itself, she says she voted nine times to bring it to an end under the War Powers Act.
→ THE FULL RACE RECORD, POLLS, AND BOTH DISPUTES ARE DOCUMENTED IN THE EVIDENCE SECTION BELOW
2. Follow the money, in plain English
What we don’t have yet: verified donor records for this leader. Pending donor data source: will be backfilled; never estimated
Every money claim on this page carries its source and its confidence level; the full item-by-item money record is in the evidence below.
3. What they promised
Each promise is tracked against documented votes and actions. A status is set only from the record; where a promise has not been tested yet, the card says so.
- PROMISEIn progress
[Paraphrase] After the administration proposed zeroing out LIHEAP in its FY 2027 budget, Collins led bipartisan pushback to protect the program: "led successful bipartisan pushback through their roles on the Senate Appropriations Committee to protect LIHEAP and continue funding for the program at more than $4 billion this year." Status so far: On October 9, 2026, Collins announced that the Department of Health and Human Services would release $36,675,395 in LIHEAP home-heating aid for Maine, plus $1,408,729 for Maine tribes, following her conversations that week with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and OMB Director Russell Vought.
Verification note: Date approximate: press release page carries no visible publication date; search index places it ~Sept 16, 2026.
- PROMISEIn progress
"I have been extremely outspoken in my opposition to Canadian tariffs and I have voted repeatedly to repeal them." Status so far: At the October 13, 2026 debate, Collins said she negotiated the removal of concrete, pulp, and road salt from the tariff list. No tariff vote appears in her recorded votes.
- PROMISEIn progress
[Paraphrase] Collins (with Sen. King) asked President Trump to release heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, telling Reuters the cost of energy is "a huge issue in my state" and that tapping the reserve "would help put downward pressure on prices."
- PROMISEIn progress
[Paraphrase] Collins said one of her continued priorities is "creating more opportunities for families to live, work and grow in Maine," pointing to investments in northern Maine colleges, workforce training, infrastructure, public safety, and child care.
4. The evidence
Everything on this page comes from the record below, grouped so you can find things: what they said, what they did, money and influence, and what happened after. Every item carries its date, its source, and the date we last verified it.
Open the full record ↓
What they said
- STATEMENT
On casting her 10,000th consecutive roll-call vote (unbroken streak since 1997; first Senator in U.S. history to reach it): "Mainers are known for their work ethic, and they deserve a Senator who works just as hard for them… I will continue to serve with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve."
- STATEMENT
Warned that Trump administration actions ("proposed funding cuts, the firing of essential federal scientists, and policy uncertainties") threaten U.S. leadership in biomedical research; said such cuts "must be reversed."
- FACT
Senate Majority PAC (the Democrats’ main Senate super PAC) is putting $3.4M behind a 30-second attack ad based on the ProPublica Navatek pay-to-play investigation. The ad buy is verified (Axios reporting carried by two relays); the underlying pay-to-play allegation remains denied by Collins and was previously addressed by an FBI statement (prior CNN coverage).
- STATEMENT
On the Epstein Files Transparency Act passing the Senate by unanimous consent: 'I support the release of the Epstein files. This is an important step for the survivors of these heinous crimes.'
- ALLEGATION
WinSenate (Democratic super PAC) ads (released Sept 24 on X; a second aired from Sept 29) claim Collins 'voted to cover up the Epstein files' and that 'Jeffrey Epstein's business partner funneled $3 million to her super PAC.' FactCheck.org (Oct 2026) found the ads misleading: the cited vote was the Sept 10, 2025 table motion, and the full Senate later supported release by unanimous consent. FEC records show Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman gave $3M total to the pro-Collins Pine Tree Results PAC ($2M on 6/27/2025, $1M on 6/26/2026), but the 'business partner' label rests only on both men being founding members of the Core Club private club; Schwarzman's spokesperson said he had no relationship with Epstein.
- STATEMENT
Asked whether she would campaign with President Trump if he comes to Maine, Collins twice dodged: "I don't think that President Trump is going to come to Maine... I'm not exactly his favorite senator." Pressed for a yes or no, she said "I would say that he is not coming to Maine."
- STATEMENT
Collins claimed she has "voted against my party more than any other senator on either side of the aisle," said she voted against Trump more often than against Biden, and cited her pushback on tariffs, immigration enforcement, and the Iran war. She disputed Jackson's claim that she votes with Trump 96% of the time, saying the study he cited covered only a third of Senate votes.
