Vice President Vance is set to travel to Maine on Thursday, wading into a high-stakes Senate contest as incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins braces for a spirited challenge from Democratic frontrunner Graham Platner. The visit underscores the national significance of a race that could tip the balance of power in the upper chamber.
Vance's office confirmed Tuesday that the vice president will stop in Bangor, the state's third-largest city, where he plans to deliver remarks on the Trump administration's push to crack down on fraud in federal programs. Vance chairs a White House task force on the issue, created by President Trump in March amid Republican-led investigations into alleged misuse of social services funds in Minnesota.
“Finding fraud in the federal government is kinda like fishing in a barrel with dynamite,” Vance told a crowd in Des Moines, Iowa, last week, underscoring the administration's aggressive posture. He also credited Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins for identifying 186,000 deceased individuals who were improperly receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
The visit comes as Collins, 73, seeks a sixth term in the Senate, making her one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents this cycle. Platner, an oyster farmer and Marine Corps veteran, has emerged as the likely Democratic nominee after Governor Janet Mills exited the race last month. Another Democrat, former USAID worker David Costello, remains in the primary field.
Early voting in Maine's primary began Monday and runs through June 4, with the final voting day on June 9. The race has already drawn national attention, with both campaigns launching attack ads following Mills's departure.
A February poll from Echelon Insights, conducted before Mills dropped out, showed Platner leading Collins 51 percent to 45 percent in a hypothetical general election matchup. However, Collins holds a significant financial advantage: her campaign reported over $10 million on hand at the end of March, compared to Platner's $2.7 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Vance's itinerary in Bangor has not been fully detailed, and his office did not immediately respond to requests about whether he will campaign alongside Collins. The vice president's appearance could energize Republican voters in a state where Collins has long cultivated a moderate image, but where Trump's influence remains a polarizing factor.
The race is one of several internal GOP fights this cycle, as Collins seeks to distance herself from the party's hardline elements while still benefiting from national Republican support. Platner, running on a progressive populist platform, has cast Collins as out of touch with working-class Mainers.
Collins recently disclosed a benign tremor, a personal health detail that has added a new dimension to the campaign as she faces her toughest reelection fight in years. The outcome in Maine could hinge on turnout in November, with both parties eyeing the state as a key battleground.
