Susan Collins (born 1952) is an American Republican politician who has represented Maine in the U.S. Senate since 1997. She is widely viewed as a centrist and is known for supporting liberal positions on certain social issues, such as same-sex marriage.
Collins’s family was involved in the lumber industry and state politics. She attended St. Lawrence University, graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in government in 1975. She then worked as a legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. William Cohen, later holding administrative posts until 1987. In 1994 she ran for governor but lost in the general election to Angus King. Two years later Collins won the Senate seat vacated by Cohen. She has been characterized as a moderate, sometimes breaking with her party to support issues like gun control measures and abortion rights. Collins has had a sometimes contentious relationship with Pres. Donald Trump. She refused to support his candidacy in three elections and has been selective in her support of his agenda.
In 2026 Collins ran for a sixth term in the Senate but was defeated by Democrat Troy Jackson.