- STATEMENT
On the ProPublica pay-to-play allegation involving her office, Collins said the allegations were "completely false" and "very offensive."
Verification note: The underlying ProPublica allegation is unverified by WWF; recorded as Collins's response.
- STATEMENT
In a voter-ID lightning round, Collins said: "Yes. Only Americans should vote in American elections."
- STATEMENT
On her 2018 Kavanaugh confirmation vote, Collins said "I clearly don't agree with how Brett Kavanaugh voted on Roe v. Wade," and countered Jackson by saying "there's only one of us on this stage who has always been pro-choice, and that's me," pointing to Jackson's pre-2013 anti-abortion positions.
Verification note: Some specifics of Jackson's past positions are single-source.
- ALLEGATION
Troy Jackson accused Collins and her husband of "making money" off the Iran war because she will not use her leverage to stop it; his campaign tied it to up to $100,000 in oil and gas stock, via Jackson's X post during the debate. No evidence was offered on stage.
Verification note: Unverified claim; recorded as Jackson's allegation.
- STATEMENT
Collins responded: "That is absolutely outrageous, and you owe me an apology," demanding an apology twice; Jackson replied, "No, you owe me an apology."
- STATEMENT
Collins said she voted "nine times to bring the war in Iran to an end under the War Powers Act," and that she opposed early resolutions because the Act gives the president broad discretion in the first 60 days.
Verification note: Single-source claim; the nine-vote count was not independently cross-checked here.
- ALLEGATION
The moderator raised a ProPublica story alleging a pay-to-play scheme involving Collins's office and a defense contractor. Collins denied wrongdoing: "I have served Maine with integrity the entire time and I deeply resent these false allegations."
Verification note: The pay-to-play allegation is unverified in this sweep; the denial is quoted directly.
- STATEMENT
Jackson vowed to defund ICE and shift its duties to CBP, calling the agency "unreformable" and saying ICE has "murdered at least four people," referencing the July fatal shooting of a Biddeford man by an ICE agent.
Verification note: Single-source debate recap; recorded as his stated position.
- STATEMENT
Collins rejected abolishing ICE, pointing to its deportation of violent criminals and its child-exploitation and cartel cases, and touted $20 million she secured as Appropriations chair for ICE body-worn cameras.
Verification note: Stated as her claim.
- STATEMENT
On abortion, Jackson said records "changed: mine has gotten better, hers has gotten worse"; Collins said she is consistently pro-choice, authored legislation to codify abortion rights after Dobbs, and called Jackson an "extremist" on abortion early in his career; Jackson pointed to her 2018 Kavanaugh vote.
Verification note: Underlying claims not fact-checked in this sweep.
- FACT
Barack Obama endorsed Jackson in a video posted to the Jackson campaign's YouTube channel Oct 8, one of 24 such ads Obama recorded, per Politico.
Verification note: Corroborated via Politico attribution; the video was not directly viewed.
- FACT
Washington Post-Schar School poll released Oct 9: Troy Jackson (D) 50, Collins 46 among likely voters (fielded Sept 30-Oct 5; margin of error about 3.6-3.8 points). Internals: 54% say Collins would do a better job bringing federal funds back; 63% disapprove of Trump's job performance; 58% say Collins sides with Trump too often; top issue is cost of living (41%).
Verification note: Poll data, not a forecast.
- FACT
Debate #3 is set for Oct 13 at 7 p.m. ET (WABI/WAGM); debate #4 for Oct 15 at 8 p.m. ET in Bangor, hosted jointly by NEWS CENTER Maine, Maine Public, and the Portland Press Herald.
- ALLEGATION
WinSenate launched a $2.5M Maine ad ("Larry - Gas") claiming Collins "voted for Trump's war in Iran five times," profited from stock trading, and repeatedly opposed a lawmaker stock-trading ban. No Collins-camp response was found in the window.
Verification note: Partisan allegation by the Democratic super PAC; underlying claims unverified.
- STATEMENT
Collins said: "I have been pro-choice the entire time that I have served in the Senate"; she called Jackson an "extremist" on abortion, citing his 2000-2014 record including a bill with no exception when the mother's life was at risk. Jackson replied: "Was I voting the wrong way? Yeah."
