Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is taking a brutal hit in the polls, with disapproval numbers that could make even the toughest politician wince.
According to the Daily Caller, the latest Morning Consult quarterly poll reveals a staggering 54% of Mainers thumbs down on Collins’ job performance, marking the lowest approval in the survey’s eight-year run, while only 38% give her a nod of support.
Just to put this nosedive into perspective, last year’s third quarter showed her with a healthier 50% approval and 42% disapproval, and by the fourth quarter, it slipped to 47% approval against 44% disapproval.
Fast forward to the April-to-June 2025 survey period, and the numbers are downright grim for the 72-year-old moderate Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. A separate Pan Atlantic Research poll from mid-May 2025, surveying 840 likely Maine voters, wasn’t much kinder, pegging her favorability at a tepid 49% against 45% unfavorable.
Now, let’s talk about why this might be happening—Collins has been playing the maverick card, breaking ranks with President Donald Trump on critical votes, including a flat “no” on a major bill he signed into law on July 4, 2025.
She didn’t stop there, sponsoring a measure to hike taxes on the ultra-wealthy—think individuals earning over $25 million or couples over $50 million—to funnel more funds to rural hospitals, a move that likely ruffled some conservative feathers.
Collins defended her stance, saying, “I strongly support extending the tax relief for families and small businesses.” But let’s be real—voting against a signature Trump bill over Medicaid concerns might sound noble to some, but it’s a risky gambit in a party that values loyalty above all.
Her reasoning about protecting low-income families and rural health care is fair, yet in today’s polarized climate, straying from the party line often comes with a steep political price, especially when the base is hungry for unity.
Jason Savage, executive director of the Maine GOP, tried to downplay the drama, claiming, “There’s generally broad support within our committee.” Nice try, Jason, but with numbers like 54% disapproval, that “broad support” feels more like a narrow ledge—and it’s crumbling.
Savage also tossed out, “If Gideon or King aren’t answering the phones, voters know that Collins will.” Sure, accessibility is great, but when over half the state isn’t happy with your performance, being reachable might just mean hearing more complaints.
Looking ahead, Collins has signaled her intent to run for reelection in 2026, though she hasn’t made it official yet, mirroring her late announcement strategy from December 2019 for her successful 2020 bid, where she bested Democrat Sara Gideon by 9 points.
Despite the rough seas, her fundraising is a bright spot—she’s sitting on $5 million in cash with a total of $6 million raised, per the Federal Election Commission, and a super PAC backing her hauled in $5.6 million in the first half of 2025, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee is already running ads in her favor.
On the flip side, Democrats are gearing up with declared 2026 Senate candidates like David Costello, the party’s 2024 nominee, and Jordan Wood, a former chief of staff to a California Democratic representative, though the White House is reportedly mulling replacements if Collins bows out—a scenario she currently doesn’t face with any prominent primary challengers.
Collins isn’t alone in the disapproval club; GOP Sens. Mitch McConnell, Ron Johnson, and Joni Ernst also earned negative marks in the same Morning Consult poll, but being the only Republican senator in a state that backed Kamala Harris in 2024 adds an extra layer of scrutiny to her tightrope walk between moderation and party expectations.
