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Sen. Susan Collins enters her re-election campaign with some strong plusses, including good constituent service and helping bring federal resources into Maine. Her opponent, Troy Jackson, is less well-known and can come across as inarticulate and uncharismatic. In another election year I think Collins might be the better choice. But not so this year.
What’s different this year is the congressional Republicans’ passivity and complicity as President Donald Trump dismantles the norms and institutions that make America great. Collins’ re-election would likely result in maintaining the Republican majority in the Senate, giving Trump free rein for two more years. I believe a Republican majority will assure that Trump’s corrupt self dealing won’t be challenged or investigated; legal immigrants will continue to be arrested and deported; health and welfare programs will continue to be gutted; wars and tariffs will continue to drive up costs; Trump’s perceived enemies will be persecuted; and his attacks on free and fair elections will continue.
Collins will probably express “concern ” at some of Trump’s actions, but I believe her re-election and the resulting Republican Senate majority will further the nation’s descent into authoritarian oligarchy.
If Jackson wins and Democrats control the Senate, they would be able to investigate and shine light on unwise and illegal executive branch actions and block destructive legislative proposals.
I think voting for Jackson is less a rejection of Collins than a rejection of the national Republican Party and its damage to the nation’s ideals and institutions. I believe electing Jackson and a Democratic Congress is to start the healing, beginning the work of making America great again.
Stephen McKay
Orono