- STATEMENT
Collins announced the Department of Health and Human Services will release $36,675,395 in LIHEAP home-heating aid for the State of Maine plus $1,408,729 for Maine tribes, following her conversations that week with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and OMB Director Russell Vought. She said: "With home heating oil costs soaring, many Maine families and seniors on limited incomes are facing the prospect of extraordinarily high heating bills this winter. That is why I urged the Administration to expedite the release of this critical assistance, and why I fought so hard to protect and increase funding for LIHEAP."
- STATEMENT
Collins joined six other senators (Tillis, Murkowski, Curtis, Shaheen, Blumenthal, and one more) demanding the administration "immediately reverse course" on the Treasury license allowing Russian diesel imports, calling the move "directly counter to" the 2022 ban on Russian energy imports. The letter is a public break with the administration on an Iran-war-era energy question one day before her Maine debate.
Verification note: Coalition of seven senators; verified across AP and USA Today reporting.
- STATEMENT
On the Iran war, Collins said Trump did not have a good plan and should have anticipated closure of the Strait of Hormuz. She said she voted with Democrats to end the war but there were not sufficient votes. She described her ideal end as an agreement by Iran to stop pursuing uranium enrichment for a nuclear weapon and pursuit of long-range ballistic missiles, adding that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and U.S. troops need protection.
- STATEMENT
On Canada tariffs, Collins said she has been outspoken in opposition and has voted repeatedly to repeal them. She said she negotiated removal of concrete, pulp, and road salt from the tariff list. Jackson replied she should have prevented the tariffs in the first place.
Verification note: The tariff-list removals are Collins's debate claim as reported; not independently verified from tariff schedules in this sweep.
- STATEMENT
When Jackson tied her to the One Big Beautiful Bill's Medicaid cuts, Collins said she ultimately did not support the bill specifically because of those cuts. She also pointed to a $50 billion rural healthcare fund she said she added to the bill. Jackson said it would not offset the bill's negative healthcare impacts.
- STATEMENT
On heating oil, Collins blamed Jackson and state leadership generally for high heating-oil prices and blamed the Biden administration for cancelling projects like Keystone, which she said would have expanded energy supply. Jackson said the pipeline would have helped ship oil overseas, not to Mainers, and blamed the Iran war. Collins cited getting an earlier release of LIHEAP assistance; Jackson called it a short-term Band-Aid.
- ALLEGATION
Jackson turned a fraud exchange to a ProPublica report alleging Collins committed to steering federal contracts to a Hawaii-based defense contractor in exchange for donations to her 2020 campaign. Collins denounced the report as a political hit job; her office has called the allegations categorically false.
Verification note: Jackson's claim is an opponent allegation based on the ProPublica report, not verified fact. Recorded with the denial.
- STATEMENT
Collins said she proposed and enacted reforms for ICE including body-worn cameras; Jackson said ICE should be disbanded. Collins cited a bipartisan housing bill she helped pass preventing private equity from buying single-family homes; Jackson said it excludes apartments, condos, and mobile home parks.
- STATEMENT
When Collins attacked Jackson on fraud, Jackson said "there's only one person up here that's been accused of that by the FBI," citing the September ProPublica report on an alleged pay-for-play scheme (federal contracts steered for 2020 campaign donations). Collins responded: "Troy has repeatedly insulted my integrity all evening long... He lied when he said that I was under investigation and found to have committed fraud by the FBI." She called the report a "political hit job"; her office calls the allegations categorically false.
Verification note: ProPublica reported the FBI was gearing to investigate; the bureau has not accused her of anything. Jackson's onstage framing goes beyond what ProPublica reported.
- STATEMENT
Onstage, Jackson pledged "I'll give you the report tomorrow morning," asserting "we see yours and I know that there's no billionaires funding me." Per the Portland Press Herald (as quoted by Senate Leadership Fund on Oct 14), Jackson had not followed through as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. The Q3 FEC deadline is Oct 15, and the final Maine debate is Oct 15 at 8 p.m. ET.
Verification note: This is the challenger's promise, recorded here as debate context on the race. The non-delivery report comes via a partisan source quoting the Press Herald.
- STATEMENT
On the Iran war: "Congress definitely should have been consulted," but the War Powers Resolution gave Trump flexibility to act unilaterally within the first 60 days, which is why she did not vote to rein in his war powers until after that window.
