Susan Collins officially launches 2026 reelection bid

Though the race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat is well underway, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins officially launched her re-election campaign Tuesday with a short YouTube video.

In the 14-second clip, the Republican senator unboxes a pair of New Balance sneakers and declares, “This is perfect for 2026, because I’m running.”

Collins, who chairs the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, is currently serving her fifth term in Congress and has long indicated her intention to run for a sixth. 

She’s seen as one of the more vulnerable Senate Republicans heading into the 2026 November midterm elections and is being challenged by Democrats Gov. Janet Mills and political newcomer Graham Platner. 

Collins has stockpiled more money than her Democratic opponents, who have already spent sizable amounts of what they’ve raised in the lead-up to the June 9 primary. Though Platner, the oysterman from Sullivan who’s been growing momentum since his splashy campaign launch in August, has a significant cash advantage over Mills, who entered the race this fall and will term out as governor after this year.   

During the last fundraising period over the past three months, Platner raised the most, $4.6 million, while Mills raised $2.7 million and Collins raised $2.2 million. There were also stark differences in the size of individual donations to each campaign. Platner had the most small donors, people contributing $200 or less, followed by Mills and then Collins. 

Fundraising data also confirms what has long been known anecdotally. Unions are banking on Platner, while the current Democratic establishment is throwing their support behind Mills. 

In an opinion piece published in the Bangor Daily News following her announcement, Collins said she’s running for reelection because “my experience, seniority and independence matter.”

“True leaders bring both sides together to seek common ground,” Collins wrote, “not shout the loudest or seek the most social media clicks.”

However, the senator’s opponents called her out for not standing up to President Donald Trump.

“Seniority without a backbone is just tenure,” Mills said in a statement, “and after decades in Washington, Senator Collins has failed to demonstrate the leadership required in this dangerous moment in history. As Donald Trump tramples on the Constitution, undermines the rule of law, and weaponizes the federal government against the American people, Susan Collins is refusing to stand up to his abuses and is instead rubber stamping a Republican agenda that prioritizes the wants of the wealthy over the needs of working Maine people.”

Platner’s remarks also placed Collins within the broader political establishment he’s campaigning to upend. 

“In November, the movement we are building will turn the page not just on Senator Susan Collins,” Platner said in a statement,” but also on her politics of hollow promises, acquiescence to Donald Trump, and failed leadership that’s made her and her friends richer but has sold out the rest of us. We will deliver this seat back to the people of Maine.”

Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee labeled the Democrats in the race as “extreme versus more extreme,” referring to Mills and Platner, respectively. 

‘Washington need not apply:’ How Mainers are evaluating controversy-laden Graham Platner

“The only question is which of their candidates will run farther to the left to claim victory in this messy primary,” spokesperson Kristen Cianci said in a statement. “With candidates committed to a radical socialist agenda – including an actual Nazi and a repeat fraudster – it’s clear Maine’s Senate seat needs to remain in Republican hands.” 

The latter remarks refer to Platner’s now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol — a connection he denied knowing until recently. The revelation about the tattoo was in addition to sexist, racist, homophobic and other offensive statements unearthed last fall from Platner’s Reddit history. 

While that part of his past led many outside Maine to believe that his quick rise was coming to an end, Platner has maintained a strong foothold, continuing to turn out massive crowds and build a deep volunteer base who relate to the candidate’s personal growth and are fed up with the establishment. 

The RNC’s description of Mills as a “fraudster” refers to an ongoing investigation into state Medicaid payments, which has now been thrust into the national spotlight after a targeted request from the Trump administration. 

In a letter on Friday, Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, pointed to the findings of a routine federal audit and other reviews of Medicaid payments alleging the state is not doing enough to prevent fraud.

In the letter, Oz threatened to cut funding to Maine, which he compared to Minnesota. 

Mills said in a statement Monday that the threats of federal intervention are “part of President Trump’s malicious playbook of using his administration’s power to punish anyone who dares to stand up to him or who disagrees with him.”