View source for Susan Collins

{{Short description|American politician (born 1952)}}
{{other people}}
{{redirect|Senator Collins}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Susan Collins
| image               = Senator Susan Collins 2014 official portrait.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2014
| jr/sr              = United States Senator
| state              = [[Maine]]
| alongside          = [[Angus King]]
| term_start         = January 3, 1997
| term_end           = 
| predecessor        = [[William Cohen]]<!--
| successor          = -->
{{collapsed infobox section begin |last=yes |Committee positions
 |titlestyle       = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office1              = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]
| term_start1          = January 3, 2025
| term_end1            = 
| predecessor1         = [[Patty Murray]]
| successor1           = 
| office2             = Vice Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Senate Appropriations Committee]]
| term_start2         = January 3, 2023
| term_end2           = January 3, 2025
| predecessor2        = [[Richard Shelby]]
| successor2          = [[Patty Murray]]
| office3             = Chair of the [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Senate Aging Committee]]
| term_start3         = January 3, 2015
| term_end3          = February 3, 2021
| predecessor3        = [[Bill Nelson]]
| successor3          = [[Bob Casey Jr.]]
| office4             = Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Senate Aging Committee]]
| term_start4         = January 3, 2013
| term_end4           = January 3, 2015
| predecessor4        = [[Bob Corker]]
| successor4          = [[Claire McCaskill]]
| office5             = Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Senate Homeland Security Committee]]
| term_start5         = January 3, 2007
| term_end5           = January 3, 2013
| predecessor5        = [[Joe Lieberman]]
| successor5          = [[Tom Coburn]]
| office6             = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee]]
| term_start6         = January 3, 2003
| term_end6           = January 3, 2007
| predecessor6        = [[Joe Lieberman]]
| successor6          = [[Joe Lieberman]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}}}
| office7              = Deputy Treasurer of Massachusetts
| term_start7          = 1993
| term_end7            = 1993
| office8              = Commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation
| Governor8            = [[John R. McKernan Jr.]]
| term_start8          = 1987
| term_end8            = 1992
| birth_name          = Susan Margaret Collins
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1952|12|07}}
| birth_place         = [[Caribou, Maine]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Thomas Daffron|2012}}
| relatives           = [[Donald Collins (Maine politician)|Donald Collins]] (father)<br />[[Patricia M. Collins|Patricia McGuigan]] (mother)<br>[[Samuel Collins (politician)|Samuel Collins]] (uncle)
| education           = [[St. Lawrence University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| website             = {{URL|collins.senate.gov|Senate website}}
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Susan Collins on her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.ogg
|title       = Collins's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Collins supporting [[Brett Kavanaugh]] for the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]]<br />Recorded October 5, 2018}}
}}
{{Susan Collins series}}

'''Susan Margaret Collins''' (born December 7, 1952) is an American politician serving as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States senator]] from [[Maine]]. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], she has held her seat since 1997 and is Maine's [[United States congressional delegations from Maine|longest-serving member of Congress]]. Since 2025, Collins has served as chair of the [[Senate Appropriations Committee]].

Born in [[Caribou, Maine]], Collins is a graduate of [[St. Lawrence University]] in [[Canton, New York]]. Beginning her career as a staff assistant for Senator [[William Cohen]] in 1975, she became staff director of the [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management|Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee]] of the [[Committee on Governmental Affairs]] (which later became the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/about/history|title=History – Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee|website=hsgac.senate.gov|access-date=October 13, 2017}}</ref> in 1981. [[Governor of Maine|Governor]] [[John R. McKernan Jr.]] then appointed her commissioner of the Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation in 1987. In 1992 President [[George H. W. Bush]] appointed her director of the [[Small Business Administration]]'s regional office in [[Boston]]. Collins became a deputy state treasurer in the office of the [[Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts]] in 1993.<ref name="US HR History">{{cite web | title=COLLINS, Susan Margaret | website=US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives | url=https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/COLLINS,-Susan-Margaret-(C001035)/ | access-date=February 11, 2020}}</ref> After moving back to Maine in 1994, she became the Republican nominee for governor of Maine in the [[1994 Maine gubernatorial election|1994 general election]]. She was the first female major-party nominee for the post, finishing third in a four-way race with 23% of the vote. After her bid for governor in 1994, she became the founding director of the Center for Family Business at [[Husson University]] in [[Bangor, Maine]].

Collins was first elected to the Senate in [[1996 United States Senate election in Maine|1996]]. She was reelected in [[2002 United States Senate election in Maine|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in Maine|2008]], [[2014 United States Senate election in Maine|2014]], and [[2020 United States Senate election in Maine|2020]]. She chaired the [[United States Senate Special Committee on Aging|Senate Special Committee on Aging]] from 2015 to 2021 and the [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]] from 2003 to 2007. Collins is a senior Republican woman in the Senate, the dean of Maine's congressional delegation, and the only [[New England]] Republican in the [[116th United States Congress|116th]], [[117th United States Congress|117th]], [[118th United States Congress|118th]], and [[119th United States Congress|119th]] Congresses. Along with [[Dave McCormick]] of [[Pennsylvania]], Collins is one of only two Republicans to represent a Northeastern state in the Senate.<ref>{{cite web |title=The last New England Republican in Congress, Sen. Susan Collins beckons voters to political center |url=https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/10/15/last-new-england-republican-in-congress-sen-susan-collins-beckons-voters-to-political-center/114373444/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pathé |first1=Simone |date=November 15, 2018 |title=Poliquin Loss Wipes Out New England Republicans in the House |url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/poliquin-loss-wipes-new-england-republicans-house |access-date=November 16, 2018 |work=Roll Call |language=en}}</ref> Thus far, Collins is the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate,<ref>{{cite news |last=Wolfe |first=Rob |date=January 3, 2021 |title=Collins sworn in for historic fifth term in U.S. Senate |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/01/03/collins-sworn-in-for-historic-fifth-senate-term/ |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=The Portland Press Herald |location=South Portland, ME}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cochrane |first=Emily |date=November 27, 2020 |title=Empowered by an Odds-Defying Win, Susan Collins Is Ready to Deal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/us/politics/susan-collins-senate-biden.html |access-date=January 8, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York, NY}}</ref> and since 2019, the only Republican official [[Political party strength in Maine|holding statewide office]] in Maine.

Generally regarded as a [[Moderate Republican (modern United States)|moderate Republican]], Collins is often a pivotal vote in the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2017/02/05/for-collins-pivotal-role-as-a-check-on-trump/|title=Sen. Susan Collins develops pivotal, but uncomfortable, role as check on Trump|first=Colin |last=Woodard|date=February 5, 2017|website=Press Herald|access-date=May 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2018/0723/Can-the-center-hold-Susan-Collins-and-the-high-wire-act-of-being-a-moderate |first=Francine |last=Kiefer |title=Can the center hold? Susan Collins and the high wire act of being a moderate|date=July 23, 2018|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=May 23, 2019|issn=0882-7729}}</ref> She was one of three Republicans to [[American Health Care Act of 2017|vote against a partial repeal]] of the [[Affordable Care Act]]. She was the sole Republican to vote against confirming [[Amy Coney Barrett]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] and one of three to vote to confirm [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]]. As a pro-choice Republican, she drew scrutiny for her vote to confirm [[Brett Kavanaugh]]. She has said that she believed that he would not support overturning ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cox |first1=Ana Marie |date=2022-05-04 |title=Susan Collins' pro-Roe, pro-abortion stance was doomed by her Supreme Court votes |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/susan-collins-roe-abortion-stance-was-doomed-supreme-court-votes-rcna27227 |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-24 |title=Senator Collins' Statement on SCOTUS' Dobbs Decision {{!}} U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine |url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-statement-on-scotus-dobbs-decision |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=www.collins.senate.gov |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, he joined the majority opinion in ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]]'', which overturned ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''. Collins subsequently opposed the [[Women's Health Protection Act]], proposing a more limited alternative legislation with two other Republicans to codify ''Roe''. Unlike Democrats who sought to weaken or eliminate the [[Filibuster in the United States Senate|filibuster]] ''[[de facto]]'' required to pass abortion protections, Collins maintained her support for the 60-vote Senate threshold, arguing for bipartisan compromise and preserving the filibuster. Collins was a pivotal Republican vote for the Trump administration's [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act]], though she later expressed concerns about some of its provisions.

During the [[impeachment trial of Bill Clinton]], Collins was one of 10 Republican senators to vote to acquit him on the first charge and one of five to vote to acquit on the second. During the [[first impeachment trial of Donald Trump]], Collins joined all Senate Republicans but one in voting to acquit him on the first charge, and all Republicans to acquit on the second. In his [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|second impeachment trial]], she was one of seven Republicans to vote to convict Trump of [[Sedition|incitement of insurrection]].

==Early life==

One of six children, Collins was born in [[Caribou, Maine]], where her family operates a [[lumber]] business established by her great-great-great-grandfather, Samuel W. Collins, in 1844.<ref name=":7">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/06/us/politics/susan-collins-election.html|title=Susan Collins, a Fixture in Maine, Has Twin Troubles: Trump and Kavanaugh|last=Stolberg|first=Sheryl Gay|date=July 6, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 12, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Her parents, [[Patricia M. Collins|Patricia (née McGuigan)]] and [[Donald Collins (Maine politician)|Donald Collins]] (1925–2018), each served as mayor of Caribou.<ref name=":7" /> Her father, a decorated veteran of [[World War II]], also served in the [[Maine Legislature]], with one term in the House, and four in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2018/03/11/obituaries/donald-collins-father-of-sen-susan-collins-dies-at-92/ |title=Donald Collins, father of Sen. Susan Collins, dies at 92|last=Burns|first=Christopher|date=March 11, 2018|work=[[Bangor Daily News]]|access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref><ref name="rettig">{{Cite news|date=February 10, 2010|work=[[U.S. News & World Report]]|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Susan Collins|url=https://www.usnews.com/articles/news/2010/02/02/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-susan-collins.html|last=Rettig|first=Jessica}}</ref> Her uncle, [[Samuel Collins (politician)|Samuel W. Collins Jr.]], sat on the [[Maine Supreme Judicial Court]] from 1988 to 1994 and served in the [[Maine Senate]] from 1973 to 1984.<ref name="time" />

Collins attended [[Caribou High School]], where she was president of the [[student council]].<ref name="program">{{cite press release |date=January 22, 2010|work=United States Senator Susan M. Collins|title=Outstanding Maine Students Selected for Senate Youth Program |url-status=dead |url=https://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.WeeklyColumn&ContentRecord_id=578c378d-802a-23ad-459d-ef3494ec2576&| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721062629/https://www.collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.WeeklyColumn&ContentRecord_id=578c378d-802a-23ad-459d-ef3494ec2576&| archive-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref> During her senior year of high school in 1971, she was chosen to participate in the [[United States Senate Youth Program|U.S. Senate Youth Program]], through which she visited [[Washington, D.C.]], for the first time and had a two-hour conversation with Maine's first female [[United States Senate|United States Senator]], [[Margaret Chase Smith]], also a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. Collins is the first program delegate elected to the Senate and holds the seat once held by Smith.<ref name="program" /> After graduating from high school, she continued her education at [[St. Lawrence University]] in [[Canton (village), New York|Canton, New York]].<ref name="congress">{{cite news|work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]]|title= COLLINS, Susan Margaret|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=c001035 }}</ref> Like her father, she was elected to the [[Phi Beta Kappa]] national academic honor society. She graduated from St. Lawrence ''[[Latin honors|magna cum laude]]'' with a bachelor's degree in government in 1975.<ref name="campaign">{{cite news|url=http://www.susancollins.com/about-susan-collins|title=About Susan Collins|work=Susan Collins for Senate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308100033/http://www.susancollins.com/about-susan-collins|archive-date=March 8, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early political career==

Following graduation, Collins worked as a legislative assistant to [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] and later U.S. Senator [[William Cohen]] from 1975 to 1987.<ref name=congress/> She was also staff director of the [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia|Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee]] on the [[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]] from 1981 to 1987.<ref name=congress/>

In 1987, Collins joined the cabinet of [[Governor of Maine|Governor]] [[John R. McKernan Jr.]] as Commissioner of the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation.<ref name=campaign/> President [[George H. W. Bush]] appointed her the [[New England]] regional director for the [[Small Business Administration]] in 1992.<ref name=rettig/> After briefly serving in this post until the [[1992 United States presidential election|1992 election]] of President [[Bill Clinton]], she moved to [[Massachusetts]] and became Deputy [[Treasurer and Receiver-General of Massachusetts|State Treasurer of Massachusetts]] under [[Joe Malone (politician)|Joe Malone]] in 1993.<ref name=congress/>

Returning to Maine, Collins won an eight-way Republican [[Partisan primary|primary]] in the [[1994 Maine gubernatorial election|1994 gubernatorial election]], becoming the first woman nominated by a major party for [[governor of Maine]].<ref name=rettig/> During the campaign, she received little support from Republican leaders and was criticized by conservative groups for her more liberal views on social issues. She lost the general election, receiving 23% of the vote and placing third behind Democrat [[Joseph E. Brennan]] and the winner, [[Independent politician|Independent]] candidate [[Angus King]], her future Senate colleague.<ref name=governor>{{cite news|work=[[Secretary of State of Maine]]|title= General Election Tabulations|date=November 8, 1994|url=http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1994g/gen94ga.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130917225045/http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1994g/gen94ga.htm|archive-date=September 17, 2013}}</ref>

In December 1994, Collins became the founding executive director of the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business at [[Husson University|Husson College]].<ref name=campaign/> She served in this post until 1996, when she announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by her former boss, William Cohen, who retired to become [[United States Secretary of Defense]] under [[President Bill Clinton]]. With Cohen's public endorsement, she won a difficult four-way primary and faced Brennan, her opponent in the 1994 gubernatorial election, in the general election. She defeated him, 49% to 44%.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1996election.pdf |title=Statistics of the Congressional and Presidential Election of November 5, 1996|last=Carle|first=Robin|year=1996 |pages=26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The 1996 Elections: State by State – Northeast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/06/us/northeast.html |date=November 6, 1996 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first1=Keith |last1=Bradsher |first2=David M. |last2=Herszenhorn |first3=Neil A. |last3=Lewis |first4=Steven Lee |last4=Myers |first5=Gustav |last5=Niebuhr |first6=Eric |last6=Schmitt |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>

==U.S. Senate==
===Elections===

[[File:Barack Obama and Susan Collins in the Oval Office 2009.jpg|thumb|right|Collins with President [[Barack Obama]]]]

Collins was elected to the [[United States Senate|Senate]] in [[1996 United States Senate election in Maine|1996]]. During the campaign she pledged that, if elected, she would serve only two terms.<ref>{{cite AV media | people = [[Rachel Maddow]] (Host) | date = October 5, 2018 | title = Susan Collins once pledged to only serve two terms | medium = Television production | url = https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/susan-collins-once-pledged-to-only-serve-two-terms-1338131011750 | access-date = February 19, 2020 | publisher=[[MSNBC]]}}</ref>