- STATEMENT
On her voting record: "I vote very independently. ... I am the most bipartisan member of the Senate."
- STATEMENT
After an anti-data-center protester interrupted and she said "this is obviously one of Troy's supporters," she answered Jackson's "oh, shut up" with "Oh, right." The protester yelled that AI data centers are "destroying our climate" and "poisoning our water."
- STATEMENT
Jackson said "100% of the time when Donald Trump goes to Susan Collins for a vote, he gets it." A heckler shouting "30 years, for what?" was removed from the audience.
- FACT
Jackson raised $20.4M in his first fundraising quarter (he entered the race in late July); Collins raised $5.2M. Collins held more than $18M cash on hand through June.
Verification note: Reported totals, not an independent FEC pull.
- STATEMENT
Collins joined Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn and five Democrats (incl. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen) in a letter demanding a Pentagon inspector-general investigation into reported Oct 12-14 restrictions on satellite communications used by Ukraine's military (Starlink, Starshield, and intelligence-sharing capabilities). The letter asks for written confirmation of the investigation's status and an initial briefing by Nov 1.
- FACT
Suffolk University poll (500 likely voters, Oct 8-11, MOE ±4.4): Democrat Troy Jackson 49%, Susan Collins 47%.
- STATEMENT
Jackson dismissed Collins's breaks with Trump as "managed votes." Collins responded that she votes "very independently" and cited organizing Senate Republicans against Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary. (Jackson's "100% of the time" line and the debate's protester interruption are already recorded.)
Verification note: The interrupter was identified as 19-year-old Bowdoin student Henry Elgie, who said he had "zero coordination" with Jackson's campaign; the Sunrise Movement acknowledged the volunteer action.
- STATEMENT
On Jackson's "oh, shut up" debate moment, Collins said: "I was impressed by how thoughtful the 'Oh, shut up' response was... The fact that it seemed like such an automatic, quick response was very telling." She tied it to "the reputation that Troy Jackson has in Augusta, particularly when he's dealing with women with whom he disagrees. So, in some ways, it didn't surprise me."
Verification note: Reported via Hannity's X post; second-sourced to a regional aggregator.
- STATEMENT
Jackson refused to apologize for the "oh, shut up" moment: "No... I had no idea who it was... I was surprised whenever he jumped up out of there." He added: "I've had four debates with Sen. Collins. I've shook her hand afterwards every time. But what I'm not going to be is talked down to by Sen. Collins. I'm not going to apologize for that."
Verification note: The challenger's statement, recorded as debate context on the Collins race.
- FACT
Q3 fundraising: Jackson's campaign reported $20.4 million raised in his first quarter after entering the race in late July; Collins reported $5.2 million for the quarter, on top of more than $18 million she had already raised by the end of June.
- STATEMENT
Both Maine campaigns said they would accept election outcomes without condition. Collins was "the only Republican whose campaign addressed the possibility of intervention," saying she would "oppose any efforts to undermine the outcome of free and fair elections in Maine and across the country."
Verification note: Completes the Oct 15 Reuters survey set (the Husted and Ricketts answers were staged Oct 15).
- STATEMENT
Asked about Supreme Court reforms (18-year term limits, expanding the court to 13 justices), Jackson said: "we have to have real ethics reform that's accountable, that you can hold people to. I think that we should have term limits. And I'm not against putting more people on the court because this court obviously is not working." He added that the Court is working "at the behest of Donald Trump and the billionaire class" and called it "the best that money can buy."
Verification note: The challenger's statement, recorded as debate context on the Collins race.
- STATEMENT
Collins posted on X that the administration will release up to 315,000 barrels of heating oil from the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, which she says is a 13% supply increase for New England meant to put downward pressure on heating-oil costs. She also posted about visiting the Farmington Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.
Verification note: Single local outlet reporting her own X posts; the posts are on record but were not independently verified here.
- FACT
The White House modified Proclamation 11048, removing certain Canadian products from the 50 percent Section 338 tariffs, effective October 30: plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment, packing crates and boxes, and fresh and dried seaweed. The same modification added other Canadian products, including carpets, valves, and waste products, to the 50 percent list, so the change was a swap of covered goods rather than a net tariff cut.
Verification note: The Wall Street Journal reported the move was aimed in part at helping Collins and other Republicans in tight races; that motive characterization is the Journal's reporting, not the White House factsheet.
