Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Thursday defended her vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services, pushing back against criticism from her Democratic challenger during a debate that highlighted her complicated relationship with President Trump.
“I agree with him on some issues, I don’t with others,” Collins said, citing Kennedy’s role in expediting the release of the low-income eating assistance program as a key reason for her support. The confirmation was contentious due to Kennedy’s past statements on vaccines and medicine.
Collins, who is facing former state Sen. Troy Jackson (D) in a tough reelection battle, has been under fire from Democrats for not consistently opposing Trump. A recent New York Times analysis found that when Collins votes against the president in his second term, her side prevails only 15% of the time.
In a state that backed Kamala Harris by seven points in 2024, Collins has staked her campaign on being an independent voice. But Jackson seized on the record, saying, “The reality is that 100 percent of the time, when Donald Trump needs her, Susan Collins is going to be there.”
Moderators pressed Collins to name a specific instance where her opposition to Trump changed an outcome. She pointed to her effort to block Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Defense Secretary, but admitted it failed. “At one point, I had organized people to vote against Secretary Hegseth,” Collins said. “At the very last minute, one of our Republicans changed his mind.”
“So that didn’t change the outcome,” the moderator replied.
Since taking office, Kennedy has taken steps that Collins has criticized, including firing the entire CDC vaccine advisory panel, which she called “excessive.” She also clashed with him over cuts to HIV/AIDS vaccine funding, which she supports.
The debate also touched on broader issues, with Collins and Jackson clashing over Trump ties and war funding, reflecting the high stakes of the race. Jackson has repeatedly tried to tie Collins to the president, while Collins has highlighted her bipartisan work.
Collins’s vote on Hegseth has become a flashpoint, with some Republicans urging Trump to fire Hegseth amid controversy. The Maine senator’s campaign has also faced organizational hiccups, as a GOP super PAC accidentally targeted Oregon instead of Maine with pro-Collins ads.
Political analysts say Collins’s position is precarious in a state that has trended Democratic. Her ability to navigate between Trump and her constituents will be tested in the coming months.