Collins was reelected in [[2002 United States Senate election in Maine|2002]] over State Senator [[Chellie Pingree]], 58%–42%, in [[2008 United States Senate election in Maine|2008]] over Representative [[Tom Allen (Maine politician)|Tom Allen]], 61.5%–38.5%, and in [[2014 United States Senate election in Maine|2014]] over [[Shenna Bellows]], 68.5%–31.5%. In her first three reelection campaigns, she carried every county in Maine.<ref>{{cite news |title=Maine Election Results 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2014/maine-elections |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>

In [[2020 United States Senate election in Maine|2020]], Collins was challenged by Democratic State House Speaker [[Sara Gideon]]. The hotly contested race became the most expensive in Maine history, with Collins spending $23 million and Gideon nearly $48 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/democrat-sara-gideon-concedes-gop-sen-susan-collins-maine-n1246042|title=Democrat Sara Gideon concedes to GOP Sen. Susan Collins in Maine|website=[[NBC News]]|date=November 4, 2020 }}</ref> The race also had national implications, as defeating Collins was a key part of the Democrats' strategy to achieve a Senate majority. Despite trailing Gideon in every public poll of the race,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/12/22/the-political-survival-of-susan-collins/|title=The political survival of Susan Collins|first=Mark D.|last=Brewer|date=December 22, 2020}}</ref> Collins defeated Gideon<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/results20.html#novtab|title=Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections and Voting, Tabulations June 12, 2018|website=www.maine.gov}}</ref> by a decisive margin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2020/11/07/rooks-split-decisions-all-way-down-ballot/6194201002/|title=Opinion/Rooks: Split decisions all the way down the ballot|first=Douglas|last=Rooks|website=Seacoastonline.com}}</ref>

In 2009, Collins was called one of "the last survivors of a once common species of [[moderate]] Northeastern Republican".<ref name=time>{{cite magazine|date=February 12, 2009|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|title=How Maine's GOP Senators Are Key to Obama's Agenda|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1879183,00.html |first1=Karen |last1=Tumulty |first2=Jay |last2=Newton-Small |access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> She is considered a centrist Republican and an influential player in the Senate.<ref name=politico>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2009/10/in-maine-being-bipartisan-pays-off-028766 |title=In Maine, being bipartisan pays off|last=Cummings|first=Jeanne|date=October 27, 2009|website=[[Politico]]|access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name=wapo>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102103569.html|title=New focus on Maine's other centrist Republican senator|last=Connolly|first=Ceci|date=October 22, 2009|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|page=A03|access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/us/politics/26maine.html |title=While Some Republicans Feel the Weight of Bush's Image, a Senator in Maine Soars|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|date=October 26, 2008|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>

Although she shared a centrist ideology with Maine's former senator, [[Olympia Snowe]], Collins is considered a "half-turn more conservative" than Snowe.<ref name="time" /> She was consistently endorsed by the [[Human Rights Campaign]], a major LGBT rights organization, until 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/15/hrc-susan-collins-sara-gideon/|title=Major LGBTQ rights group breaks with Sen. Susan Collins, endorses Democratic opponent Sara Gideon|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last=Weigel|first=Dave|date=July 15, 2020}}</ref> She supported [[John McCain]] in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]]. She became the state's senior senator in 2013 when Snowe left the Senate and was replaced by independent [[Angus King]], who defeated Collins in the [[1994 Maine gubernatorial election|1994 governor election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How Maine voted: Governor's races 1990 – 2014 |url=https://www.pressherald.com/interactive/maine-voted-governors-races-1990-2010/ |website=pressherald.com |date=October 8, 2014 |publisher=Portland Press Herald |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>

===Tenure===
====First term====

In the 1990s, Collins played an important role during the Senate's [[Clinton impeachment|impeachment trial]] of [[Bill Clinton]] when she and Snowe sponsored a motion that would have allowed the Senate to vote separately on the charges and the sentence.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} The motion failed, and Snowe and Collins voted to acquit, believing that while Clinton had committed [[perjury]], that was not grounds for removal from office.<ref>{{cite web |title=How the senators voted on impeachment |url=https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/02/12/senate.vote/ |date=February 12, 1999 |website=[[CNN]] |access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>

In March 1997, the Senate adopted a broader investigation into White House and congressional campaign fund-raising practices than Senate Republicans initially wanted. Collins said there were "a number of allegations that may or may not be illegal, but they may be improper."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/12/us/senators-endorse-campaign-inquiry-with-wider-scope.html|title=Senators Endorse Campaign Inquiry with Wider Scope |first=Eric|last=Schmitt|date=March 12, 1997|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref>

In a May 1997 interview, Collins stated her support for a proposal by [[Tom Daschle]] banning all abortions after the fetus is capable of living outside the womb except to save the life of the woman or protect her from physical injury. Of an alternative measure proposed by [[Rick Santorum]] that would ban partial-birth abortion, Collins said it "ignores cases in the medical literature involving women with very serious physical health problems".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/13/us/senate-is-lacking-veto-proof-vote-for-ban-on-an-abortion-method.html |first=Katherine Q. |last=Seelye |title=Senate Is Lacking Veto-Proof Vote for Ban on an Abortion Method|date=May 13, 1997|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

In 2001 Collins authored a measure that granted the [[United States Secretary of Education]] authority to grant waivers that would relieve reservists and members of the [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] from making federal student loan payments during active duty and grant the same privileges to victims and families of those affected by the [[September 11 attacks]]. The bill passed the Senate and House in December 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.michigansthumb.com/news/article/Student-Loan-Bill-Goes-to-President-7376214.php|title=Student Loan Bill Goes to President|date=December 19, 2001|publisher=michigansthumb.com}}</ref>

In November 2002, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the creation of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] while a Democratic effort to remove the bill's provisions fell short on a 52-to-47 vote that came after President [[George W. Bush]] lobbied against the vote. Collins and other senators said that Senate and House Republicans, as well as the White House, had given them an "ironclad promise" to essentially rescind provisions in the first spending bill to pass Congress the following year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/20/us/threats-responses-legislation-senate-votes-90-9-set-up-homeland-security-dept.html|title=THREATS AND RESPONSES: LEGISLATION; SENATE VOTES, 90–9, TO SET UP A HOMELAND SECURITY DEPT. GEARED TO FIGHT TERRORISM|first=David|last=Firestone|date=November 20, 2002|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

====Second term====

In 2004, Collins was one of the primary sponsors of legislation overhauling the U.S. intelligence community by creating a new post, [[Director of National Intelligence]], to oversee budgets and most assets of the spy agencies, and mandating that federal agencies establish minimum standards for states pertaining to issuing driver's licenses and birth certificates along with directing the [[United States Department of Homeland Security]] to form standards for ID used to board airplanes. The bill passed in the House and Senate in December. Collins said, "This was the most difficult bill to bring from conception to birth that I can imagine being involved with. But that makes the victory doubly satisfying."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/08/intelligence.bill/index.html |title=Senate OKs intelligence overhaul bill|date=December 10, 2004|work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Bush signed the bill, formally known as the [[Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act]], on December 17, 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/17/politics/bush-signs-bill-to-revamp-us-intelligence-community.html|title=Bush Signs Bill to Revamp U.S. Intelligence Community|author=Stout, David|date=December 17, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

In May 2005, Collins was one of [[Gang of 14|14 senators]] (seven Democrats and seven Republicans) to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial [[filibuster]], thus allowing the Republican leadership to end debate without having to exercise the [[nuclear option]]. Under the agreement, Democrats agreed they would filibuster Bush's judicial nominees only in "extraordinary circumstances"; three Bush [[appellate court]] nominees ([[Janice Rogers Brown]], [[Priscilla Owen]], and [[William H. Pryor Jr.|William Pryor]]) would receive a vote by the full Senate; and two others, [[Henry Saad]] and [[William Myers (lawyer)|William Myers]], were expressly denied such protection (both eventually withdrew their names from consideration).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/05/24/filibuster.fight/ |title=Senators compromise on filibusters: Bipartisan group agrees to vote to end debate on 3 nominees |work=[[CNN]] |date=May 24, 2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Ken |last=Rudin |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5080836 |title=Judging Alito: The Gang of 14 Factor |website=[[NPR]]|date=January 4, 2006 }}</ref>

In October 2008, Collins criticized robocalls by the McCain campaign claiming that [[Barack Obama]] "has worked closely with domestic terrorist [[Bill Ayers]], whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge's home and killed Americans", asserting that those "kind of tactics have no place in Maine politics" and urging McCain to cease the calls immediately.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-18-na-robo18-story.html |agency=Associated Press |title=GOP senator decries anti-Obama robocalls|date=October 18, 2008|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

====Third term====

In 2009, Collins played a role in removing $870 million in pandemic flu funding from a $787 billion stimulus package. She said she had done so on procedural grounds: "It is the regular appropriations process that is the appropriate vehicle for considering funding for many of these programs that, while worthwhile, do not boost our economy."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dennis |first1=Steven |title=Sen. Collins Defends Role in Axing Pandemic Flu Funds |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2009/04/27/sen-collins-defends-role-in-axing-pandemic-flu-funds/ |access-date=4 August 2020 |publisher=Roll Call |date=April 27, 2009}}</ref>

In April 2010, Collins and Senator [[Joe Lieberman]] issued a subpoena seeking documents and interviews associated with the American government's investigation into the conduct of investigators during their interactions with [[Nidal Hasan]] before the [[2009 Fort Hood shooting|Fort Hood shooting]]. The Pentagon announced that the Obama administration would not authorize Senate investigators to question intelligence agents who reviewed e-mails between Hasan and an extremist Islamic cleric before the shooting. Collins and Lieberman issued a statement accusing the Departments of Justice and Defense of refusing "to provide access to their agents who reportedly reviewed Major Hasan's communications with radical extremist cleric Anwar al Awlaki and to transcripts of prosecution interviews with Hasan's associates and superiors, which DOD already provided to its internal review."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24581011.html|title=Senators disappointed by response to Fort Hood subpoena|date=April 27, 2010|publisher=mcclatchydc.com}}</ref>

[[File:Obama signs DADT repeal.jpg|thumb|right|Collins, right, stands near President [[Barack Obama]] as he signs the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010|repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell]]]]
In May 2010, Collins and Snowe were the only two Republicans to vote for an unsuccessful Democratic measure that would have prevented bailouts, highlighted financial products of complexity and toughened consumer protection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2010/05/19/news/economy/Wall_Street_reform/index.htm|title=Wall Street reform fails test|first=Jennifer|last=Liberto|date=May 19, 2010|work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

In February 2013, Collins announced her opposition to the confirmation of [[Chuck Hagel]] for [[United States Secretary of Defense]], citing her belief that Hagel's "past positions, votes and statements [do not] match the challenges of our time." The announcement came as a surprise, as Collins was considered a possible supporter of his nomination, and it occurred while the nomination was being filibustered.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/13/hagel-defense-secretary-susan-collins/1917369/|title=Senate gets ready for Chuck Hagel showdown|first=Catalina|last=Camia|date=February 13, 2013|publisher=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> The filibuster on Hagel's nomination was defeated,<ref>{{cite web |title=Senate Allows Nomination Of Chuck Hagel To Move Forward|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/02/26/172971326/senate-allows-nomination-of-chuck-hagel-to-move-forward |date=February 26, 2013 |first=Eyder |last=Peralta |publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref> and he was confirmed later that month.<ref>{{cite news|title=Chuck Hagel confirmed as US defence secretary by Senate|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-21591701 |work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=September 15, 2020 |date=February 27, 2013}}</ref>

In May 2013, following a report that the Internal Revenue Service had put additional scrutiny on conservative groups, Collins said the revelation "contributes to the profound distrust that the American people have in government" and added that she was disappointed that Obama "hasn't personally condemned this and spoken out".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/08/intelligence.bill/index.html |title=Collins says IRS revelations will fuel government distrust|date=May 12, 2013 |access-date=September 15, 2020 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

In April 2014, the Senate debated the [[Minimum Wage Fairness Act (S. 1737; 113th Congress)]]. The bill would have amended the [[Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938]] (FLSA) to increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour over two years.<ref name=1737sum>{{cite web|title= S. 1737 – Summary|date=April 2, 2014 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/1737 |publisher=United States Congress|access-date=April 8, 2014}}</ref> The bill was strongly supported by Obama and many Democratic senators but strongly opposed by Republicans in the Senate and House.<ref name=ObamaClearChoice>{{cite news|last=Sink|first=Justin|title= Obama: Congress has 'clear choice' on minimum wage|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/202475-obama-congress-has-clear-choice-on-minimum-wage |access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=April 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name=Reidpunts>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title= Reid punts on minimum-wage hike|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202964-reid-punts-on-minimum-wage-hike |access-date= April 9, 2014|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=April 8, 2014}}</ref><ref name=CentristRepubs>{{cite news|last=Bolton|first=Alexander|title=Centrist Republicans cool to minimum wage hike compromise|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/202641-centrist-republicans-cool-to-wage-compromise|access-date=April 9, 2014|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=April 4, 2014}}</ref> Collins tried to negotiate a compromise bill that centrist Republicans could agree to but was unable to do so.<ref name=CentristRepubs />

====Fourth term====
[[File:President Donald Trump meets with United States Senators Lamar Alexander, Susan Collins, and Lindsay Graham.jpg|thumb|right|Collins, [[Lamar Alexander]], and [[Lindsey Graham]] meet with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] in November 2017]]
In May 2016, the Senate passed an appropriations bill containing an amendment by Collins that she said would help prevent the [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|Department of Housing and Urban Development]] from gaining "national zoning authority for every neighborhood in our country". The legislation was given a veto threat by the White House, which was said by the Office of Management and Budget to oppose "the inclusion of problematic ideological provisions that are beyond the scope of funding legislation".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/280586-senate-approves-transportation-veterans-appropriations-bill |first=Jordain |last=Carney |title=Senate passes broad spending bill with $1.1B in Zika funds|date=May 19, 2016|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In 2016, Collins authored the Safe Treatments and Opportunities to Prevent Pain Act, a provision intended to encourage the [[National Institutes of Health]] to further its research into opioid therapy alternatives for pain management, and the Infant Plan of Safe Care Act, which mandated that states ensure safe care plans are developed for infants who are drug-dependent before they are discharged from hospitals. These provisions were included in the [[Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/1041091/senate-approves-sen-collins-provisions-to-opioid-act |work=The Oklahoman|title=Senate approves Sen. Collins' provisions to opioid act|agency=Associated Press|date=July 15, 2016}}</ref> legislation that created programs and expanded treatment access alongside implementing $181{{spaces}}million in new spending as part of an attempt to curb heroin and opioid addiction. Obama signed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act into law on July 22, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/07/26/421291.htm |agency=Associated Press |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Obama Signs Bill to Curb Opioid Abuse But Decries Low Funding|date=July 26, 2016|publisher=insurancejournal.com}}</ref>

