Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is heading into the most turbulent political season of her long career — and this time, the threat isn’t from Democrats. It’s from her own party.
A new Morning Consult poll shows that 54% of Maine voters now disapprove of Collins’ job performance, her worst rating since entering the Senate in 1997. Her approval has dropped to just 38%, a record low, as she prepares to run for a sixth term in 2026. The sharp decline stems largely from disillusionment among Republican voters, particularly those aligned with President Donald Trump.
Once seen as a centrist voice and a reliable swing vote in Washington, Collins’ independent streak is now being interpreted as political defiance. Her recent vote against Trump’s $9.4 billion rescission package — legislation aimed at cutting funding to foreign aid and public broadcasting — drew ire from conservatives. Collins cited concerns over transparency and potential damage to rural healthcare services, but the GOP base didn’t see nuance. They saw a betrayal.
🚨 JUST IN: Senator Susan Collins (R-MAINE) hits record-low approval rating, per Morning Consult
🟢 Approve: 38% (-16)
🔴 Disapprove: 54% pic.twitter.com/70l67quXcV— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 16, 2025
The backlash has been swift. Collins now holds the steepest net drop in approval among all 100 U.S. senators. Conservative donors and activists have branded her a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only), accusing her of being out of touch with grassroots Republicans. Two primary challengers — Carmen Calabrese and Daniel Smeriglio — have already begun positioning themselves to run to her right.
Collins’ long Senate résumé includes chairing the powerful Appropriations Committee and voting across the aisle on several landmark issues. But those cross-party moves have eroded her standing with GOP voters who increasingly demand loyalty to Trump. Her vote to confirm liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, her defense of the Senate filibuster, and her support for Trump’s second impeachment have further strained her base.
Even her backing of Justice Amy Coney Barrett hasn’t been enough to rebuild trust with Trump-aligned Republicans. The damage, it seems, is cumulative.
Democrats see opportunity. At least one challenger — David Costello of Brunswick — has entered the race, and national Democrats are eyeing Maine’s seat as their best shot to flip a Republican-held position in New England.
Despite the negative polling, Collins remains financially formidable. Her campaign raised $2.4 million in Q2 2025, and her affiliated super PAC holds $5.4 million in cash on hand. Her deep political network, long-standing incumbency, and name recognition could still prove decisive.
