Here’s what happened.
Sen. Susan Collins is putting noticeable distance between herself and President Donald Trump as the longtime Maine Republican faces another competitive Senate campaign.
During her first debate against Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, Collins was twice questioned about whether she would campaign alongside Trump if the president visited Maine during the midterm election season.
Her response suggested that such an appearance is unlikely.
“I don’t think that President Trump is going to come to Maine,” Collins said. “He’s talking about going to a lot of different states. I’ve heard nothing from his office. And I’m not exactly his favorite senator.”
When pressed again on the possibility of campaigning with Trump, Collins replied, “I would say that he is not coming to Maine.”
The comments highlight the political balancing act Collins faces as she attempts to win another term in a state that frequently supports Democrats in presidential elections while continuing to elect her to the Senate.
Trump Says Maine Could Be On His Midterm Schedule
Collins’ remarks came shortly after Trump suggested publicly that Maine could be among the states he visits during his midterm campaign push.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Trump said he expected to campaign in several states.
“I think we’re going to Maine too. I’m going to Michigan in a week and a half,” Trump said.
No specific date or confirmed itinerary for a Maine appearance has been publicly announced.
That leaves open the possibility that Trump could eventually visit the state, potentially creating an awkward political moment for Collins.
Collins Has Long Kept Her Distance From Trump
Although Collins is one of the most prominent Republican senators in Congress, she has frequently separated herself from Trump on major policy and political disputes.
That distinction became a major theme of her debate with Jackson.
The Democrat repeatedly attempted to connect Collins to controversial decisions made in Washington, including the war involving Iran, tariffs affecting trade with Canada and major Republican-backed legislation.
Collins responded by emphasizing the occasions when she disagreed with Trump and members of her own party.
She cited research indicating that she has voted against her party more frequently than any other senator.
That record is central to Collins’ reelection strategy.
Rather than presenting herself as a reliable vote for Republican leadership, Collins has traditionally emphasized political independence and her willingness to break with both parties.
Maine Presents Republicans With A Unique Challenge
Collins’ approach reflects Maine’s unusual political landscape.
Trump lost Maine to Kamala Harris by approximately seven percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
The state has also supported the Democratic presidential nominee in every election since 1992.
Despite that history, Collins has repeatedly managed to win statewide elections as a Republican.
Her success has often depended on attracting independent voters and some Democrats in addition to Republicans.
That makes her relationship with Trump especially important during an election year.
Trump remains a dominant figure inside the Republican Party nationally, but Collins must appeal to an electorate that has consistently rejected Republican presidential candidates in recent decades.
Tariffs Become Major Debate Issue
Trade policy also emerged as a significant point of disagreement during the debate.
Maine shares important economic ties with neighboring Canada, making tariffs particularly relevant to businesses and consumers throughout the state.
Collins highlighted her efforts to have road salt removed from the administration’s tariff list.
Maine relies heavily on imported salt from Canada to treat roads during harsh winter weather, and Collins argued that exempting it from tariffs helped protect municipalities and taxpayers from additional costs.
Jackson dismissed the example as insufficient.
“What about everything else? We can’t eat road salt,” he responded.
The exchange illustrated the broader economic argument separating the two candidates.
Jackson wants voters to focus on the consequences of policies coming from Washington.
Collins, meanwhile, argues that Democratic leadership in Maine also deserves scrutiny for the state’s affordability problems.
Collins Blames Augusta For Rising Costs
Collins attempted to turn the debate toward Jackson’s record in state government.
“If you look at the policies that have driven up the cost of living in Maine, you have to look at Augusta,” Collins said.
She pointed to electricity prices, housing costs and property taxes as issues she believes have been made worse by policies implemented by Maine’s Democratic leadership.
Collins argued that Maine residents should examine decisions made at the state level rather than placing responsibility for every economic problem on the federal government.
“It has extraordinarily high property taxes,” Collins said. “Those are all due to Augusta’s failed policies under the failed leadership of Troy Jackson.”
Jackson served as president of the Maine Senate from 2018 through 2024, giving Collins an opportunity to portray him as responsible for policies enacted during years of Democratic control in Augusta.
Jackson Targets Collins Over Supreme Court Vote
Another heated portion of the debate centered on Collins’ 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Jackson questioned Collins about whether she regretted that decision following the Supreme Court’s later ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.
Collins said she disagreed with Kavanaugh’s position on the issue.
“I clearly don’t agree with how Brett Kavanaugh voted on Roe v. Wade,” Collins said.
She then sought to contrast her record with Jackson’s.
“I would point out that there’s only one of us on the stage who has always been pro-choice, and that’s me,” she said.
Jackson held anti-abortion positions earlier in his political career before later changing his stance.
Collins also noted that she voted to confirm the Supreme Court’s liberal justices, using those votes as additional evidence of her willingness to cross party lines.
Collins Is Betting On Independence Again
The debate revealed what could become the central theme of Collins’ campaign: independence.
Democrats are attempting to tie her to Trump and the Republican agenda in Washington.
Collins is responding by reminding voters of the numerous occasions when she has opposed Republican leaders while simultaneously criticizing Democratic governance in Maine.
That strategy has worked for her before.
But Trump’s continued influence over Republican politics could make the balancing act more difficult this election cycle.
A presidential campaign visit to Maine would immediately place additional attention on whether Collins appears with Trump, avoids the event or openly distances herself from the president.
For now, Collins appears convinced that Trump will not make the trip.
Whether that prediction proves correct could become one of the more closely watched political storylines in Maine as Election Day approaches.
Why This Race Matters
The Maine Senate contest could carry consequences well beyond the state.
Every competitive Senate seat matters when control of the chamber is closely divided, and Collins has long occupied one of the Republican Party’s most politically distinctive seats.
Her ability to survive in a state that routinely votes Democratic at the presidential level has made her one of Washington’s most closely watched swing-state Republicans.
This year’s campaign will test whether that formula still works.
Jackson hopes dissatisfaction with Washington will persuade voters to make a change.
Collins is betting that Maine voters will once again distinguish between national Republican politics and her individual record in the Senate.
With Trump potentially entering the state during the final stretch of the campaign, that distinction could soon become even harder to maintain.