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Inside the Moment – News Report
March 25, 2025 | Washington, D.C.

Is Susan Collins Finally Vulnerable? New Poll Suggests Cracks in Her Maine Coalition

For over two decades, Senator Susan Collins has been the political equivalent of Wile E. Coyote’s elusive target — seemingly untouchable, even as Democrats repeatedly try to take her down. But new polling data may hint at her most serious vulnerability yet, as her once rock-solid centrist appeal shows signs of erosion on both the left and right.

A Public Policy Polling survey, commissioned by Senate Majority PAC, shows the Maine Republican with a net approval rating of -37, with just 24% of voters approving of her job performance and 61% disapproving. Her favorability rating fares even worse at 19/65, including a dismal 19/66 rating among independents — traditionally a key part of her support base.

The numbers reflect a double squeeze: she's unpopular with Kamala Harris voters (17% approve, 71% disapprove) and struggling with Donald Trump supporters as well (30/52). The data paints a picture of a senator increasingly seen as too Trump-aligned by Democrats and not Trump-loyal enough by Republicans.

“When it comes to Trump, her approach is just antagonizing everyone,” the poll memo states, noting that 81% of Harris voters think she votes with Trump too often, while 73% of Trump voters think she doesn’t vote with him enough.

Still, Democrats may struggle to capitalize on Collins’ slump. Despite the numbers, top-tier challengers are scarce. Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson is reportedly eyeing the more open — and perhaps more winnable — governor’s race. And Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate Democrat and former Collins staffer, is seen as highly unlikely to challenge his old boss.

Collins has also defied bad polling before. In 2020, despite being outraised, outspent, and trailing in nearly every poll, she defeated Democrat Sara Gideon by 9 points, even as Trump lost Maine. That race was also the first U.S. Senate contest to use ranked-choice voting, a system Collins managed to navigate with her trademark appeal to independents.

Republicans remain confident.

“Chuck Schumer literally ran out of things to spend money on last time he tried to take down Susan Collins, and she still won,” said Senate GOP spokesperson Nick Puglia. “In 2026, Mainers will reelect Susan Collins again, no matter how much Democrats beg someone to run against her.”

But in today’s polarized climate, even a seasoned moderate like Collins faces new challenges. The MAGA movement’s growing grip on Republican politics has made her vulnerable to a potential primary, though she avoided a GOP challenger in 2020 and may do so again. Trump loyalists are aware Collins remains the GOP’s best chance to hold the seat, even if she doesn’t fully embrace their brand.

Not all the news is bad for Collins. The poll shows she still holds onto 17% of Harris voters, a notable level of crossover support. That’s far better than Trump’s 2% among the same group.

Still, the numbers are a warning sign for the five-term senator: her trademark balancing act may be wearing thin — and 2026 could be the first time the Democratic net finally catches the elusive senator from Maine.

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