Susan Collins Touts 1 Senate Seat's Seniority in Maine Re-election Bid

11 articles · Updated · NPR · May 21

Susan Collins is making Senate seniority the centerpiece of her Maine re-election pitch, arguing voters should keep her in office because she can better steer federal money to state priorities.
The Republican incumbent is framing the race as a choice between her clout in Washington and Democrat Graham Platner, with the general-election matchup now all but set.
Collins' message leans on a long-standing incumbency argument in a competitive state: replacing a veteran senator would weaken Maine's leverage over funding and committee influence.

Is a senator's value measured by the federal dollars they secure or their vision for systemic reform?

With billions in federal funds secured for Maine, why do polls suggest a growing desire for fundamental change?

Can ambitious reforms like universal healthcare solve rising costs better than targeted federal funding for local hospitals?