On August 8, 2016, Collins announced that she would not vote for [[Donald Trump]], the Republican nominee in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]]. She said that as a lifelong Republican she did not make the decision lightly but felt he was unsuitable for office, "based on his disregard for the precept of treating others with respect, an idea that should transcend politics".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gop-senator-why-i-cannot-support-trump/2016/08/08/821095be-5d7e-11e6-9d2f-b1a3564181a1_story.html |first=Susan |last=Collins |access-date=September 14, 2020 |title=GOP senator Susan Collins: Why I cannot support Trump|date=August 8, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> She considered voting for the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]]'s ticket or a [[write-in candidate]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/08/09/echoing-romney-susan-collins-says-she-would-vote-for-the-libertarian-ticket-if-bill-weld-were-the-nominee |first=Nik |last=DeCosta-Klipa|title=Echoing Romney, Susan Collins says she would vote for the Libertarian ticket if Bill Weld were the nominee|date=August 9, 2016|work=Boston.com|access-date=January 2, 2019|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://wgme.com/news/local/sen-susan-collins-considers-libertarian-write-in-for-persident |date=August 14, 2016 |title=Susan Collins considers Libertarian, write-in for president|website=[[WGME-TV]] |first=Daniel |last=Lampariello |language=en-US|access-date=January 2, 2019}}</ref>

In the [[2016 United States presidential election]], Collins received one electoral vote for vice president from a [[faithless elector]] in Washington.<ref>{{cite news |title=Maine Senator Susan Collins Receives 1 Vote for Vice President in Official Count |url=https://wjbq.com/maine-senator-susan-collins-receives-1-vote-for-vice-president-in-official-count |date=January 6, 2017 |last=Gavin |first=Ryan |publisher=WJBQ Q97.9 |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref>

In January 2017, Collins and Senator [[Lisa Murkowski]] voted for Trump's nominee for Secretary of Education, [[Betsy DeVos]], within the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, passing DeVos's nomination by a vote of 12–11 to allow the full Senate to vote. Collins justified her vote, saying, "Presidents are entitled to considerable deference in the selection of Cabinet members."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Collins|first1=Steve|title=Despite committee vote, Collins says she has not made up mind on Betsy DeVos|url=http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2017/02/01/susan-collins-still-unsure-about-betsy-devos-nations-education-chief/2069618 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702064447/http://www.sunjournal.com/susan-collins-still-unsure-betsy-devos-nations-education-chief/ |date=February 1, 2017 |url-status=dead |work=[[Sun Journal (Lewiston, Maine)|Sun Journal]] |location=Lewiston, Maine|access-date=February 7, 2017|archive-date=July 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Martinson|first1=Erica|title=Murkowski on DeVos: 'This nomination is very difficult for me'|url=https://www.adn.com/politics/2017/01/31/murkowski-votes-to-advance-devos-nomination-to-full-senate-vote|work=[[Alaska Dispatch News]]|date=January 31, 2017|publisher=Alaska Dispatch Publishing|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|title=Senator Collins Announces She Will Vote Against the Confirmation of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education| url= https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-announces-she-will-vote-against-confirmation-betsy-devos-be-secretary|date=February 1, 2017|location=Washington, DC|website=collins.senate.gov|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref> Later, she and Murkowski were the only Republicans to break party lines and vote against DeVos's confirmation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/01/31/two-republican-senators-says-they-arent-committed-to-voting-for-betsy-devos-on-senate-floor|title=Two Republican senators say they aren't committed to voting for Betsy DeVos on Senate floor|first=Valerie|last=Strauss|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=January 31, 2017|access-date=February 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/02/is-betsy-devos-going-down/515346 |date=February 1, 2017 |title=Will the Senate Block Betsy DeVos?|last=Berman|first=Russell|newspaper=[[The Atlantic]]|access-date=February 16, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> This caused [[List of tie-breaking votes cast by vice presidents of the United States|a 50–50 tie that was broken]] by [[President of the Senate|Senate President]] [[Mike Pence]] to confirm DeVos.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cowan|first1=Richard|title=Vice President Mike Pence breaks Senate tie to confirm Betsy DeVos as US education secretary|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-congress-devos-idUSKBN15M1X3| website=[[Reuters]]|date=February 7, 2017|access-date=February 7, 2017}}</ref>

In March 2017, Collins said she could not support the [[American Health Care Act of 2017|American Health Care Act]], the House Republicans' plan to repeal and replace the [[Affordable Care Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2017/03/16/sen-susan-collins-says-she-cant-support-house-aca-replacement-in-current-form/ |title=Sen. Collins says she can't support House health care plan in current form|first=Joe |last=Lawlor|date=March 16, 2017|website=Portland Press Herald}}</ref> She announced she would vote against the Senate version of the Republican bill to repeal Obamacare.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/imminent-cbo-report-could-prove-pivotal-for-senate-republicans-health-care-bill/2017/06/26/cb8d61e2-59f7-11e7-a9f6-7c3296387341_story.html |date=June 26, 2017 |title= Senate GOP health-care bill appears in deeper trouble following new CBO report |last1=Goldstein |first1=Amy |first2=Kelsey |last2=Snell |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref> Collins also clarified that she opposed repealing the ACA without a replacement proposal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/lisa-murkowski-shelley-moore-capito-susan-collins-take-heat-on-twitter-for-opposing-senate-healthcare-bill |date=July 18, 2017 |title=Lisa Murkowski, Shelley Moore Capito, Susan Collins take heat on Twitter for opposing Senate healthcare bill|last1=Trunko|first1=Matthew |first2=Leah |last2=DePiero |work=Washington Examiner|access-date=July 18, 2017|language=en}}</ref> On July 26, Collins was one of seven Republicans in voting against repealing the ACA without a suitable replacement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/us/politics/health-care-senate-vote.html|title=Health Care Vote: Senate Rejects Repeal Without Replace|last1=Kaplan|first1=Thomas|date=July 26, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 26, 2017|last2=Sullivan|first2=Eileen|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On July 27, she joined two other Republicans in voting against the "skinny" repeal of the ACA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2017/jul/27/us-healthcare-vote-live-updates-senate-republicans-affordable-care-act|title=US Senate rejects bill to repeal Obamacare in huge blow for Trump – live|last1=Jacobs|first1=Ben|date=July 28, 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=July 28, 2017|last2=Gambino|first2=Lauren|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In October, Collins called on Trump to support a bipartisan congressional effort led by [[Lamar Alexander]] and [[Patty Murray]] to reinstate insurer payments, saying that what Trump was doing was "affecting people's access and the cost of health care right now".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sen-collins-urges-trump-back-effort-resume-health-subsidy-article-1.3565779 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605215906/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sen-collins-urges-trump-back-effort-resume-health-subsidy-article-1.3565779 |archive-date=2019-06-05 |url-status=live |agency=Associated Press |title=GOP Senator Susan Collins urges Trump to back effort to resume health subsidy|date=October 16, 2017 |work=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref>

On December 14, 2017, the day the FCC was set to hold a vote on net neutrality, Collins and King sent the FCC a letter asking that the vote be postponed to allow public hearings on the merits of repealing net neutrality.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/senators-susan-collins-angus-king-call-on-fcc-to-cancel-vote-2017-12 |first=Avery |last=Hartmans |date=December 14, 2017 |title=Republican Sen. Susan Collins is calling on the FCC to cancel the net neutrality vote|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> They expressed concerns that repealing net neutrality could adversely affect the U.S. economy.<ref name=":4" /> As part of this drive, Collins is reported to support using the authority under the [[Congressional Review Act]] to nullify the FCC's repeal vote.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Neidig|first1=Harper|title=GOP senator offers his own net neutrality bill|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/377275-gop-senator-offers-net-neutrality-bill|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=March 7, 2018|access-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Collins was one of three Republicans voting with Democrats to repeal rule changes enacted by the Republican-controlled FCC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/16/politics/net-neutrality-vote-senate-democrats/index.html|title=Senate passes bill to repealing changes to net neutrality rules |date=May 17, 2018 |first1=Ted |last1=Barrett |first2=Daniella |last2=Diaz|work=[[CNN]]|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref> The measure was meant to restore Obama-era net neutrality rules.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/16/senate-democrats-net-neutrality-539275 |date=May 16, 2018 |first=John |last=Hendel |title=Senate Democrats score net neutrality win in bid for midterm momentum |work=[[Politico]]|access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref>

In 2017, [[The Lugar Center]], a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit founded by Senator [[Richard Lugar]], released a bipartisan index in cooperation with Georgetown University that ranked Collins the most bipartisan senator during the first session of the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]] (and the only U.S. Senator from the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] ranked among the top 10 most bipartisan senators).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/Senate%20Scores%20115th%20Congress%20First%20Session.pdf |publisher=The Lugar Center|title=The Lugar Center – McCourt School Bipartisan Index|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2018|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/Collins-ranked-most-bipartisan-US-senator-480711721.html |title=Collins ranked most bipartisan U.S. Senator|publisher=WAGM-TV|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2018|location=Presque Isle, Maine}}</ref>

In January 2018, in response to the [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]]'s not implementing congressionally approved sanctions on Russia, Collins said it was confirmed Russia had tried to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, adding, "not only should there be a price to pay in terms of sanctions, but also we need to put safeguards in place right now for the elections for this year." She noted that the legislation received bipartisan support and predicted Russia would also attempt to interfere in the 2018 elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/371353-collins-white-houses-decision-not-to-implement-new-russian-sanctions|title=Collins: WH decision to not implement Russian sanctions 'perplexing'|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=January 30, 2018|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> In January 2019, Collins was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to advance legislation intended to block Trump from lifting sanctions on three Russian companies. She said she disagreed with "the easing of the sanctions because I think it sends the wrong message to Russia and to the oligarch and close ally of Mr. Putin, Oleg Deripaska, who will in my judgment continue to maintain considerable [ownership] under the Treasury's plan."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/425506-senate-advances-measure-bucking-trump-on-russia-sanctions |first=Jordain |last=Carney |title=Senate advances measure bucking Trump on Russia sanctions|date=January 15, 2019|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In 2018, Collins and Senators [[Tim Kaine]], [[Catherine Cortez Masto]], and [[Shelley Moore Capito]] authored the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer's Act, legislation centered on providing a public health approach to Alzheimer's. The bill would authorize $20{{spaces}}million annually to establish the "Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence" and aid statewide efforts to promote brain health and reduce cognitive decline. It passed the Senate and House and was signed by Trump in January 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wjhl.com/news/national/legislation-co-authored-by-sen-tim-kaine-geared-to-combat-alzheimers-signed-into-law/|title=Legislation co-authored by Sen. Tim Kaine geared to combat Alzheimer's signed into law|date=January 2, 2019|publisher=wjhl.com}}</ref>

In September 2018, Collins authored two bills as part of the Opioid Crisis Response Act, a bipartisan package of 70 Senate bills that would alter programs across multiple agencies in an effort to prevent opioids from being shipped through the U.S. Postal Service and grant doctors the ability to prescribe medications designed to wean opioid addictions. The bills passed 99 to 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/17/senate-set-pass-sweeping-opioids-package/|title=Senate passes sweeping opioids package|date=September 17, 2018|first=Colby|last=Itkowitz|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wabi.tv/content/news/Collins-King-vote--493586431.html|access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Collins, King vote to pass Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018|date=September 18, 2018|publisher=wabi.tv}}</ref>

In February 2019, Collins was one of five senators to sponsor legislation authorizing the Treasury Department to mint coins honoring [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[Barbara Bush]] under the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/430648-texas-senator-introduces-bill-to-produce-1-coin-honoring-bushes |first=Chris |last=Mills Rodrigo |title=Texas senator introduces bill to produce $1 coin honoring Bushes|date=February 19, 2019|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> and introduced the Reviving America's Scenic Byways Act of 2019 along with [[Ben Cardin]]. The bill required the Secretary of Transportation to request nominations and make determinations in regard to roads that would be designed under a voluntary, community-based program and was signed into law by Trump in September of that year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://riponadvance.com/featured/collins-bill-restarting-national-scenic-byways-program-becomes-law/|title=Collins' bill restarting National Scenic Byways Program becomes law|date=September 25, 2019|work=Ripon Advance |publisher=[[Ripon Society]] |access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref> After the Senate Intelligence Committee held a closed-door meeting with [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]], Collins said senators "clearly need to re-interview some witnesses whose accounts [Cohen] contradicts". Her comment was seen as hinting at the Intelligence Committee's interest in speaking with [[Donald Trump Jr.]] again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-donald-trump-jr-subpoena-russia-election-20190508-story.html |access-date=September 15, 2020 |agency=Associated Press |title=Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenas Donald Trump Jr. to testify again|date=May 8, 2019|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> In June, Collins cosponsored an amendment to form the John S. McCain{{spaces}}III Human Rights Commission, which would hold hearings and briefings on human rights violations ahead of collaborations with the Trump administration to address the violations, and be included in a defense authorization bill McCain had helped create as Armed Services Committee chairman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/448926-senators-revive-effort-to-create-mccain-human-rights-commission |first=Jordain |last=Carney |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Senators revive effort to create McCain human rights commission|date=June 17, 2019|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In her May 2019 commencement speech at [[Maine Maritime Academy]], Collins said getting the Senate to approve funding for a new training ship for the academy was her "number one priority" and that funding was included in Trump's proposed budget while she would still seek further funds through other measures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/sen-collins-navy-secretary-speak-at-76th-mma-commencement|title=Sen. Collins, Navy secretary speak at 76th MMA commencement|first=Stephen|last=Rappaport|date=May 7, 2019|publisher=mdislander.com}}</ref>

In July 2019, Collins cosponsored the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act, a bill introduced by [[Ben Cardin]] and [[Rob Portman]] that would create a new, privately funded memorial that would be constructed on federal lands in Washington, D.C. in order to honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters who died in the line of duty. Collins called freedom of the press "one of our fundamental constitutional rights" and spoke of the risks of reprisals faced by reporters around the world for their work.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/sen-susan-collins-joins-effort-honor-fallen-journalists/121094 |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Sen. Susan Collins joins effort to honor fallen journalists|publisher=penbaypilot.com|date=July 9, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2020, Collins voted "not guilty" on both articles in the [[first impeachment trial of Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/ |title=Trump impeachment vote count |website=[[Politico]] |access-date=February 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205215232/https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/trump-impeachment-vote-count-senate-results/ |archive-date=February 5, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On October 26, 2020, Collins was the only Republican senator to vote against the confirmation of Trump's nominee [[Amy Coney Barrett]] to the Supreme Court. Barrett was confirmed by a vote of 52–48.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sharp |first1=David |title=Collins votes against Barrett, heads home to save Senate job |url=https://news.yahoo.com/collins-votes-against-barrett-heads-185154068.html |access-date=21 January 2021 |work=[[Yahoo! News]] |date=October 27, 2020}} "Collins, who has never missed a vote, said she voted against Barrett out of fairness to Democrats, who were denied an election-year vote on then-President Barack Obama’s nominee in 2016."</ref>

