Despite being firmly ensconced as chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is reportedly unhappy that the GOP leadership is blowing off her concerns about the recently passed massive budget bill.
According to a report from Politico's Jordain Carney, Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus, Republicans are playing with fire by not taking the Maine Republican seriously — and that could cost them a seat in the Senate if she retires in frustration.
Although Collins has indicated she plans to run for re-election, there are growing concerns that, should she change her mind, that seat will likely go to a Democrat.
According to Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who will be stepping down from his seat in 2026 after futilely battling with President Donald Trump, "The one thing I am certain of is if Susan Collins is not running for re-election, then that state is even more at risk than North Carolina."
According to the Politico report, "Democrats have a steep road back to the majority, needing to flip an unlikely four seats while also holding onto their own swing seats in Georgia and Michigan. But they view Maine as a top pick-up opportunity, and they would unquestionably have an easier time without Collins on the ballot, potentially allowing them to pour more resources into tougher races."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) echoed those comments, adding, “She represents … a very blue state. She has to run for reelection this year. She’s the only Republican that can win. And so, you know, she sees the world through a different lens, and she’s always very upfront about what she’s going to do.”
The report notes that Democrats believe that Collins — increasingly "out-of-step" with her party — may decide it is not worth it after the GOP-controlled Senate passed the budget bill late Tuesday, over her objections, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote.
The report also notes that Trump could play a wild card when it comes to her electability, with one GOP lawmaker joking, "He’s very irritated at Susan — very, I can tell. But she doesn’t care, because the more Trump gets irritated with her, the better it is for her politics back home.”
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