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Sen. Susan Collins advertises herself as a moderate Republican. Analysis does not bear that out. According to QR Roll Call (a non-partisan research group), in President Donald Trump’s current administration Collins voted with the president’s positions 95% of the time. According to the American Bridge PAC, a liberal research group, in Trump’s first administration, Collins voted 94% with Trump, which was a 17% increase over her support of George W. Bush during his eight years in office. This illustrates to me that she became radicalized in her Trump voting, which unfortunately continues into the president’s second term.
Some of her decisive votes continue to demonstrate her allegiance to Trump. For example, she was a deciding vote to nominate Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, as she was a deciding vote to advance Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill in the Senate, essentially assuring passage.
When Collins votes in opposition to Trump’s legislation, her votes usually don’t impact the voting’s outcome. Recently she voted against Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general when passage was assured before the vote was taken. I believe her vote to impeach Trump during his first term was meaningless.
I believe Democrats have a great opportunity to take control of the Senate in these midterm elections. Maine’s senatorial election is a key race that could help to decide control of the Senate.
I think we must elect Troy Jackson to help reign in Trump’s agenda, and not allow Susan Collins back to Washington to rubber stamp Trump’s legislation another 95% of the time.
Rich Stuart
Thomaston