U.S. Senator from Maine Susan Collins (R) wrapped up the 118th Congress last week without missing a single vote, extending her nearly three decade perfect voting streak that began when she first took office in the late 1990s.
Sen. Collins, 72, first cast a vote in the U.S. Senate on Jan. 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeline Albright as U.S. Secretary of State — the first woman to hold that cabinet position — under President Bill Clinton.
That same day, Collins also voted to confirm the appointment of former U.S. Senator from Maine Bill Cohen as President Clinton’s Secretary of Defense.
Just under 30 years later, Collins’ perfect voting steak now stands at 9,194 consecutive roll-call votes.
“No one works harder than the people of Maine, and I have always sought to reflect that dedication by showing up to ensure our state is represented in the Senate for every single vote,” Collins said in a Monday press release.
“Representing the State of Maine in the Senate is an honor, and I will continue to approach each day of my service with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve,” Collins said.
Collins’ unbroken voting stretch in the Senate is second only to former Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.), who cast 10,252 consecutive votes between 1966 and 1988.
Coming in third place after Maine’s senior U.S. Senator is Sen. Chuck Grassley, the oldest senator at 91 years old, who cast 8,927 uninterrupted votes between 1993 and 2020.
With her perfect attendance record, Collins carries on the legacy of Maine’s Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both chambers of Congress.
Smith maintained an unbroken voting record for 13 years during her tenure in the Senate, even famously shirking treatment for a broken arm to avoid missing a vote. Her streak of 2,941 consecutive votes, ending in 1968, set a benchmark for legislative diligence.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="33870 https://www.themainewire.com/?p=33870">11 Comments
She is on the wrong side of “serving Maine” more often than not. Destruction of our Fishing Industry / Offshore wind being just one among scores. She also wanted Meritless Garland for SCOTUS. Edward, you are a fantastic journalist. But Susan “showing up” is not what serves her state, or the country.
We will see if she votes for Laken Riley, Pingree went for the Migrants
One word, term limits.
3-Deacades? How can that be? She promised she would only run for two terms.
More damn lies
At least she will retired by vote with a perfectly pitiful voting record
No Pingree went with the Illegals over her own family. Time for some illegals to be housed on Vinalhaven, lots of them.
Well good ‘ then she won’t miss my vote .
I will never vote for the RINO Collins again .
Senator Collins voted for all 21 of Biden’s nominees. She must to the same for Trump’s.
I used to track Sen. Collins’ votes going back to 2009. She flipped from supporting Republican issues to supporting Democrat issues under Obama. Now that she has received her accolades for perfect attendence, let’s take a look at HOW SHE VOTED! If you’re a Republican living in Maine, you have no representation in Congress.
You just watch shell flip back over to the right just like fakebook, the media, that moron from penn, and hollywood. They’re all spinless wishiewashie do anything, say anything to keep a job. They couldn’t give a flying frick about you, they think you’re suckers.
Please just retire already and maybe have a few good years before the Parkinson’s sets in and finishes the transformation to a quivering vegetable.