- STATEMENT
Sen. Susan Collins said she had secured additional tariff exemptions for products crucial to Maine agriculture, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers: 'I am pleased to have secured additional tariff exemptions [for] products crucial to Maine agricultural industries.' She said many Maine farmers and growers rely on specialized equipment, packaging materials, and other products from Canada that are either unavailable from American suppliers or cannot be replaced without incurring significant expense.
- STATEMENT
Democratic challenger Troy Jackson responded to the tariff exemptions: 'Trump's trade wars have made life harder and more expensive for Mainers. Susan Collins enabled this chaos, voted to confirm the people behind it and now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire.'
Verification note: Opponent statement, recorded as race context, not as a finding about Collins.
- STATEMENT
'I decide my vote on what I believe is best for Maine and for America, not on whether or not any president, and I have worked with five, is for it or against it. I am proud of my record, of making the independent decisions, regardless of who is in the White House.'
What they did
- VOTE
H.Con.Res. 89: Iran war-powers resolution (directing an end to the unauthorized war) Yea: one of four Republicans voting yes (with Murkowski, Paul, Tillis) on passage (rejected 49–50)
- VOTE
H.R. 7008: congressional stock-trading restrictions Yea on cloture on the motion to proceed (rejected 53–47 (60 required))
- VOTE
Luján amendment to Senate budget resolution: reverse ~$187B in SNAP cuts from the 2025 reconciliation bill Yea (broke with GOP leadership) (failed 47–50)
- VOTE
H.R. 1: One Big Beautiful Bill Act (passage, as amended) Nay: one of three Republicans voting no (with Paul, Tillis), citing Medicaid cuts; had voted Yea on the 2025-06-29 procedural motion to advance the bill to debate on passage (passed 50–50, Vice President tie-break Yea)
- VOTE
Confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense Nay: one of three Republicans voting no (with Murkowski, McConnell) (confirmed 51–50, Vice President tie-break Yea)
- VOTE
Schumer amendment to the FY2026 NDAA: Epstein files release amendment (table motion) Yea (to table) on motion to table (roll call vote 512) (tabled)
- VOTE
H.R. 9340: Ratepayer Protection Act (data-center grid costs) Yea on cloture on the motion to proceed (roll-call #254) (failed 57-43 (60 required))
- DATA UNAVAILABLE
Sponsored legislation not yet collected from official records
Money and influence
- DATA UNAVAILABLE
Pending donor data source: will be backfilled; never estimated
- FACT
Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee (119th Congress), first Mainer in 92 years to hold the chair.
- FACT
Named a 2026 "CRES Clean Energy Champion" by Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions for grid-resilience and energy-storage work.
- ANALYSIS
Caucus memberships listed publicly include Afterschool Caucuses, Republican Main Street Partnership, Congressional Coalition on Adoption, and the Senate Taiwan Caucus (per Wikipedia; not from an official disclosure).
What happened after
No outcomes recorded yet.
- ALLEGATION
ProPublica reported that imprisoned former Navatek CEO Martin Kao told federal investigators that Collins's team was aware of and expected his illegal campaign-donation scheme, made with the understanding that Collins would steer Navy contracts to his firm; Kao is quoted saying Collins told him "You've seen me deliver." Status: reported
- OUTCOME
Collins's office denies any wrongdoing, calling the allegations "categorically false" and "outlandish"; her campaign said it fully cooperated with the FBI and that the matter was resolved in 2021 when the campaign disgorged the illegal contributions Kao made without its knowledge. Kao pleaded guilty in 2022 to illegal campaign contributions. No charges have been reported against Collins or her campaign; per reports, the FBI ended its inquiry in 2025. Status: resolved; no charges filed
Patterns in the record
War powers
Twenty-five years of votes and statements on when the United States may use military force, and who gets to decide. Every item is dated and sourced. Recent votes here also appear under How they voted; this section puts them in a longer timeline. The labeled analysis at the end is interpretation, not fact.
- VOTE
Voted Yea on S.J.Res. 23, the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, three days after the September 11 attacks. The Senate passed it 98-0; the two senators not voting were Larry Craig (R-ID) and Jesse Helms (R-NC).
- VOTE
Voted Yea on H.J.Res. 114, the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002. The Senate passed it 77-23 at 12:50 AM on October 11, 2002 (Record Vote 237); it became Public Law 107-243 on October 16, 2002.