====Fifth term====
[[File:Susan Collins speech at 2020 United States presidential election Electoral College count.ogg|thumb|Collins giving her [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]] speech after the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]].]]
On January 6, 2021, Collins was participating in the certification of the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count|Electoral College vote count]] when Trump supporters [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|attacked the United States Capitol]]. She was on the Senate floor listening to speeches related to the objection to counting Arizona's votes when the [[Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate|Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate]] and [[U.S. Capitol Police]] removed Vice President Mike Pence and Senators Mitch McConnell and [[Chuck Schumer]]. She called the experience "frightening and appalling."<ref name="Mannino">{{cite news |last1=Mannino |first1=Gabrielle |title=Maine Sen. Susan Collins: 'This is un-American, it is wrong, and it must not succeed.' |url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/pingree-this-doesnt-feel-like-america-right-now-maine-politicians-react-to-president-trump-rally-chaos/97-b237ff6d-e5b1-42ef-9bf7-26c73ce8e31f |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=News Center Maine |date=January 6, 2021}}</ref> Collins later called the attack "a dangerous, shameful, and outrageous attack on our democracy" and blamed Trump for "working up the crowd and inciting this mob". She called on him to call off the rioters. When Congress reconvened after the Capitol was secure, Collins voted to certify the count.<ref name="Shepherd">{{cite news |last1=Shepherd |first1=Michael |title=Susan Collins: Trump bears responsibility for Capitol insurrection |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2021/01/06/politics/susan-collins-trump-must-issue-forceful-message-denouncing-capitol-insurrection/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=Bangor Daily News |date=January 7, 2021}}</ref>

Toward the end of January 2021, Collins led a group of 10 Republican senators who requested that President [[Joe Biden]] join bipartisan negotiations when creating his COVID-19 economic relief package.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/sites/default/files/Ltr%20to%20POTUS%20re%20COVID%20relief%20final%20-%202021-01-31.pdf |date=January 31, 2021 |title=letter to The President |first=Susan |last=Collins |website=www.collins.senate.gov |access-date=March 6, 2021 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310124507/https://www.collins.senate.gov/sites/default/files/Ltr%20to%20POTUS%20re%20COVID%20relief%20final%20-%202021-01-31.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> After meeting with the group, Biden opted to pass his relief package using the [[Reconciliation (United States Congress)|reconciliation]] process, for which he did not need Republican support.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/covid-relief-biden-schumer-reconciliation-b1796595.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/covid-relief-biden-schumer-reconciliation-b1796595.html |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Democrats — with Biden's blessing — move forward with partisan Covid-relief bill|date=February 2, 2021|website=The Independent}}</ref>

On February 13, 2021, Collins was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Trump in his [[Second impeachment of Donald Trump|second impeachment trial]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-impeachment-trial-02-13-2021#h_189c59ab5cbaae4dd499cb26270dbe62 |title=These are the 7 GOP senators who voted to convict Trump |author1=Meg Wagner|author2=Melissa Mahtani|author3=Melissa Macaya|author4=Veronica Rocha|date=February 13, 2021 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

Political analysis website [[FiveThirtyEight]] found that Collins had voted in line with President [[Joe Biden]] around 67% of the time in the 117th Congress.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422123731/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? |first=Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron |last=Bycoffe |date=April 22, 2021 |website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]}}</ref>

On May 18, 2021, [[Axios (website)|''Axios'']]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/2021/05/18/susan-collins-reelection-investigation-finance-scheme|title=Feds probe alleged illegal scheme to finance Susan Collins' 2020 run|date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref> revealed the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] investigation of defense contractor Martin Kao, former CEO of [[Navatek]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/06/rigging-the-system-the-martin-kao-case-offers-an-inside-view-of-pay-to-play-politics/ | title=Rigging the System: The Martin Kao Case Offers an Inside View of Pay-To-Play Politics | date=June 20, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/05/former-hawaii-executives-plead-guilty-to-sending-illegal-donations-to-us-sen-susan-collins/ | title=Former Hawaii Executives Plead Guilty to Sending Illegal Donations to US Sen. Susan Collins | date=May 15, 2023 }}</ref> who funneled $150,000 to a pro-Collins super PAC, 1820PAC, via a shell [[LLC]], Society for Young Women Scientists and Engineers, as a federal contractor, and reimbursed donations to the Collins 2020 campaign, both of which are illegal. A spokesperson said that the campaign had no knowledge of the exchange.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.axios.com/susan-collins-reelection-investigation-finance-scheme-11280676-b9f6-480d-a47f-c33f3f7ab4ca.html|title=Feds investigating alleged illegal donations to Collins' re-election bid|first=Lachlan|last=Markay|website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]]|date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/554209-fbi-investigating-illegal-donation-scheme-for-collins-campaign-report|title=FBI investigating illegal donation scheme for Collins campaign: report|first=Joseph|last=Choi|date=May 18, 2021|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

Collins cast her 8,000th consecutive roll call vote on October 28, 2021; only [[Chuck Grassley]] and [[William Proxmire]] have set longer streaks.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/579003-sen-collins-casts-8000-consecutive-roll-call-vote-in-congress|title = Collins casts 8,000 consecutive roll call vote in Senate|work = [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date = October 28, 2021|accessdate = November 1, 2021|last = Schnell|first = Mychael}}</ref> On April 19, 2024, the Senate recognized her 9,000th vote that night, surpassing Grassley's 8,927-vote streak earlier in March.<ref>{{Cite web|url=
https://www.centralmaine.com/2024/04/20/sen-collins-is-first-in-senate-history-to-cast-9000-consecutive-votes-having-missed-none/ |title = Susan Collins breaks a Senate record for never missing roll-call votes|date=April 20, 2024|website=Central Maine}}</ref>

Collins voted to confirm [[Ketanji Brown Jackson]] to the [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]], making her one of the only three GOP senators to support her nomination, the other two being [[Lisa Murkowski]] and [[Mitt Romney]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clare Jalonick |first1=Mary |title=GOP Sen. Collins says she'll back Jackson for Supreme Court |url=https://apnews.com/article/ketanji-brown-jackson-biden-stephen-breyer-us-supreme-court-susan-collins-ea0c7f48fc87f8fc2eac9c4f088b6855 |website=[[Associated Press|AP News]]|date=March 30, 2022 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref>

In February 2025, Collins voted to confirm Trump nominees [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]] for [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services]] and [[Russell Vought]] for [[Office of Management and Budget]] budget director.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Maine Democrats want to beat Susan Collins. Step one? Finding a challenger. - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/13/newsletters/starting-point-susan-collins-trump-maine-democrats/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-07 |title=Sens. Collins and King cast opposite votes on Trump's controversial budget director |url=https://www.mainepublic.org/politics/2025-02-07/sens-collins-and-king-cast-opposite-votes-on-trumps-controversial-budget-director |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Maine Public |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-13 |title=Angus King calls RFK Jr. ‘a danger.’ Susan Collins votes yes. |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2025/02/13/angus-king-calls-rfk-jr-a-danger-susan-collins-votes-yes/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=Press Herald}}</ref>

In May 2025, Collins criticized the Trump administration for cutting science funding and firing federal scientists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Arcelia |title=Sen. Susan Collins blasts Trump for cuts to scientific research |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/05/sen-susan-collins-blasts-trump-for-cuts-to-scientific-research/ |access-date=14 May 2025 |work=Ars Technica |agency=Inside Climate News |date=1 May 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:President Donald Trump with female Republican Senators.jpg|thumb|Collins with President [[Donald Trump]], [[Susie Wiles]], and fellow female [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] senators, January 2025]]

===Committee assignments===
Collins's committee assignments for the 119th Congress are as follows:<ref name="118thCongressAssignments">{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm|title=Committee Assignments of the 118th Congress|access-date=2023-03-17|website=United States Senate}}</ref>
* [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]] (Chair)
** In addition to the below, as Chair, Collins is an ''ex officio'' member of all subcommittees.
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
* [[United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions|Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions]]
** [[United States Senate Health Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security|Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security]]
* [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Select Committee on Intelligence]]

===Caucus memberships===

* [[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm |work=[[Afterschool Alliance]] |access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Republican Main Street Partnership]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=MEMBERS|url=https://www.republicanmainstreet.org/members|access-date=2021-03-01|website=RMSP|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Congressional Coalition on Adoption]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Senate Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Taiwan Caucus 118th Congress (2023-2024)|author=|url=https://fapa.org/senate-taiwan-caucus/|format=|publisher=Formosan Association for Public Affairs|date=February 5, 2004|accessdate=25 March 2025}}</ref>

==Political positions==

{{Main|Political positions of Susan Collins}}
[[File:SMCandOJS.jpg|thumb|right|With former U.S. Senator [[Olympia Snowe]] (also R-ME)]]

Collins has been described as a [[Moderate Republicans (modern United States)|moderate Republican]] and a [[centrist]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Sen. Susan Collins Was Known As A Moderate Republican — At Least Before Trump |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/20/807873831/sen-susan-collins-was-known-as-a-moderate-republican-at-least-before-trump |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=8 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hulse |first1=Carl |title=Collins to Back Jackson for Supreme Court, Giving Her a G.O.P. Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/30/us/politics/ketanji-brown-jackson-susan-collins.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=8 April 2022 |date=30 March 2022}}</ref> having voted with her party 59% of the time from 1997 to 2016. She voted with her party more often, about 87% of the time, in 2017, at the beginning of the Trump administration.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/11/politics/susan-collins-supreme-court-vote-analysis/index.html |date=July 11, 2018 |title=Susan Collins was a more reliable vote for GOP in 2017 than any other year|first= Harry |last=Enten|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite interview|url=https://www.npr.org/2020/02/20/807873831/sen-susan-collins-was-known-as-a-moderate-republican-at-least-before-trump |date=February 20, 2020 |interviewer=[[Mary Louise Kelly]] |first=Rebecca |last=Traister|title=Sen. Susan Collins Was Known As A Moderate Republican – At Least Before Trump|website=[[NPR]]|language=en|access-date=April 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/08/26/susan-collins-sara-gideon-2020-maine-election-1472411 |date=August 26, 2019 |title=Inside Susan Collins' reelection fight in the age of Trump|last=Everett|first=Burgess|website=[[Politico]] |language=en|access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref>

In 2013, Collins sided with Obama's position 75.9% of the time, one of only two Republicans to vote with him more than 70% of the time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/collins-murkowski-most-likely-republicans-to-back-obama|title=Collins, Murkowski Most Likely Republicans to Back Obama|last1=Lesniewski|first1=Niels|date=February 4, 2014|work=Roll Call|access-date=March 24, 2018|last2=Lesniewski|first2=Niels}}</ref> As of January 2021, according to ''[[FiveThirtyEight]]'', she had voted with Trump's positions about 65% of the time, the lowest among all Republican senators.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/susan-m-collins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312170925/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/susan-m-collins/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 12, 2017|title=Tracking Susan M. Collins In The Age Of Trump|last=Bycoffe|first=Aaron|date=January 30, 2017|work=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|access-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref> During Trump's presidency she voted with the Republican majority on party-line votes much more often than during Obama's presidency.<ref name=":1" /> According to FiveThirtyEight, as of January 2023, she had voted with Biden's position about 67% of the time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bycoffe|first=Anna Wiederkehr and Aaron|date=2021-04-22|title=Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?|url=https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422123731/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 22, 2021|access-date=2021-05-07|website=[[FiveThirtyEight]]|language=en}}</ref>

Collins voted to acquit Trump of all charges at his [[First impeachment trial of Donald Trump|first impeachment trial]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/12/politics/susan-collins-impeachment-vote-reaction/index.html |date=February 12, 2020 |title=Collins says her vote to acquit Trump wasn't about predicting his behavior after saying he 'learned' from impeachment|first=Ali |last=Zaslav|website=[[CNN]]|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> She said she did not think Trump's request that the Ukrainian President announce an investigation into [[Joe Biden]] met the "high bar" for "removing a duly elected president".<ref name=":0">{{Cite interview |interviewer=[[Norah O'Donnell]] |last=Collins |first=Susan |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/susan-collins-explains-her-vote-to-acquit-trump/ |title=Susan Collins explains her vote to acquit Trump|date=February 4, 2020|work=[[CBS News]]|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref> She said Trump had "learned from this case" and "will be much more cautious in the future."<ref name=":0" /> Shortly after his acquittal, Trump fired witnesses in the impeachment inquiry.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Baker|first1=Peter|last2=Schmidt|first2=Michael S.|last3=Haberman|first3=Maggie|date=February 8, 2020|title=Republican Senators Tried to Stop Trump From Firing Impeachment Witness|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/08/us/politics/trump-vindman-sondland-fired.html|access-date=May 22, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=February 7, 2020|title=Sen. Collins says she opposes any retribution against impeachment witnesses|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/07/collins-says-retribution-after-impeachment-acquital-would-not-be-appropriate/ |first1=Eric |last1=Russell |first2=Matt |last2=Byrnes |access-date=July 15, 2020|website=Press Herald}}</ref> In the following months, he fired inspectors general of the State Department and the intelligence community. Collins criticized the firing, provoking a retaliatory response from Trump.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trump railroads Republicans with new watchdog firing|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/18/trump-railroads-republicans-with-new-watchdog-firing-266573 |date=May 18, 2020 |first1=Andrew |last1=Desiderio |first2=Marianne |last2=LeVine |website=[[Politico]]|language=en|access-date=May 22, 2020}}</ref>

On February 13, 2021, Collins was one of the seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump in his [[Second impeachment trial of Donald Trump|second impeachment trial]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/trump-impeachment-trial-day-5-468985|title=Senate acquits Trump of inciting deadly Capitol attack|work=[[Politico]]|first1=Kyle|last1=Cheney|first2=Andrew|last2=Desiderio|date=February 13, 2021|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> On May 27, 2021, along with five other Republicans and all present Democrats, she voted to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the Capitol attack. She had amended the bill in the hopes of drawing sufficient Republicans to support it, but the vote failed for lack of 60 required "yes" votes to prevent a [[filibuster]].<ref>[https://www.rollcall.com/2021/05/28/republican-senators-torpedo-jan-6-commission/ Republican senators torpedo Jan. 6 commission], ''[[Roll Call]]'',  Chris Marquette, May 28, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.</ref>

In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Collins first among senators for bipartisanship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Work |url=https://www.thelugarcenter.org/ourwork-85.html |access-date=2024-11-05 |website=www.thelugarcenter.org}}</ref>

