Defying Trump ended some Republicans' careers. It could help Susan Collins

By — Patrick Whittle, Associated Press Patrick Whittle, Associated Press By — Will Weissert, Associated Press Will Weissert, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/defying-trump-ended-some-republicans-careers-it-could-help-susan-collins Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Defying Trump ended some Republicans' careers. It could help Susan Collins Politics Jun 10, 2026 12:59 PM EDT PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — This election year is déjà vu for Sen. Susan Collins — the Maine Republican is running for reelection as Democrats pin their hopes on a new candidate to defeat her. Last time, it was state lawmaker Sara Gideon. This time, it's combat veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner. But Collins has proven to be a hard target for Democrats over the years — even for candidates without the baggage of Platner, who has faced criticism for his relationships with women, inflammatory online posts and a previous tattoo recognized as a Nazi symbol. Collins is seeking her sixth term with sky-high name recognition, a record-breaking run of consecutive Senate votes and a history of bringing back federal funding for her state for years. READ MORE: 5 takeaways from the latest midterm primaries, with Platner's win and mixed results for Trump support She is also the rare Republican who sometimes can boost her own popularity back home by keeping her distance from President Donald Trump, and she has perfected that delicate dance even as his tightening grip on the party has cost two of her Senate Republican colleagues their reelection. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana lost their primaries when facing Trump-endorsed opponents. But despite the president's complaints about Collins, he did not campaign against her. Years of practice have made her adept at staying close — but not too close — to the president when it is politically advantageous, and moving away when showing an independent streak is helpful. WATCH: How Maine Democrats view Platner's scandals and chances to oust Sen. Collins "She's shown time and time again where her state's electorate is. She understands what's too far, she understands where she needs to be," said political consultant Matt Mackowiak, who worked for Cornyn's failed reelection campaign. Trump endorsed Cornyn's opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The road to Senate control goes through Maine The Democrats need to flip four seats to take control of the Senate in November and hope that Trump's falling approval ratings and the war in Iran — as well as its subsequent effect on oil prices and the economy — could buoy their chances. Maine is among the top targets, along with Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina. Platner wants to make the case that Collins isn't as independent of Trump as her reputation suggests — repeat