Senator Susan Collins Faces Growing Challenges Amid Declining Approval Ratings Ahead of 2026 Reelection Bid

Senator Susan Collins, the moderate Republican representing Maine in the U.S. Senate, is confronting political headwinds as she gears up for her 2026 reelection campaign. After a summer marked by significant legislative departures from her party and former President Donald Trump, Collins has seen her approval ratings dip to their lowest point in years, signaling potential trouble ahead.

Recent polling by Morning Consult reveals a troubling trend for the 72-year-old lawmaker, who has been a fixture in the Senate for decades. According to the survey, 54% of Maine voters now disapprove of her job performance—the highest disapproval rating recorded in Morning Consult’s eight years of tracking Senate approval. Meanwhile, only 38% of respondents view her work favorably, a sharp contrast to previous quarters.

Earlier data from the same poll showed a somewhat healthier standing for Collins. In the fourth quarter of 2024, her approval rating stood at 47%, with a disapproval rate of 44%. Just months earlier, in the third quarter of 2024, the figures were even more positive, with 50% approval and 42% disapproval. This decline signals growing voter dissatisfaction, which could complicate Collins’ path forward.

In response to the recent polling, a spokesperson for Collins pointed to more optimistic findings from a May survey conducted by Pan Atlantic Research. That poll, which surveyed 840 likely voters in Maine, found that 49% held a favorable view of Collins, while 45% expressed an unfavorable opinion. The campaign emphasized these figures as evidence that support remains resilient, even amid a shifting political climate.

The decline in Collins’ approval coincides with a series of high-profile votes in which she broke from her party’s mainstream, particularly in opposition to key elements of Trump’s legislative agenda. Most notably, Collins was one of only three Republican senators to vote against a major bill Trump supported, passed on July 4, which included changes to Medicaid. Collins opposed the bill primarily because she believed it would undermine the Medicaid program, which many Mainers depend on for health care.

In a statement posted on her social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on July 1, Collins explained her position. She expressed strong support for tax relief benefiting families and small businesses but said her vote was rooted in concerns about Medicaid’s future funding. Collins highlighted that Medicaid serves roughly 400,000 people in Maine, nearly a third of the state’s population, including seniors, children, people with disabilities, and low-income families.

She also outlined her proposed amendment to the bill, which aimed to increase taxes on ultra-wealthy individuals earning more than $25 million annually, or couples with combined incomes exceeding $50 million. The goal was to direct additional funds to rural hospitals, which are critical to Maine’s healthcare infrastructure. Collins warned that the bill’s Medicaid funding cuts—estimated at $5.9 billion over the next decade—could jeopardize access to care and threaten the survival of several rural hospitals in the state.

Though she supports certain Medicaid reforms, such as work requirements for able-bodied adults not caring for children or attending school, Collins maintained that steep funding reductions would be detrimental. Her stance reflects her long-standing focus on balancing fiscal responsibility with protecting vulnerable populations.

The White House is reportedly considering potential Republican replacements should Collins decide against running again in 2026. However, Collins has yet to face any significant primary challenges and has reaffirmed her intention to seek another term.

As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins wields considerable influence, particularly over federal spending decisions. Despite the current dip in approval, she has not officially launched her campaign but expressed confidence about her prospects, bolstered by strong fundraising efforts.

Collins has a track record of announcing her campaigns later than many of her peers. For her successful 2020 reelection run, she waited until December 2019 to formally declare. Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has already begun airing advertisements supporting her, signaling that party leadership views her as a valuable incumbent.

Additionally, a super PAC aligned with Collins has raised $5.6 million during the first half of 2025. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Collins herself has raised $6 million and currently holds about $5 million in cash reserves for the upcoming election cycle.

Jason Savage, Executive Director of the Maine Republican Party, voiced strong support for Collins in an interview with the Daily Caller News Foundation. He praised her record, emphasizing her impact across Maine’s diverse communities and expressing confidence that voters will recognize her efforts when they head to the polls in 2026.

Despite these reassurances, Collins faces the challenge of navigating a divided political landscape. Her willingness to break with Trump and take principled stands on contentious issues has earned both praise and criticism. Whether she can regain or maintain voter trust in Maine will be a key question as the next election draws near.