Sen. Collins Opts Out of Joining VP Vance in Maine

Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, won’t be accompanying Vice President JD Vance when he visits her state on Monday. This is particularly interesting given that Collins is up for re-election in a predominantly Democratic context.

Collins, who has sometimes found herself at odds with President Donald Trump’s agenda, is considered a prime target by Democrats this election cycle. The midterm elections are crucial, with a handful of races potentially deciding the future of the GOP’s slim majority in the Senate.

The Vice President’s visit comes on the heels of Collins publicly opposing Trump’s recent decision to implement hefty tariffs on various goods from Canada, an action particularly significant for her state which shares a long border with Canada. She’s also against new regulations from the U.S. Postal Service, which could affect the accessibility of mail-in voting.

During his trip, Vance will be delivering a speech in Brewer, Maine, at a defense technology company, Compotech. Interestingly, this marks Vance’s second visit to Maine this year, and once again, Collins has opted to not collaborate with him.

Collins explained her absence on Saturday, stating, “I am already scheduled on Monday, so I will not be able to join the vice president.” It’s worth noting that in a previous instance, during Vance’s event in Bangor back in May, Collins remained in Washington due to Senate duties. She’s known for her remarkable record of consecutive roll call votes—over 10,000 spanning three decades.

At a recent community event, where she participated in the Madison-Anson Days parade, Collins highlighted her own collaborative efforts, mentioning her partnership with Energy Secretary Chris Wright last week as they visited a battery storage project funded by the federal government.

Notably, Collins was among the few Republicans who voted to convict Trump in a Senate trial following his impeachment in January 2021. She has diverged from the administration’s position multiple times, recently stating, “I still think imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake.”

She also commented on the proposed rule from the U.S. Postal Service concerning mail-in voting, saying, “Mail-in ballots are very important to the people of Maine. I do not support restrictions that make it more difficult for seniors to cast votes on Election Day via the mail.”

Furthermore, even as Collins backs a House bill mandating proof of citizenship and photo ID for voting, she voted against a Senate version that is aligned with Trump’s priorities.

Collins has expressed concern over the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the subsequent controversies, particularly in light of tragic incidents involving federal agents. Her Senate challenger, Democrat Troy Jackson, has frequently attempted to associate her with Trump, criticizing her past funding for ICE.

With Collins being the only Republican senator vying for re-election in a state that previously favored then-Vice President Kamala Harris, it appears she’s making a strategic effort to appeal to moderate voters, possibly highlighting her disagreements with the Trump administration.

Interestingly, during Vance’s earlier visit, he expressed a mix of admiration and frustration regarding Collins, stating, “Sometimes I get frustrated with Susan Collins,” but ultimately recognizing her independence as beneficial for the state of Maine.

In preparation for Vance’s visit, Jackson’s campaign took to social media, referring to the Vice President as “Susan’s pal” and criticizing Collins for not doing what’s best for Maine despite her cooperation with Vance.

The Vice President’s office did not provide comments on Collins ahead of his engagement in Maine. Vance will be joined by former Governor Paul LePage, also a Republican, during his event, and this district is viewed as a potential opportunity for the GOP with the current Democratic representative choosing not to run for re-election.