===Abortion===
Collins is one of two Republican U.S. Senators, along with [[Lisa Murkowski]], who describe themselves as pro-choice, or [[Abortion-rights movements|pro-abortion rights]], and supported ''[[Roe v. Wade]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/susan-collins-remain-senate-skip-governor-run-n810391 |first1=Frank, V |last1=Thorp |first2=Alex |last2=Seitz-Wald |date=October 13, 2017 |title=Susan Collins announces she'll stay in Senate, skip governor run|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=June 18, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=ABC News|title=20 Female Senators Sworn in on Capitol Hill|date=January 3, 2013|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8nJp2sT_oc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/O8nJp2sT_oc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=April 11, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-05/trump-s-supreme-court-pick-may-turn-on-outliers-in-both-parties |first1= Steven T. |last1=Dennis |first2=Laura |last2=Litvan |date=July 5, 2018 |title=Trump's Supreme Court Pick May Turn on Outliers in Both Parties|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|access-date=July 5, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

According to ''[[HuffPost]]'', Collins has repeatedly voted to confirm judges who have signaled opposition to abortion rights. She has defended these votes by citing her support for both of [[Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates|Obama's Supreme Court appointments]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/susan-collins-abortion-rights-judges_n_5cf6c539e4b059c99ebe9b63 |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Senator Susan Collins Keeps Voting For Donald Trump's Anti-Abortion Judges|website=[[HuffPost]]|language=en-US|access-date=June 5, 2019|first=Hayley |last=Miller }}</ref> She voted to confirm [[Brett Kavanaugh]] to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying she did not believe he would overturn ''Roe''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fandos|first1=Nicholas|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-vote-confirmed.html|title=Collins and Manchin Will Vote for Kavanaugh, All but Ensuring His Confirmation|date=October 5, 2018|access-date=October 5, 2018|agency=The New York Times|last2=Stolberg|first2=Sheryl|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name=":62">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-slam-collins-for-kavanaugh-vote-in-wake-of-supreme-court-ruling-on-louisiana-abortion-law/2019/02/08/2a78d1bc-2bcc-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html|title=Democrats slam Collins for Kavanaugh vote in wake of Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana abortion law|date=February 8, 2019 |first1=Felicia |last1=Sonmez |first2=Michael |last2=Scherer |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref> She said she felt "vindication" in 2018 when Kavanaugh voted with the court's four Democratic-appointed justices and Chief Justice [[John Roberts]] not to hear cases against [[Planned Parenthood]] from Kansas and Louisiana, although Planned Parenthood disagreed with her assessment of the situation.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Ariane |last1=de Vogue |first2=Manu |last2=Raju |title=Republican senator feels 'vindication' after Kavanaugh votes in favor of Planned Parenthood|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/10/politics/susan-collins-brett-kavanaugh/index.html |date=December 11, 2018 |access-date=July 12, 2020|website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=December 16, 2018|title=Collins defends feeling 'vindicated' after Kavanaugh vote|url=https://apnews.com/2bf98026c7fa4a27a786eb8dc50ef5f6|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=[[Associated Press|AP News]]}}</ref> In 2020, Collins faced renewed criticism of her vote by progressive groups when Kavanaugh said states should be permitted to severely reduce access to and availability of abortion in his dissent in ''[[June Medical Services, LLC v. Russo|June Medical Services LLC v Russo]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sonmez|first=Felicia|title=Susan Collins faces criticism for Kavanaugh vote after his dissent in Supreme Court ruling protecting gay, transgender workers |date=June 15, 2020 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sen-susan-collins-faces-criticism-for-kavanaugh-vote-after-supreme-court-ruling-protecting-gay-transgender-workers/2020/06/15/687cdda6-af4b-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Higgins|first=Tucker|date=January 21, 2020|title=Progressive group launches ad campaign criticizing Susan Collins for her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/21/demand-justice-launches-campaign-against-susan-collins-over-kavanaugh.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|website=[[CNBC]]|language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, Collins was one of three Republican senators to decline to sign an ''amicus'' brief supporting an [[United States anti-abortion movement|anti-abortion]] Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-01|title=Biden Calls Texas Abortion Law 'Extreme' But Is Silent on Court|language=en|work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-01/biden-calls-texas-abortion-law-extreme-but-is-silent-on-court|access-date=2021-09-15}}</ref> She faced renewed criticism after Kavanaugh voted with the majority, in a 5–4 vote, to reject an emergency petition to block a Texas law banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy; the law went into effect while facing continued challenges in the courts.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Piper|first=Jessica|date=2021-09-02|title=Susan Collins calls Texas abortion law 'extreme' under more scrutiny for Kavanaugh vote|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2021/09/02/politics/susan-collins-calls-texas-abortion-law-extreme-under-more-scrutiny-for-kavanaugh-vote/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US}}</ref> Responding to the legislation and criticism, Collins denounced the Texas anti-abortion law as "extreme, inhumane, and unconstitutional" and said she supports the ''Roe'' precedent as the "law of the land".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Morris|first=Kyle|date=2021-10-02|title=Susan Collins calls Texas abortion law 'inhumane,' defends Roe v. Wade as 'law of the land'|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/susan-collins-calls-texas-abortion-law-inhumane-defends-roe-v-wade-as-law-of-the-land|access-date=2021-10-04|website=[[Fox News]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2022, Collins received additional criticism for her support of Kavanaugh after a leaked draft of the Supreme Court opinion in ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]]'' indicated the Court would overturn ''Roe v. Wade'', with Kavanaugh breaking with his statements that ''Roe'' was "[[Precedent|settled law]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tangalakis-Lippert |first=Katherine |title=Clips of Sen. Susan Collins saying Justice Kavanaugh sees Roe v. Wade as 'settled law' are circulating after report indicates Supreme Court appears poised to roll back abortion rights |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/clips-of-susan-collins-defending-kavanaugh-on-abortion-are-resurfacing-2022-5 |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2022 |title=Maine officials, groups react to report that SCOTUS may overturn Roe v. Wade |url=https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-elected-officials-react-to-report-that-scotus-may-overturn-roe-v-wade-supreme-court-collins-pingree-mills-lepage-king-abortion-politico/97-a26cc102-7c28-4d86-a78c-972226c77f3c |access-date=May 4, 2022 |website=newscentermaine.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=GOP Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who support abortion rights, dismayed by draft opinion on Roe V. Wade |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roe-v-wade-supreme-court-abortion-access-advocates-susan-collins-lisa-murkowski/ |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=[[CBS News]] |date=May 4, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SBG-TV |first=WGME |date=2022-05-03 |title='Completely inconsistent': Collins reacts to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade report |url=https://wgme.com/news/local/abortion-rights-roe-v-wade-senator-susan-collins-supreme-court-overturning-roe-v-wade-report-maine-completely-inconsistent-brett-kavanaugh |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=WGME |language=en}}</ref> She called the police after protesters wrote a chalk message in front of her home due to her votes to confirm justices involved in the draft ruling.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Lia |date=2022-05-09 |title=Susan Collins calls police after abortion rights chalk message appears outside her Bangor home |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2022/05/09/news/bangor/pro-abortion-chalk-message-appears-on-susan-collins-bangor-sidewalk/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duster |first=Chandelis |title=Sen. Collins calls police over abortion rights message written outside her Maine home |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/politics/susan-collins-abortion-rights-message-police/index.html |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=[[CNN]]|date=May 11, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-05-11 |title=Protestors Double Down on Leaving Maine Senator Collins Chalk Drawings |language=en |work=[[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-11/maine-senator-collins-s-home-attracts-chalk-message-from-abortion-protestors |access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref> Police said the chalk message did not constitute a crime.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oladipo |first=Gloria |date=2022-05-10 |title=Susan Collins calls the cops over polite abortion message chalked outside home |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/10/susan-collins-chalk-message-abortion-police |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On May 11, 2022, Collins voted against the [[Women's Health Protection Act]] of 2022, a bill that would prohibit a variety of restrictions on access to abortion, on the basis that it went too far beyond the standards established in ''Roe v. Wade'' and ''[[Planned Parenthood v. Casey]]''.<ref name=Garcia2022>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=What is in Murkowski and Collins' abortion bill versus Democrats' legislation? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/collins-murkowski-abortion-bill-roe-wade-b2072209.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/collins-murkowski-abortion-bill-roe-wade-b2072209.html |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=2022-12-16 |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/05/susan-collins-womens-health-protection-act-roe-v-wade/amp | title=Susan Collins Says No to Democrats' Abortion-Rights Bill Because It Contains Too Many Abortion Rights | website=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] | date=May 5, 2022 }}</ref> Collins joined Murkowski and Senator [[Kyrsten Sinema]] in drafting the Reproductive Choice Act, alternative legislation that would codify ''Roe'' and ''Casey'' into federal law more narrowly.<ref name=Garcia2022/><ref>{{Cite web |title=GOP Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, who support abortion rights, dismayed by draft opinion on Roe V. Wade |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/roe-v-wade-supreme-court-abortion-access-advocates-susan-collins-lisa-murkowski/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=[[CBS News]] |date=May 4, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Senate's two pro-abortion-rights Republicans are still talking to Democrats about a bipartisan way to turn Roe v. Wade into federal law. |url=https://www.politico.com/minutes/congress/05-11-2022/bipartisan-abortion-moves/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Economy===

In 2004, Collins expressed concerns about how the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] wanted to implement its proposed plan to cut taxes.<ref name="Andrews">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/21/us/mutiny-by-4-republicans-over-bush-s-tax-cutting-forces-delay-on-the-budget-vote.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |date=May 21, 2004 |title=Mutiny by 4 Republicans Over Bush's Tax Cutting Forces Delay on the Budget Vote|last=Andrews|first=Edmund L.|access-date=June 19, 2018|language=en}}</ref> She cited deficit concerns as a reason for opposing the plan,<ref name="Andrews"/> but ultimately voted in favor of the [[Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003|Bush tax cuts]] in 2003 and for their extension in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00165|title=On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 1836, as amended)|publisher=US Senate|date=May 23, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00196| title= On the Conference Report (H.R. 2 Conference Report)|publisher=US Senate|date= May 23, 2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/109/senate/2/votes/229/ |title= Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.5970; Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 3, 2006|access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref> Collins was one of just three Republican lawmakers to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,<ref>{{cite web|last=Broder|first=David S.|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/president-obama-shouldnt-give-up-on-bipartisanship/ |title=President Obama shouldn't give up on bipartisanship|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|date=February 18, 2009|access-date=July 30, 2011}}</ref> prompting heated criticism from the right for crossing party lines.

In December 2017, Collins voted to pass the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017|2017 Republican tax plan]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-collins-outlines-deal-making-behind-tax-vote-n826046 |first=Kailani |last=Koenig|date=December 3, 2017 |title=Sen. Collins shares the promises she got for tax vote|work=[[NBC News]]|access-date=December 5, 2017|language=en}}</ref> The bill greatly reduces corporate taxes while reducing taxes for some individuals and increasing them for others by removing some popular [[Tax deduction|deductions]].<ref name=":2" /> The bill also repeals Affordable Care Act's individual mandate, leaving thirteen million Americans uninsured and raising premiums by an estimated additional 10% per year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/01/senators-who-saved-obamacare-support-bill-that-would-hurt-obamacare.html|title=The senators who saved Obamacare are supporting a bill that could cripple it|last=Mangan|first=Dan|date=December 1, 2017|work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/363130-collins-doubles-funding-ask-for-obamacare-bill |title=Collins doubles funding ask for ObamaCare bill|last=Hellmann|first=Jessie|date=December 4, 2017|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref> After the vote, Collins said she received assurances from congressional leaders that they would pass legislation intended to mitigate some of the adverse effects of the individual mandate's repeal.<ref name=":3" /> When asked how she could vote for a bill that would increase the deficit by an estimated $1{{spaces}}trillion (over ten years) after having railed against the deficit during the Obama administration, Collins insisted that it would not increase the deficit. She said she had been advised in this determination by economists [[Glenn Hubbard (economist)|Glenn Hubbard]], [[Larry Lindsey]], and [[Douglas Holtz-Eakin]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Alex |last=Acquisto |date=December 3, 2017 |url=https://bangordailynews.com/2017/12/03/politics/collins-let-the-people-of-maine-down-with-her-vote-to-pass-tax-bill-protesters-say/|title=Collins 'let the people of Maine down' with her vote to pass tax bill, protesters say|work=Bangor Daily News|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Conservative columnist [[Jennifer Rubin (journalist)|Jennifer Rubin]] wrote that Hubbard and Holtz-Eakin denied saying the plan would not increase the deficit.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Rubin |date=December 4, 2017 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2017/12/04/republicans-keep-misrepresenting-what-they-did-on-the-debt|title=Republicans keep misrepresenting what they did on the debt|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/12/the-republican-war-on-economics.html |date=December 4, 2017 |author-link=Jonathan Chait |title=The Republican War on Economics|last=Chait|first=Jonathan|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York Intelligencer]]|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>

After voting for the tax plan, Collins became the top recipient of political donations from [[private equity]] firms.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=Susan Collins backed down from a fight with private equity. Now they're underwriting her reelection.|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/29/susan-collins-reelection-private-equity-433604|access-date=2020-10-29|website=[[Politico]]|date=October 29, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Blackstone chief executive [[Stephen A. Schwarzman|Steven Schwarzman]] donated $2 million to Collins's PAC, and [[Kenneth C. Griffin|Ken Griffin]] of the hedge fund [[Citadel LLC|Citadel]] donated $1.5 million.<ref name=":5" />

Along with all other Senate and House Republicans, Collins voted against the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]].<ref name=BipartisanshipDead>{{cite news|author=Carl Hulse|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/06/us/politics/stimulus-senate-bipartisanship-biden.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/06/us/politics/stimulus-senate-bipartisanship-biden.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=limited|date=March 6, 2021|title=After Stimulus Victory in Senate, Reality Sinks in: Bipartisanship Is Dead|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On September 30, 2021, she was one of 15 Senate Republicans to join all Democrats and both Independents to approve a temporary spending bill to continue government funding and avoid a [[Government shutdowns in the United States|government shutdown]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 117th Congress - 1st Session|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00397|access-date=2021-10-05|website=www.senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Cochrane|first=Emily|date=2021-09-30|title=Biden signs a short-term spending bill swiftly passed by Congress, averting a government shutdown.|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/30/us/politics/senate-spending-bill-government-shutdown.html|access-date=2021-10-05|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On October 7, 2021, she voted with 10 other Republicans and all members of the Democratic caucus to break the filibuster on raising the [[United States debt ceiling|debt ceiling]].<ref>{{Cite web|author=Paul LeBlanc|title=Here are the 11 Senate Republicans that joined Democrats to break the debt limit deal filibuster|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/07/politics/republican-debt-ceiling-filibuster-list/index.html|access-date=2021-10-08|website=[[CNN]]|date=October 8, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate votes to raise debt limit after 11 Republicans join Democrats to break filibuster|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senate-set-vote-break-filibuster-raise-debt-limit/story?id=80455636|access-date=2021-10-08|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|language=en}}</ref> She voted with all Republicans against the legislation to raise the debt ceiling.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Meyer|first=Mal|date=2021-10-08|title=Sen. Collins joins vote to break filibuster, but against $480B increase to debt ceiling|url=https://wgme.com/news/local/sen-collins-joins-vote-to-break-filibuster-but-against-480b-increase-to-debt-ceiling|access-date=2021-10-10|website=WGME}}</ref>

