Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) officially announced her re-election bid on Tuesday via an op-ed in the Bangor Daily News and a TikTok-style short showing her unboxing sneakers while making a joke about running.
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“This is perfect for 2026, because I’m running,” said Sen. Collins in her official announcement video.
“I consistently approach issues with an eye toward pragmatic results rather than through the distorting lens of ideology. My record is based on achieving outcomes for Maine and the nation, and that speaks louder than any vague, sweeping campaign promise,” said Collins in her op-ed.
Collins’ opinion piece focused on her record as a moderate, disavowed the extreme ends of both parties, and emphasized her concern for everyday Mainers over ideological purity.
“I hear your concerns about higher costs for food, housing, health care, energy and child care, and your worry that your children may not be able to afford to build their lives here. That frustration only grows deeper when elected leaders seem more interested in scoring political points than finding solutions. To me, public service has always meant working to solve these problems,” she said.
She highlighted her work as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for Maine, including millions for hospitals, fire stations, and other local projects. Since 2021, she has secured nearly $1.5 billion in funding for Maine across all 16 counties.
“This year’s election is a choice between leaders committed to uniting Americans or further dividing us. It’s a choice between problem solving or counterproductive confrontation. Both parties need to end the distractions and deliver for the American people,” said Collins in her op-ed.
After the shoe video, Collins’ campaign released a longer video featuring Mainers expressing their support for the incumbent and highlighting her work on various programs meant to directly benefit Maine residents.
Collins is currently serving her fifth term in the Senate. When she first ran for the Senate in 1996, Collins promised that she would only serve two terms.
The incumbent announced her bid for a sixth term amid a heated Democratic primary battle for the Senate nomination between Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) and Graham Platner.
Throughout the second Trump administration, Collins has emerged as a key political figure for her willingness to side with Democrats against President Donald Trump, despite the slim Republican majority in the Senate.
