Susan Margaret Collins is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Maine, a seat she has held since 1997. A Republican, she is Maine’s longest-serving member of Congress and the longest-serving Republican woman senator. Since 2025, Collins has served as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Born in Caribou, Maine, Collins graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1975. She began her career as a staff assistant for Senator William Cohen, later serving as staff director on a government oversight subcommittee. She held senior posts in Maine state government, was appointed in 1992 as the SBA’s New England regional director in Boston, and later returned to Maine, becoming the Republican nominee for governor in 1994 before winning election to the Senate in 1996.
Generally regarded as a moderate Republican and frequent swing vote, Collins has built a long-standing brand around institutionalism, bipartisan negotiations, and constituent service. She has been central in major Senate fights over healthcare, judicial confirmations, national security, and appropriations, and she won re-election in 2020 in a heavily nationalized, high-dollar race.
Moderate Republican
Committee Assignments
Caucus Memberships
Achievements
- Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee (since 2025), shaping federal funding priorities and steering major appropriations packages
- Built a national profile as a bipartisan dealmaker and high-leverage vote in closely divided Senates
- Primary Republican sponsor of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” helping allow LGBTQ+ Americans to serve openly
- Long-running “perfect attendance”/vote streak brand, reflecting strong institutional and procedural focus
- Durable statewide brand in Maine politics—combining constituent service with committee leverage on defense/shipbuilding and seniors’ issues
Controversies
- Sustained criticism from abortion-rights advocates over supporting key judicial confirmations, especially Brett Kavanaugh, amid post-Roe politics
- Criticized from the right for breaks with GOP leadership on healthcare, impeachment-related votes, and institutional procedure
- Branded “too moderate” by conservatives and “enabling” by liberals, making her a recurring national target
- High-salience votes on tax policy, filibuster rules, and Supreme Court nominations have repeatedly generated national fundraising and activist backlash
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone Group | $97,050 | $97,050 | $0 |
| Lockheed Martin | $76,379 | $65,379 | $11,000 |
| Senior Star | $67,700 | $67,700 | $0 |
| Republican Jewish Coalition | $60,067 | $55,067 | $5,000 |
| Southwest Airlines | $59,035 | $40,035 | $19,000 |
Donor totals reflect organization-linked giving, including finance, aerospace/defense, and transportation.
Recent Elections
2008 Margin R +23%
2014 Margin R +37%
2020 Margin R +8%