===Environment===
In 2008, Collins joined the bipartisan [[Gang of 20]], which sought to break a deadlock on a bill allowing [[offshore drilling]] that would devote billions in proceeds to [[renewable energy]] development.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.startribune.com/klobuchar-joins-bipartisan-energy-group/28297749/ |first=Mitch |last=Anderson |title=Klobuchar joins bipartisan energy group|work=[[Star Tribune]]|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kane |first1=Paul |title=Offshore Drilling Is Coming to a Vote |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302428.html |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=14 September 2008}}</ref>

In February 2017, Collins was the only Republican to vote against undoing an Obama administration rule that required coal mining companies to avoid contaminating local waterways.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/317616-senate-votes-to-block-obama-coal-rule|title=Senate votes to block Obama coal rule|first=Devin|last=Henry|date=February 2, 2017|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> She was the only Republican to vote against the confirmation of [[Scott Pruitt]], and later [[Andrew R. Wheeler|Andrew Wheeler]], to lead the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-pruitt-confirmation-vote-epa-administrator/ |agency=CBS/AP |title=Senate votes for confirmation of Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator|date=February 17, 2017|publisher=[[CBS News]]|access-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/432033-senate-confirms-wheeler-to-lead-epa |first=Miranda |last=Green |title=Senate confirms Wheeler to lead EPA|date=February 28, 2019|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In 2017, Collins voted for the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017|Tax Cuts and Jobs Act]], allowing [[Arctic Refuge drilling controversy|oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]], after unsuccessfully attempting to remove that part of the bill.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sharon |first1=Susan |title=Collins Draws Ire from Conservation Groups Over Vote on Senate Tax Bill, Allowing Arctic Drilling |url=https://www.nrcm.org/news/collins-draws-ire-conservation-groups-vote-senate-tax-bill-allowing-arctic-drilling/ |website=[[Natural Resources Council of Maine]] |date=7 December 2017}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=October 2020}}

As of 2022, Collins has a lifetime score of 60% from the League of Conservation Voters, the highest of any incumbent Senate Republican.<ref name="League of Conservation Voters Scorecard 2022">{{cite web |title=Check out Senator Susan Collins's Environmental Voting Record |website=League of Conservation Voters Scorecard |date=2022-02-14 |url=https://scorecard.lcv.org/moc/susan-m-collins |access-date=2022-04-11}}</ref>

===Foreign policy and national security===

In 2003, Collins voted in favor of the [[Iraq War Resolution]] authorizing President Bush to go to war against Iraq.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237|title=Roll call for H.J.Res. 114|publisher=US Senate}}</ref> In November 2007, she was one of four Republicans to vote for a Democratic proposal of $50{{spaces}}billion that would condition further spending on a timeline for withdrawing troops, mandating that a withdrawal begin 30 days after the bill was enacted as part of a goal of removing all U.S. troops in Iraq by December 15, 2008. The bill failed to get the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-11-17-0711161192-story.html |access-date=September 15, 2020 |date=November 17, 2007 |title=War funding fails in Senate|first=Noam N.|last=Levey|publisher=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> In April 2008, Collins and Senators [[Ben Nelson]] and [[Evan Bayh]] met with Bush's advisor on Iraq and Afghanistan, [[Douglas Lute]], and expressed support for a prohibition on spending for major reconstruction projects, the proposal requiring Iraqis to pay for its security forces to be trained and equipped and reimburse the American military for the estimated $153{{spaces}}million a month the military spent on fueling in combat operations in Iraq. Collins said after the meeting that while the administration did not have a view entirely similar to the senators', it at least seemed open to their proposal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/congress-urged-not-to-slash-iraq-funding/ |agency=CBS/AP |title=Congress Urged Not To Slash Iraq Funding|date=April 30, 2008|work=[[CBS News]]|access-date=September 14, 2020 }}</ref> In June 2014, while growing violence erupted in Iraq under the leadership of Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]], Collins said the violence would have been slower had a residual NATO force been present in Iraq and that the question was whether airstrikes were effective.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-lawmakers-express-frustration-with-iraqs-maliki-1403027784|title=U.S. Lawmakers Express Frustration With Iraq's Maliki|first=Michael R.|last=Crittenden|date=June 17, 2014|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref>

In September 2009, Collins said she was unsure whether sending more American troops to [[Afghanistan]] would help end the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]], but cited the need for "more American civilians to help build up institutions" and growth of the Afghan army.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2009/09/feinstein-afghan-war-should-be-time-limited-021333 |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Feinstein: Afghan war should be 'time limited'|first=Manu|last=Raju|date=September 13, 2009|publisher=[[Politico]]}}</ref> In 2010, she called for the removal of Arnold Fields as [[Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction]], citing his repeated expressing of concern for the SIGAR and his disappointment with the Obama administration's "ongoing failure to take decisive action".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/article24596911.html|title=Senators question reconstruction oversight in Afghanistan|first=David|last=Goldstein|date=October 15, 2010|publisher=mcclathchydc.com}}</ref> In August 2017, Collins commended Trump for providing clarity after years of the U.S. lacking a "clear focus and defined strategy" with respect to Afghanistan and said he made the case that the Afghan government must participate "in defending its people, ending havens for terrorists, and curtailing corruption".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://riponadvance.com/stories/capito-collins-tillis-support-u-s-troops-path-ahead-afghanistan/ |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Capito, Collins, Tillis support U.S. troops, path ahead in Afghanistan|date=August 24, 2017|work=Ripon Advance |publisher=[[Ripon Society]] }}</ref>

Before Obama met [[President of the People's Republic of China]] [[Xi Jinping]] at an informal retreat in June 2013, Collins cosponsored legislation that would authorize the Commerce Department to investigate whether currency manipulation is a form of subsidization.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-currency/senators-renew-push-against-china-currency-manipulation-despite-yuans-rise-idUSBRE9541HY20130605|title=Senators renew push against China currency 'manipulation' despite yuan's rise|first=Doug|last=Palmer|date=June 5, 2013|publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> In April 2018, she said the U.S. needed "a more nuanced approach" in dealing with China but gave Trump "credit for levying these tariffs against the Chinese, with whom we've talked for a decade about their unfair trade practices and their theft of intellectual property from American firms", adding that while the U.S. needed to toughen its stance against China, it would need to do this in a manner that did not create "a trade war and retaliation that will end up with our European and Asian competitors getting business that otherwise would have come to American farmers".<ref>{{cite news |first=Julia |last=Manchester |access-date=September 15, 2020 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/382155-collins-trump-should-get-credit-for-china-tariffs|title=Collins: Trump should get credit for China tariffs|date=April 8, 2018|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In March 2015, Collins was one of seven Senate Republicans not to sign a March 2015 letter to the leadership of the [[Islamic Republic of Iran]] attempting to cast doubt on the Obama administration's authority to engage in nuclear-proliferation negotiations with Iran.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/03/10/who-are-the-seven-republicans-that-didnt-sign-the-iran-letter/ |first=Greg |last=Jaffe |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Who are the seven Republicans who didn't sign the Iran letter?|date=March 10, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> She announced her opposition to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action|Iran nuclear agreement]] later that year, saying it was "fundamentally flawed because it leaves Iran as capable of building a nuclear weapon at the expiration of the agreement as it is today", and predicted Iran "will be a more dangerous and stronger nuclear threshold state" after the agreement expires.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2015/09/08/collins-says-no-to-iran-nuclear-deal/|title=Maine's Sen. Susan Collins says no to Iran nuclear deal|first=Eric|last=Russell|date=September 8, 2015}}</ref> In June 2019, after the United States nearly launched an airstrike on Iran after Iran downed an American surveillance drone, Collins said the U.S. could not "allow Iran to continue to launch this kind of attack" but warned that miscalculations by either side "could lead to a war in the [[Middle East]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2019/06/21/congressional-delegation-says-iran-situation-fraught-with-danger/ |first1=Megan |last1=Gray |first2=Matt |last2=Byrne|title=Maine congressional delegation says Iran situation fraught with danger|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=Press Herald}}</ref>

In March 2017, Collins co-sponsored the [[Israel Anti-Boycott Act]] (S.270), which made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/07/senate-bill-would-make-it-a-federal-crime-to-boycott-israel.html|title=43 Senators Want to Make It a Federal Crime to Boycott Israeli Settlements|last=Levitz|first=Eric|date=July 19, 2017|website=[[New York (magazine)|New York Intelligencer]]|language=en}}</ref> for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and [[Israeli settlement]]s in the occupied [[Israeli-occupied territories|Palestinian territories]] if protesting actions by the Israeli government.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/720/cosponsors|title=Cosponsors – S.720 – 115th Congress (2017–2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act|date=March 23, 2017|website=congress.gov}}</ref>

In March 2018, Collins was one of five Republican senators to vote against tabling a resolution that would cease the U.S. military's support for [[Saudi Arabia]]'s [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|bombing operations in Yemen]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/379392-senate-sides-with-trump-on-providing-saudi-military-support |first=Jordain |last=Carney |title=Senate sides with Trump on providing Saudi military support|date=March 20, 2018|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref> In December, she was one of seven Republican senators to vote for the resolution withdrawing American armed forces' support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and an amendment by [[Todd Young]] ensuring midair refueling between American and Saudi Air Force did not resume.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-votes-to-end-u-s-support-for-saudi-war-in-yemen/|title=Senate votes to end U.S. support for Saudi war in Yemen|first=Bo|last=Erickson |date=December 13, 2018 |work=[[CBS News]]}}</ref> Collins was one of seven Republicans to vote to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen in February 2019, and, in May 2019, she was one of seven Republicans to vote to override Trump's veto of the resolution on Yemen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/02/senate-trump-yemen-1298350 |date=May 2, 2019 |title=Senate fails to override Trump's veto on Yemen|last=Levine|first=Marianne|website=[[Politico]] |language=en |access-date=May 6, 2019}}</ref> In June 2019, Collins was one of seven Republicans to vote to block Trump's Saudi arms deal providing weapons to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Jordan and one of five Republicans to vote against an additional 20 arms sales.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jordain |last=Carney |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/449511-senate-votes-to-block-trumps-saudi-arms-sale|title=Senate votes to block Trump's Saudi arms sale|date=June 20, 2019|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In May 2020, Collins voted to confirm U.S. Representative [[John Ratcliffe (American politician)|John Ratcliffe]] as [[Director of National Intelligence]]. In 2019, there was bipartisan opposition to Ratcliffe's nomination. ''The Washington Post'' called Collins's support for Ratcliffe "key" to his 2020 confirmation.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Senate confirms John Ratcliffe as next director of national intelligence in sharply divided vote|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/senate-confirms-john-ratcliffe-as-next-director-of-national-intelligence/2020/05/21/81a9f0be-9ada-11ea-ac72-3841fcc9b35f_story.html |first=Shane |last=Harris |date=May 21, 2020 |access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref>

Collins said she was "saddened" by Trump's White House clash with Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] on February 28, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shepherd |first=Bill Trotter, Michael |date=2025-03-01 |title=How Maine's delegation reacted to Donald Trump's clash with Ukraine's leader |url=https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/02/28/politics/washington/maines-delegation-reacts-to-donald-trumps-clash-with-ukraine-leader-zelenskyy/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Bangor Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Gun policy===

Collins voted for the [[Joe Manchin|Manchin]]–[[Pat Toomey|Toomey]] bill to amend federal law to expand background checks for gun purchases.<ref name="S.Amdt 715 to S.649">{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00097|title=U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 113th Congress – 1st Session|work=Legislation & Records |publisher=US Senate|access-date=July 30, 2013}}</ref> She voted against a ban on high-capacity (more than ten rounds) magazines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Susan_Collins_Gun_Control.htm |title=Susan Collins on Gun Control|website=ontheissues.org|access-date=January 11, 2019}}</ref> In 2014 she received a "C" grade on gun rights from the [[NRA Political Victory Fund]],<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} Maine |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/maine/ |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104210519/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/maine/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-us |url-status=usurped}}</ref> rising to a "B" rating in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Grades {{!}} Maine |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/maine/ |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103174620/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/maine |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |language=en-us |url-status=usurped}}</ref> She received a D− from Gun Owners of America in 2012.<ref name="The Washington Post, Dectember 12, 2012">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2012/12/17/where-the-senate-stands-on-guns-in-one-chart |first=Aaron |last=Blake |date=December 17, 2012 |title=Where the Senate stands on guns – in one chart|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923035314/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2012/12/17/where-the-senate-stands-on-guns-in-one-chart|archive-date=September 23, 2015|url-status=live|url-access=limited}}{{Subscription required|date=September 2023}}</ref>

In 2018, Collins co-sponsored the NICS Denial Notification Act,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/nation-now/school-safety-bill-introduced-by-bipartisan-senators-in-response-to-florida-shooting/465-12ad93e2-e807-4f78-aafe-8df29fcb6ab0|title=School safety bill introduced by bipartisan senators in response to Florida shooting|date=March 5, 2018|first=Nicole|last=Gaudiano|publisher=wfmynews2.com}}</ref> legislation developed in the aftermath of the [[Stoneman Douglas High School shooting]] that would require federal authorities to inform states within a day after a person failing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System attempted to buy a firearm.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/news/20180310/collins-backed-push-to-keep-criminals-from-guns-progresses |access-date=September 15, 2020 |agency=Associated Press |title=Collins-backed push to keep criminals from guns progresses|date=March 10, 2018|publisher=seacoastonline.com}}</ref>

In February 2019, Collins supported the Terrorist Firearms Prevention Act, legislation enabling the attorney general to deny the sale of a firearm to people on the no-fly list or selectee list. It passed the House but failed to advance in the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/375824-senators-introduce-bill-to-block-terrorists-from-buying-guns |first=Jordain |last=Carney |title=Senators introduce bill to block terrorists from buying guns|date=February 27, 2018|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]}}</ref>

In 2022, Collins became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included a red flag provision, a support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under the age of 21, and penalties for straw purchases.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/senate-gun-safety-agreement/index.html|title=Bipartisan group of senators announces agreement on gun control|publisher=[[CNN]]|last1=Bash|first1=Dana|last2=Raju|first2=Manu|last3=Judd|first3=Donald|date=June 12, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2022}}</ref>

===Health care===

In May 2017, Collins was one of six senators to introduce the Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion Act, legislation that would allow treatment facilities with up to 40 beds reimbursement by Medicaid for 60 consecutive days of inpatient services and serve as a modification of the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease law, which authorized Medicaid coverage only for facilities with 16 or fewer beds.<ref>{{cite news|last=Castellucci|first=Maria|url=https://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20170518/NEWS/170519853/new-senate-bill-aims-to-boost-medicaid-addiction-treatment-access|title=New Senate bill aims to boost Medicaid addiction treatment access|date=May 18, 2017|publisher=modernhealthcare.com}}</ref>

