How Susan Collins Keeps Winning In Maine — A Month-Long Investigation Reveals Why

The Slatest set out to explain the day’s biggest story, but sometimes a longer narrative takes over. Right now, that narrative is which party will control Congress after the November midterms — and in the Senate, the path to a majority runs directly through Maine.

Collins’ Strategy: Moderation Plus Money

Susan Collins, a Republican, has repeatedly prevailed in Maine Senate races for decades. My Slate colleague Jim Newell spent a month reporting on how she maintains that edge in a state that hasn’t voted for a Republican president since 1988. His reporting finds that Collins carefully cultivates a moderate brand while emphasizing tangible federal benefits she brings home to Maine.

"She very zealously guards her moderate image," Jim told me. Much of her appeal comes from a traditional, bring-home-the-bacon approach: visible local projects, research grants, and infrastructure spending that voters can point to in their towns.

Power Of The Appropriations Chair

As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins can steer federal dollars into Maine — a practice Jim colorfully described as "helicopter-dumping cash." That funding goes to things like diabetes research, coastal breakwaters, and small-town projects. Local officials who rely on federal dollars were often reluctant to criticize her on the record, illustrating how this role can blunt opposition.

Still, The Math Is Tricky

Jim’s piece is titled "The Legend of Susan Collins," but he tempers the legend with caution. In 2020 Collins won 51–42, a nine-point margin, but an independent captured about 5 percent of the vote — meaning the anti-Collins vote exceeded 42 percent. That result was also a steep drop from her 2014 landslide (68 percent). With nationalized politics, shifting turnout, and independent voters in play, her position is not unassailable.

The Challenger And The Unknowns

The current opponent, Graham Platner, is an unconventional outsider whose controversies have at times helped Collins by reinforcing doubts among some voters. Jim said Platner’s scandals may have given Collins a breathing space, but he judged the race still plausibly competitive: Collins could lose by eight points or win by eight.

What Voters Face

Voters in Maine — including Democrats — face a trade-off: replace a senator who delivers federal projects to the state, or switch to an alternative who may better align with their national political preferences but lacks the same appropriations leverage. That tension is central to why Collins has been able to withstand criticism on controversial votes.

Evening Picks From The Newsletter

After the politics: if you want to unwind, consider the Apple TV+ series Widow’s Bay, a horror-comedy that blends dread with sympathy and a tonal mix somewhere between The Shining and Parks and Recreation. For podcast listeners, Peter Dinklage and Erica Schmidt sat down together with Anna Sale on Death, Sex & Money to discuss fame, parenting, and awkward interviews (a transcript is available). Sports fans can catch World Cup action: Iraq vs. Norway at 6 p.m. ET (watch Erling Haaland), Argentina vs. Algeria at 9 p.m. ET (Lionel Messi), and Jordan vs. Austria at midnight.

For reading between matches, Jessica Stoya offers a provocative deep dive into marital ethics that begins with a striking anecdote and expands into thoughtful analysis, paired with practical ADHD coaching advice. Rowan Jacobsen’s excerpt from In Defense of Sunlight challenges long-held warnings about sun exposure and highlights potential benefits of sensible sun time.

If you want to weigh in on the Maine race, Slate invited reader feedback at [email protected]. Enjoy your evening.