- STATEMENT
On President Obama's decision to launch strikes on Libya: "I remain troubled that the President did not seek Congressional consent prior to ordering an aggressive military action in the absence of national emergency." She said the U.S. role should be limited to intelligence, coordination, and logistics.
- VOTE
Voted for Sen. Rand Paul's non-binding Senate resolution opposing President Obama's use of force in Libya; she was one of ten Republican senators to support it. The resolution quoted Obama's own 2007 words: "the president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."
- STATEMENT
Announced she "cannot support the authorization for the use of military force in Syria as passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee," arguing Syria's chemical weapons did not pose a direct, imminent threat to the United States and that strikes risked entangling the U.S. in a protracted civil war.
- STATEMENT
On the continuing resolution's authority to train and equip vetted Syrian opposition forces: the provision "does not constitute a specific statutory authorization," and "if the President intends to continue U.S. military strikes against ISIL, which he has said he plans to do, he should submit a specific request to Congress," followed by "a full debate with amendments and votes on an Authorization of the Use of Military Force, as it should have done today."
- STATEMENT
On the U.S. missile strike on Syria after the Assad regime's chemical attack: "The precision missile strikes last night were an appropriate response to the horrific chemical attacks initiated by Bashar al-Assad earlier this week. Our military action was both justified and proportional."
- STATEMENT
On the U.S.-U.K.-French strikes on Syria after the Douma chemical attack: "Last night's use of precision missile strikes was a justified and proportional response to Bashar al-Assad's ruthless use of chemical weapons."
- VOTE
Voted Yea on S.J.Res. 54, directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Yemen not authorized by Congress. The Senate passed it 56-41 (Record Vote 266); Collins was one of seven Republicans voting yes.
- VOTE
Voted Yea on S.J.Res. 7, directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in Yemen. The Senate passed it 54-46; President Trump vetoed it and the Senate's veto override failed.
- VOTE
Voted Yea on H.Con.Res. 89, the Iran war-powers resolution directing an end to the unauthorized war, one of four Republicans voting yes (with Murkowski, Paul, and Tillis). The resolution was rejected 49-50.
AnalysisWhat the pattern suggests
- The consistent thread across 25 years is institutional, not ideological: Collins votes for the wars Congress authorizes (Afghanistan 2001, Iraq 2002) and opposes or criticizes the uses of force Congress did not authorize (Libya 2011, the 2013 Syria authorization, ISIL strikes without an AUMF in 2014), then votes to end unauthorized involvement (Yemen 2018 and 2019, Iran 2026).
- The record is not anti-war. She supported the 2017 and 2018 Syria strikes as "justified and proportional" after the fact, with no congressional vote. The pattern is better described as pro-authorization than anti-intervention.
- The tension the timeline leaves open: the Iraq war Collins voted to authorize in 2002 was launched on premises about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that later collapsed. Her later insistence on congressional authorization (2013, 2014) is consistent with a lesson learned from that experience, but she has not said so in any statement verified for this pattern. Readers should weigh the votes themselves.
Data unavailable
- Collins's statements during the 2007 Iraq surge debate were not re-verified for this pattern.
- Whether Collins has publicly revisited her 2002 Iraq AUMF vote after the WMD premise collapsed was not verified; data unavailable.
Sources
- Ballotpedia: Susan Collins
- collins.senate.gov: 10,000th vote release
- USA Today: Navatek investigation report (2026-09-22)
- FactCheck.org: Democratic ads misleadingly connect Susan Collins to Epstein (2026-10)
- USA Today: Collins-Jackson debate takeaways, 2026-10-06
- CNN: Maine Senate debate takeaways, 2026-10-06
- NY Post: Maine debate #2 recap, 2026-10-08
- CNN: Maine debate #2, 2026-10-08
- USA Today / Political Wire: WaPo-Schar ME poll, 2026-10-09
Evidence
Related receipts
Receipt · Published$20M in taxpayer funds for nationally aired adsReceipt · PublishedThey promised Day One lower prices. Then groceries, gas, and health insurance all went up.Receipt · PublishedThey promised respect for the courts. Then they went after the judges who ruled against them.Every factual item carries its source, date, and last-verified stamp. Items marked unavailable are genuinely missing. Never filled in.