Though she voted against the [[Affordable Care Act]] (Obamacare), Collins (along with fellow Republicans [[John McCain]] and [[Lisa Murkowski]]) voted against [[2017 Affordable Care Act replacement proposals#Senate legislation|an unsuccessful "skinny repeal" attempt]] in July 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/how-susan-collins-helped-save-obamacare |date=September 26, 2017 |title=How Susan Collins Helped Save Obamacare|last=Cassidy|first=John|magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|language=en|access-date=April 18, 2020}}</ref> Later that year, she voted with Republican senators to repeal the [[individual mandate]] of the ACA.<ref name="maintain">{{Cite news |title=Sen. Susan Collins: Obamacare court decision 'far too sweeping,' health care law 'should be maintained'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sen-susan-collins-obamacare-court-decision-sweeping-law/story?id=59839457 |first=Roey |last=Hadar |date=December 16, 2018 |access-date=June 27, 2020|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|language=en}}</ref> The absence of the individual mandate weakened the ACA's legal stability, leading the Trump administration in 2020 to seek to have the ACA ruled unconstitutional by the courts (in a 5–4 Supreme Court decision in 2012, Chief Justice Roberts upheld the ACA by citing the individual mandate).<ref>{{Cite news|title=Trump administration's move to end Obamacare amid pandemic reignites political fight|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-administrations-move-to-end-obamacare-amid-pandemic-reignites-political-fight/2020/06/26/9c1ddb98-b7bf-11ea-9b0f-c797548c1154_story.html |first1=Seung Min |last1=Kim |first2=Karoun |last2=Demirjian |date=June 26, 2020 }}</ref><ref name="maintain"/> The ACA remained intact, despite the lack of the individual mandate, following a 7-2 Supreme Court decision to reject a challenge to the law.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|date=2021-06-17|title=Affordable Care Act Survives Latest Supreme Court Challenge|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/17/us/obamacare-supreme-court.html|access-date=2021-10-06|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In December 2017, Collins was one of nine senators to sign a letter to Senate Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] and Minority Leader [[Chuck Schumer]] describing opioid use as a nonpartisan issue that was "ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation" and requesting that they "make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package".<ref>{{cite news |first=Tammy |last=Baldwin |url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-joins-bipartisan-group-of-senators-urging-congressional-leadership-to-commit-resources-to-opioid-epidemic/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators Urging Congressional Leadership to Commit Resources to Opioid Epidemic|date=December 15, 2017|publisher=urbanmilwaukee.com}}</ref>

In April 2019, Collins cosponsored the Protecting Jessica Grubb's Legacy Act, legislation that authorized the sharing of the medical records of patients being treated for substance use disorder among healthcare providers if the patient provided the information. Cosponsor [[Shelley Moore Capito]] said the bill also prevented medical providers from unintentionally providing opioids to individuals in recovery.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://riponadvance.com/stories/capito-seeks-better-treatment-for-patients-with-opioid-addiction-through-sharing-of-medical-records/|title=Capito seeks better treatment for patients with opioid addiction through sharing of medical records|date=April 11, 2019|work=Ripon Advance |publisher=[[Ripon Society]] |access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref>

===Immigration===

In 2007, Collins voted against the bipartisan [[Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007|McCain-Kennedy comprehensive immigration reform proposal]], which would have given undocumented immigrants (including those brought into the United States as minors) a pathway to citizenship if they met certain requirements, while also substantially increasing border enforcement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/28/immigration.vote.rollcall/ |date=June 29, 2007 |title=The Senate immigration vote: How they voted |first=Lisa |last=Goddard |work=[[CNN]] |language=en|access-date=May 29, 2018}}</ref> In 2010, she voted against the [[DREAM Act]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://projects.propublica.org/represent/votes/111/senate/2/278 |date=December 18, 2010 |title=Fails To Advance Dream Act – H.R.5281: Removal Clarification Act of 2010|last=Willis|first=Derek|work=ProPublica|access-date=May 29, 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 2013, Collins was one of 14 Republicans to vote in favor of a comprehensive immigration bill that included border security and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Dan |last=Berman |date=June 27, 2013 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/immigration-roll-call-vote-093531|title=Senate Immigration Roll Call Vote: Republicans who voted for the bill|work=[[Politico]] |access-date=May 29, 2018|language=en}}</ref> She opposed Obama's decision to achieve immigration reform through executive action, which gave deportation relief to as many as five million undocumented immigrants through [[Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals]] (DACA).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-democrats/some-senate-democrats-balk-at-obamas-unilateral-immigration-approach-idUSKCN0J404220141120|title=Some Senate Democrats balk at Obama's unilateral immigration approach|date=November 19, 2014|first=Susan|last=Cornwell|publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref>

In 2017, Collins opposed Trump's [[Executive Order 13769|executive order]] to ban entry to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying, "The worldwide refugee ban set forth in the executive order is overly broad and implementing it will be immediately problematic."<ref name="Blake1">{{cite web|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|title=Coffman, Gardner join Republicans against President Trump's travel ban; here's where the rest stand|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/29/republicans-on-trump-travel-ban/ |date=January 29, 2017 |website=Denver Post|access-date=January 30, 2017}}</ref> In 2019, she introduced bipartisan legislation to oppose Trump's declaration emergency at the southern border in order to build a wall.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/senators-seek-halt-trumps-border-emergency/story?id=61384217 |first=Mariam |last=Khan |title=Senate will soon consider resolution to terminate Trump's emergency declaration|date=February 28, 2019|website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|language=en|access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> She was one of a dozen Republicans who broke with their party, joining all Democrats, to vote for the resolution rejecting the emergency declaration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/us/politics/senate-vote-trump-national-emergency.html|title=Senate Rejects Trump's Border Emergency Declaration, Setting Up First Veto|last1=Cochrane|first1=Emily|date=March 14, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=March 14, 2019|last2=Thrush|first2=Glenn|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In September 2019, she again voted with 10 other Republicans to overturn Trump's emergency declaration on the border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/462983-senate-again-votes-to-end-trump-emergency-declaration-on-border-wall|title=Senate again votes to end Trump emergency declaration on border wall|last=Balluck|first=Kyle|date=September 25, 2019|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en|access-date=September 26, 2019}}</ref>

=== Animal welfare ===
In 2023, Collins was a signatory to a letter opposing the inclusion of the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act in the [[United States farm bill|Farm Bill]], leading to praise from animal welfare advocates.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-15 |title=Letter to the editor: EATS Act would endanger animal welfare laws, regulations |url=https://www.pressherald.com/2023/09/15/letter-to-the-editor-eats-act-would-endanger-animal-welfare-laws-regulations/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=Press Herald}}</ref> The EATS act would have overturned state-level animal protection laws in agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=POLITICO Pro: Bipartisan senators speak out against effort to block California animal welfare law |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2023/08/bipartisan-senators-speak-out-against-effort-to-block-california-animal-welfare-law-00113376 |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=subscriber.politicopro.com |language=en}}</ref>

===LGBTQ policy===

In 2004, Collins was one of six Republicans who voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban same-sex marriage.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/07/14/samesex.marriage/index.html |work=[[CNN]]|title=Same-sex marriage Senate battle over, war is not |date=July 15, 2004 |access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> She voted in favor of the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010]] and was the primary Republican sponsor of the repeal effort.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Keyes|url=http://www.kjonline.com/Snowe-Collins-support-repeal-of-Dont-Ask-Dont-Tell.html|title=Snowe, Collins join majority in repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'|work=Kennebec Journal|date=December 18, 2010|access-date=July 30, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807151708/http://www.kjonline.com/Snowe-Collins-support-repeal-of-Dont-Ask-Dont-Tell.html|archive-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Shira|last=Toeplitz|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/8-gopers-back-dont-ask-repeal-046578 |title=Eight Republicans back 'Don't Ask' repeal|publisher=[[Politico]]|date=December 18, 2010|access-date= July 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/281?ref=politics|work=[[The New York Times]]|title=Senate Vote 281 – Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'|access-date=May 11, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027055830/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/281?ref=politics|archive-date=October 27, 2015}}</ref> In 2015, she was one of 11 Republican senators to vote to give Social Security benefits to same-sex couples in states where same-sex marriage was not yet recognized.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/same-sex-marriage-benefits-endorsed-on-senate-floor|title=Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Endorsed on Senate Floor (Updated)|last1=Dennis|first1=Steven T.|date=March 27, 2015|work=Roll Call|access-date=August 27, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

In 2017 and 2019, Collins co-sponsored bills with Democratic senators to prevent Trump from [[Transgender personnel in the United States military|banning transgender people from the United States military]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://time.com/4936786/transgender-military-ban-amendment-susan-collins-kirsten-gillibrand/ |date=September 11, 2017 |title=Democrat and Republican Senators Move to Stop Trump's Transgender Military Ban|last=Reilly|first=Katie|magazine=Time|access-date=September 17, 2017}}</ref> and prohibit [[Housing discrimination in the United States#LGBT housing discrimination|anti-LGBT housing discrimination]].<ref>{{Cite news |first=Calum |last=Stuart |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/senate-bill-seeks-to-expand-lgbti-housing-anti-discrimination-protections/|title=Senate bill seeks to expand LGBTI housing anti-discrimination protections|date=May 12, 2019|website=Gay Star News|language=en-gb|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bostonspiritmagazine.com/2019/05/maines-king-and-collins-introduce-bill-to-add-lgbt-people-to-fair-housing-act/|title=Maine's King and Collins introduce bill to add LGBT people to Fair Housing Act |work=Boston Spirit Magazine |date=May 11, 2019 |last=Phelps|first=Rob|language=en-US|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fox23maine.com/news/local/maine-senators-push-to-add-lgbt-people-to-fair-housing-act|title=Maine senators push to add LGBT people to Fair Housing Act|agency=Associated Press|date=May 6, 2019|website=WPFO|access-date=May 12, 2019}}</ref> She was the only Republican co-sponsor of the [[Equality Act (United States)|Equality Act]], which aims to comprehensively prohibit LGBT discrimination.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Merkley|first=Jeff|date=March 13, 2019|title=Cosponsors – S.788 – 116th Congress (2019–2020): Equality Act|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/788/cosponsors|access-date=June 18, 2020|website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> In February 2021, Collins announced she would no longer co-sponsor the bill over amendments that were not made.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chris|first=Johnson|date=23 February 2021|title=Sen. Collins won't co-sponsor Equality Act, laments 'revision' not made|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2021/02/23/sen-collins-wont-co-sponsor-equality-act-laments-revision-not-made/|access-date=8 March 2021|website=Washington Blade}}</ref>

In 2021, Collins was one of 49 senators to vote for an amendment to the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]], which aimed to defund schools allowing transgender students to compete in sports.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chris|first=Johnson|date=6 March 2021|title=Collins, Manchin vote to defund schools allowing trans kids in sports|work=Washington Blade|url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2021/03/06/senate-narrowly-rejects-measure-to-defund-schools-allowing-trans-kids-in-sports/|access-date=8 March 2021}}</ref>

The [[Human Rights Campaign]] (HRC), which rates politicians' support for [[LGBT]] issues, gave Collins a score of 85% during the 114th Congress (2015–17),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hrc-assets.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/114thCongressionalScorecard.pdf|title=114th Congressional Scorecard|date=2017|website=HRC.org|publisher=Human Rights Campaign|access-date=January 13, 2017}}</ref> and a score of 33% during the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]] (2017–19).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Vote Smart|language=en|access-date=March 30, 2019}}</ref> She received a 49% score in the 116th Congress.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Congressional Scorecard|url=https://www.hrc.org/resources/congressional-scorecard|access-date=2020-12-15|website=HRC|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2020, the HRC endorsed an opponent of Collins for the first time since 1996, citing her votes for judicial nominees, particularly [[Brett Kavanaugh]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Budryk|first=Zack|date=July 15, 2020|title=Major LGBTQ rights group endorses Collins opponent for the first time in decades|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/507462-major-lgbtq-rights-group-endorses-collins-opponent-for-the-first-time|access-date=July 15, 2020|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Weigel|first=David |date=July 15, 2020 |title=Major LGBTQ rights group breaks with Sen. Susan Collins, endorses Democratic opponent Sara Gideon|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/07/15/hrc-susan-collins-sara-gideon/|access-date=July 16, 2020|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en}}</ref> In 2022, Collins was one of 12 Republicans in the Senate voting to advance and pass the [[Respect for Marriage Act]], legislation intended to codify [[Same-sex marriage in the United States|same-sex marriage rights]] into federal law.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Metzger |first=Bryan |title=12 Republican senators broke with their party and voted for a bill to protect same-sex marriage |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/which-republican-senators-vote-for-same-sex-marriage-codification-bill-2022-11 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=[[Business Insider]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Net neutrality ===
Collins strongly supports [[FCC Open Internet Order 2010]]. After former [[Federal Communications Commission]] chairman [[Ajit Pai]] repealed net neutrality regulations in 2017, Collins and Senator [[Angus King]] announced they would support a bipartisan enactment of the [[Congressional Review Act]] to reverse the FCC's decision.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Collins, King Announce Support for Bill to Protect Net Neutrality {{!}} Senator Susan Collins|url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/collins-king-announce-support-bill-protect-net-neutrality|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.collins.senate.gov|date=January 10, 2018 }}</ref> In another statement, Collins argued that net neutrality regulations would help rural communities obtain access to the internet and that the regulations strengthened consumer privacy protections, citing the [[Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal]] for failing to protect consumers' privacy.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senator Collins' Statement on Net Neutrality Vote {{!}} Senator Susan Collins|url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins%E2%80%99-statement-net-neutrality-vote|access-date=2021-06-07|website=www.collins.senate.gov}}</ref>

===United States Postal Service===

In 2006, Collins sponsored the [[Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act]], which passed the Senate unanimously. It requires the USPS to prepay 50 years' worth of employee health and retirement benefits.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Steve |title=Susan Collins' Postal Service overhaul in 2006 becomes a hot issue on the campaign trail |url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/08/20/susan-collins-postal-service-overhaul-in-2006-becomes-a-hot-issue-on-the-campaign-trail/ |access-date=17 September 2020 |publisher=Sun Journal |date=August 20, 2020}}</ref>

==Honors and awards==
The [[United States Chamber of Commerce]] awarded Collins the 2013 Spirit of Enterprise Award for her support of its positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.centralmaine.com/2013/08/29/collins-to-get-us-chamber-award-speak-in-waterville-tuesday/ |title=Collins to get U.S. Chamber award, speak in Waterville Tuesday|date=June 19, 2013|work=Kennebec Journal|access-date=August 29, 2013}}</ref>

On May 7, 2014, ''The National Journal'' recognized Collins as the senator with "perfect attendance", noting that she had not missed a single vote since her election to the Senate in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Best and Worst Attendance Records in the Senate|url=https://www.nationaljournal.com/s/65816/best-worst-attendance-records-senate |website=NationalJournal|access-date=May 11, 2017}}</ref>

In 2014, ''Elle'' magazine named Collins one of its "10 Most Powerful Women in D.C".<ref>{{cite news|title= Elle' unveils its '10 Most Powerful Women in D.C.'|first= Sheila|last=Timmons|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/201230-elle-unveils-its-10-most-powerful-women-in-dc |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=March 19, 2014|access-date= May 6, 2016}}</ref>

Collins received the Publius Award from the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress on March 12, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title= 47th Annual Awards Dinner Honoring Senators Susan Collins and Joe Manchin |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606221939/https://www.thepresidency.org/programs/current-programs/publius-awards/956-47th-annual-awards-dinner-honoring-senators-susan-collins-and-joe-manchin |archive-date=2014-06-06 |url=http://www.thepresidency.org/programs/current-programs/publius-awards/956-47th-annual-awards-dinner-honoring-senators-susan-collins-and-joe-manchin|website=Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress}}</ref>

The [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] gave Collins its 2017 Congressional Award, which is annually given to one member of Congress for their significant legislative contributions on behalf of military veterans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2017/03/01/sen-susan-collins-receives-prestigious-veterans-award/ |title=Sen. Susan Collins receives prestigious veterans award|publisher=Portland Press Herald|date=March 1, 2017|access-date= March 4, 2017}}</ref>

In 2022, Collins received the [[Academy of Achievement]]'s Golden Plate Award.<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#public-service}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= 2022 Summit |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url= https://achievement.org/summit/2022/}}</ref>

In December 2024, Susan Collins was included on the [[BBC]]'s [[100 Women (BBC)|''100 Women'']] list.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/resources/idt-4f79d09b-655a-42f8-82b4-9b2ecebab611|title=BBC 100 Women 2024: Who is on the list this year?|publisher=BBC|date=3 December 2024|accessdate=3 December 2024 |language=}}</ref>

==Honorary degrees==

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Honorary degrees awarded to Susan Collins
!scope="col"| Location
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| School
!scope="col"| Degree
!scope="col"| Gave commencement address
|-
| [[Bangor, Maine]] || {{Date table sorting|1997}} || [[Husson University]] || Doctor of Public Service<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-delivers-commencement-address-husson-university |date=May 13, 2019 |title=Senator Collins Delivers Commencement Address at Husson University &#124; Senator Susan Collins|website=www.collins.senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.husson.edu/news/2019/04/united-states-senator-susan-collins-to-deliver-husson-universitys-commencement-address |website=Husson.edu |date= April 23, 2019 |title=United States Senator Susan M. Collins to Deliver Husson University's Commencement Address}}</ref> || No
|-
| [[Biddeford, Maine]] || {{Date table sorting|1999}} || [[University of New England (United States)|University of New England]] || [[Doctor of Laws]] (LL.D.)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.une.edu/commencement/ceremony/honorary-degree-recipients |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Honorary Degree Recipients|website=University of New England}}</ref> || Yes
|-
| [[Castine, Maine]] || {{Date table sorting|2007}} || [[Maine Maritime Academy]] || Doctorate<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mainemaritime.edu/about-mma/press-releases/susan-collins-united-states-senator-for-maine-to-address-class-of-2017-at-maine-maritime-academy-commencement/|title=Susan Collins, United States Senator for Maine, to Address Class of 2017 at Maine Maritime Academy Commencement |work=[[Maine Maritime Academy]] |date=April 5, 2017 |access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-collins-introduces-secretary-navy-maine-maritime-academy-graduation|title=Senator Collins Introduces Secretary of the Navy at Maine Maritime Academy Graduation &#124; Senator Susan Collins|website=www.collins.senate.gov}}</ref> || Yes
|-
| [[Waterville, Maine]] || {{Date table sorting|2014|09|13}} || [[Colby College]] || Doctorate<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.colby.edu/news/2014/09/04/colby-to-inaugurate-20th-president/|title=Colby Announces Inauguration Details, Honorary Degree Recipients|date=September 4, 2014|website=colby.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.colby.edu/inauguration/honorary-degree-recipients/ |access-date=September 15, 2020 |title=Honorary Degree Recipients' Citations &#124; The Inauguration of David A. Greene|website=colby.edu}}</ref> || No
|-
| [[Augusta, Maine]] || {{Date table sorting|2015|05|09}} || [[University of Maine at Augusta]] || [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] (DHL)<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://www.collins.senate.gov/newsroom/senator-susan-collins-delivers-university-maine-augusta-commencement-address |date=May 11, 2015 |title=Senator Susan Collins Delivers University Of Maine At Augusta Commencement Address &#124; Senator Susan Collins|website=www.collins.senate.gov}}</ref> || Yes
|-
| [[Middlebury, Vermont]] || {{Date table sorting|2016|05|29}} || [[Middlebury College]] || Doctorate<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.middlebury.edu/newsroom/archive/2016-news/node/508990|title=Van Jones to Deliver Middlebury College Commencement Address|date=April 18, 2016|website=Middlebury}}</ref> || No
|-
| [[Canton (village), New York|Canton, New York]] || {{Date table sorting|2017|05|21}} || [[St. Lawrence University]] || [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] (DHL)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlawu.edu/president/honorary-degrees|title=Honorary Degrees|website=St. Lawrence University}}</ref> || Yes<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stlawu.edu/commencement/senator-susan-m-collins |date=May 21, 2017 |title=Senator Susan M. Collins|website=St. Lawrence University}}</ref>
|-
| [[Lewiston, Maine]] || {{Date table sorting|2017|05|28}} || [[Bates College]] || [[Doctor of Humane Letters]] (DHL)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bates.edu/president/list-of-honorary-degree-recipients/|title=List of Honorary Degree Recipients &#124; Office of the President &#124; Bates College|website=www.bates.edu|date=April 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wagmtv.com/content/news/Senator-Collins-to-Receive-Honorary-Degree-From-Bates-College-424812424.html|title=Senator Collins Will Receive 12th Honorary Degree|website=[[WAGM-TV]] |date=May 27, 2017 |access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref> || No<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bates.edu/news/2017/04/13/geoffrey-canada-2017-commencement-address-honorands-susan-collins-wanda-corn-patrick-dempsey/|title=Visionary educator Geoffrey Canada to deliver 2017 Commencement address, joining honorands Sen. Susan Collins, Wanda Corn, and Patrick Dempsey|date=April 13, 2017|website=Bates.edu|access-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref>
|-
|}

{{Incomplete list|date=July 2020}}

==Personal life==

Collins is married to Thomas Daffron, a lobbyist who worked as chief operating officer at Jefferson Consulting Group in Washington, D.C. from 2006 to 2016; he consulted on Collins's 1996, 2002 and 2008 Senate campaigns.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.salon.com/2020/09/09/exclusive-susan-collins-plight-gets-worse-with-new-corruption-allegation-possible-ethics-probe/ |title=Exclusive: Susan Collins' plight gets worse with new corruption allegation, possible ethics probe |work=[[Salon.com]] |first=Roger |last=Sollenberger |date=September 9, 2020 |access-date=September 15, 2020 }}</ref> They were married on August 11, 2012, at the Gray Memorial [[United Methodist Church]] in [[Caribou, Maine]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/fashion/weddings/susan-collins-thomas-daffron-weddings.html |title=Susan Collins and Thomas Daffron|date=August 12, 2012|access-date=May 11, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2012/08/11/news/aroostook/susan-collins-to-wed-longtime-friend-in-small-caribou-ceremony/ | first=Nick Jr. |last=Sambides |date=August 11, 2012 |title=Susan Collins weds longtime friend in small Caribou ceremony|work=Bangor Daily News|access-date=October 11, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Collins is [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2015/01/05/members-of-congress-religious-affiliations/|title=Members of Congress: Religious Affiliations |date=January 5, 2015|work=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project|access-date=October 11, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Electoral history==

===1994===
{{main|1994 Maine gubernatorial election}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[1994 Maine gubernatorial election|1994 Maine gubernatorial Republican primary]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1994p/pri94gr.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115055429/http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1994p/pri94gr.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 15, 2012|title=June 14, 1994 Primary Election - Tabulations for Governor, Republican|work=Maine SOS|date=June 14, 1994|accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=19,133|percentage=21.35%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Sumner Lipman]]|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=15,214|percentage=16.98%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Jasper Wyman|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=14,335|percentage=15.99%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Judith Foss]]|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=11,734|percentage=13.09%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Paul R. Young|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=10,088|percentage=11.26%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Mary Adams (activist)|Mary Adams]]|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=7,678|percentage=8.57%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Charlie Webster (politician)|Charles Webster]]|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=6,220|percentage=6.94%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Pamela Cahill]]|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=5,154|percentage=5.75%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=67|percentage=0.07%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=89,623|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[1994 Maine gubernatorial election|1994 Maine gubernatorial general election]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1994g/gen94ga.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917225045/http://maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1994g/gen94ga.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 17, 2013|title=General Election Tabulations - November 8, 1994 - Governor|work=Maine SOS|date=November 8, 1994|accessdate=March 12, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Angus King]]|party=Independent (United States)|votes=180,829|percentage=35.37%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Joseph E. Brennan|Joseph Brennan]]|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=172,951|percentage=33.83%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=117,990|percentage=23.08%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Jonathan Carter (activist)|Jonathan Carter]]|party=Green Party (United States)|votes=32,695|percentage=6.39%}}
{{Election box candidate no change|candidate=Ed Finks|party=[[Write-in candidate|Write-in]]|votes=6,576|percentage=1.29%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=267|percentage=0.05%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=511,308|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box gain with party link no change|winner=Independent (United States)|loser=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

===1996===
{{main|1996 United States Senate election in Maine}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[1996 United States Senate election in Maine|1996 United States Senate election in Maine, Republican primary]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1996p/pri96srs.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115021204/http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/1996p/pri96srs.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-15|title=Primary Election Results - June 11, 1996 - U.S. Senator, Republican - Summary by County (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)|date=2012-11-15|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=53,339|percentage=55.50%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=W. John Hathaway|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=29,792|percentage=31.00%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Robert A. G. Monks]]|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=12,943|percentage=13.47%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=33|percentage=0.03%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=96,107|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[1996 United States Senate election in Maine|1996 United States Senate election in Maine, general election]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe1996/senate.htm#MAINE|title=Federal Elections 96: 1996 U.S. Senate Results by State|website=transition.fec.gov|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=298,422|percentage=49.18%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Joseph E. Brennan|Joseph Brennan]]|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=266,226|percentage=43.88%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[John Rensenbrink]]|party=Green Party (United States)|votes=23,441|percentage=3.86%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=William P. Clarke|party=Constitution Party (United States)|votes=18,618|percentage=3.07%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=70|percentage=0.01%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=606,777|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

===2002===
{{main|2002 United States Senate election in Maine}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2002 United States Senate election in Maine|2002 United States Senate election in Maine, Republican primary]]<ref name="2002 Senate">{{Cite web|url=https://transition.fec.gov/pubrec/fe2002/senate.htm#ME|title=Federal Elections 2002: U.S. Senate Results|website=transition.fec.gov|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=74,643|percentage=100.00%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=74,643|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2002 United States Senate election in Maine|2002 United States Senate election in Maine, general election]]<ref name="2002 Senate"/>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=295,041|percentage=58.44%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Chellie Pingree]]|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=209,858|percentage=41.56%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=504,899|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

===2008===
{{main|2008 United States Senate election in Maine}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2008 United States Senate election in Maine|2008 United States Senate election in Maine, Republican primary]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/2008-09/tabs-can-us-rep-6-08.html|title=Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections and Voting, Results, 2008-09 Tabulations,2008 Primary Election Tabulations, U.S. Senate - Republican|website=www.maine.gov|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=56,304|percentage=99.97%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=19|percentage=0.03%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=56,323|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2008 United States Senate election in Maine|2008 United States Senate election in Maine, general election]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/2008-09/tabs-can-us-cnty-11-08.html|title=Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, Elections and Voting, Results, 2008-09 Tabulations|website=www.maine.gov|access-date=2020-03-14}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=444,300|percentage=61.33%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Tom Allen (Maine politician)|Tom Allen]]|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=279,510|percentage=38.58%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=620|percentage=0.09%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=724,430|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

===2014===
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in Maine}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2014 United States Senate election in Maine|2014 United States Senate election in Maine, Republican primary]]<ref name="Results">{{cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/prior14-15.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715095940/http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/prior14-15.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=Tabulations for Elections held in 2014|publisher=Maine Secretary of State|accessdate=July 22, 2014}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=59,767|percentage=100.00%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=59,767|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=[[2014 United States Senate election in Maine|2014 United States Senate election in Maine, general election]]<ref name="Results" />}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=413,495|percentage=68.46%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Shenna Bellows]]|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=190,244|percentage=31.50%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=269|percentage=0.04%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=604,008|percentage=100%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}
{{Election box end}}

===2020===
{{main|2020 United States Senate election in Maine}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = [[2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Maine#Republican_primary|2020 United States Senate election in Maine, Republican primary]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/2020/senrepnr.xlsx |work=Maine Secretary of State |title=Maine U.S. Senate Republican primary|accessdate=December 12, 2020|date=August 8, 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=87,375|percentage=98.79%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Amy Colter|party=Write-in|votes=1,073|percentage=1.21%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=88,448|percentage=100.0%}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title=[[2020_United_States_Senate_election_in_Maine|2020 United States Senate election in Maine, general election]]<ref>{{cite web |title=November 3, 2020 general election |url=https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/results20.html#novtab |website=Maine Department of Secretary of State |access-date=December 24, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Susan Collins (incumbent)|votes=417,645|percentage=50.98%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=[[Sara Gideon]]|votes=347,223|percentage=42.39%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Lisa Savage|votes=40,579|percentage=4.95%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Independent (United States)|candidate=Max Linn|votes=13,508|percentage=1.65%}}
{{Election box write-in with party link no change
 | votes      = 228
 | percentage = 0.03%
}}
{{Election box total no change
 | votes      = 819,183
 | percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
  |winner     = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

==See also==

*[[Women in the United States Senate]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links}}
* [https://collins.senate.gov/ Senator Collins] official U.S. Senate website
* [http://susancollins.com/ Susan Collins for Senate]
* [http://bangordailynews.com/author/susan-collins/ Column archive] in the ''[[Bangor Daily News]]''
* {{C-SPAN|45738}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=c001035 | votesmart=379 | fec=S6ME00159 | congress=susan-collins/1541 }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Susan}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:American people of English descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 1994 United States elections]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from Maine]]
[[Category:Centrism in the United States]]
[[Category:Collins family (Maine)]]
[[Category:Female United States senators]]
[[Category:Maine Republicans]]
[[Category:Massachusetts Republicans]]
[[Category:People from Caribou, Maine]]
[[Category:Politicians from Bangor, Maine]]
[[Category:Politicians from Caribou, Maine]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Maine]]
[[Category:Small Business Administration personnel]]
[[Category:St. Lawrence University alumni]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Maine]]
[[Category:Women in Maine politics]]
[[Category:Women in Massachusetts politics]]