Susan Collins Announces 2026 Re-election Bid in High-Stakes Maine Senate Race

Feb. 10, 2026 — Senator Susan Collins, 73, said on Tuesday that she will run for a sixth term in the U.S. Senate, entering what is widely expected to be one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate contests of 2026. The announcement, shared in a short social video in which she unboxed a pair of gray New Balance running shoes, formalizes a campaign that Democrats and outside groups have long targeted. The seat in Maine is considered pivotal for Democrats’ efforts to regain control of the Senate; the party needs to flip four Republican-held seats to secure a majority. The campaign follows public clashes with former President Donald Trump after Collins joined four other Republicans in backing a debate on limiting presidential military action in Venezuela.

Key Takeaways

• Sen. Susan Collins, age 73, announced on Feb. 10, 2026, that she is seeking a sixth Senate term from Maine.
• The announcement was posted as a social-video unboxing featuring gray New Balance running shoes and the line that she is “running” in 2026.
• Maine’s seat is widely viewed as one of the most endangered Republican-held seats; Democrats need to flip four GOP seats to win a Senate majority in November.
• Collins has a history of surviving strong Democratic challenges but faces intensified targeting and likely large outside spending in 2026.
• Former President Trump publicly attacked Collins after her vote to begin debate on restricting presidential military authority in Venezuela.
• Collins framed the race as a choice between leaders who unite the country and those who further divide it in an op-ed published the same day.

Background

Susan Collins has represented Maine in the Senate since 1997 and is running for what would be her sixth term. Her brand of political moderation has drawn both praise and criticism: she has often positioned herself between party extremes while voting with Republican leadership on key measures during the Trump years. That positioning has made her a frequent target of Democratic groups aiming to flip the seat and of national Republicans who view her occasional departures from party orthodoxy skeptically.

The 2026 cycle presents a narrow path to a Democratic majority in the Senate: party strategists say flipping four Republican seats would be necessary to change control. Maine has a recent history of competitive statewide politics, and past contests for this seat have drawn heavy national attention and spending. Outside groups, both Democratic and Republican, are expected to treat Collins’s campaign as a test of whether a centrist Republican can hold in an increasingly polarized environment.

Main Event

On the morning of Feb. 10, 2026, Collins posted a short campaign-style video on social platforms in which she opened a box and pulled out a pair of gray New Balance running shoes, smiling as she said the shoes were “perfect for 2026.” The clip served as an announcement of intent and an attempt to cast the race in personal, down-to-earth terms. Campaign aides said the announcement formalizes months of planning but declined to release a full schedule or fundraising targets at the time.

Her decision comes after a high-profile moment in January when Collins and four other Republican senators voted with Democrats to open debate on legislation that would constrain the president’s ability to use military force in Venezuela. That procedural vote drew sharp rebuke from former President Trump, who said the five senators “should never be elected to office again.” The exchange highlighted Collins’s fraught position within her party and supplied a rallying point for both critics and defenders.

Collins published an opinion piece in the Bangor Daily News on the day of her announcement, framing the upcoming election as a choice between leaders committed to unity and those who would deepen divisions. Her language signals a campaign strategy that leans on her long-standing image as a pragmatic, consensus-minded lawmaker while acknowledging the intensified partisan stakes of 2026.

Analysis & Implications

Politically, Collins’s entry removes uncertainty for both parties: Democrats can now focus resources and recruit a challenger, while Republican-aligned groups must decide whether to spend to defend a moderate incumbent who may not command unanimous support in the party base. Expect national fundraising, independent expenditures, and outside messaging to escalate quickly. Historically, open or competitive Maine Senate races attract substantial out-of-state money and strategic attention because of the state’s relatively small population and winnable profile for both parties.

Strategically, Collins faces a two-front challenge: persuading moderate and independent Maine voters to stick with her while neutralizing primary or alternative conservative pressure that could weaken her general-election standing. Her support for procedural debate on Venezuela has already provided conservative critics with ammunition, but it may also help her reach swing voters who prefer restraint on foreign military commitments.

For Democrats aiming to flip four seats, Collins’s race is both an opportunity and a test. Targeting an incumbent who has won statewide in Maine multiple times offers the potential for a high reward, but it is costly and uncertain. If Democrats fail to make Collins vulnerable enough to overcome her incumbency advantage, they will need to find additional pickup opportunities elsewhere to secure a majority.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarizes the core data points relevant to the race. While these figures do not capture polling shifts or fundraising dynamics that will emerge, they frame why Maine is considered a top-priority state: an incumbent with statewide recognition, a narrow path to Senate control for Democrats, and an electorate with a record of split-ticket voting.

Reactions & Quotes

Officials and commentators reacted quickly after Collins’s announcement, highlighting both the symbolic and tactical importance of the race.

“This is perfect for 2026,” Collins said in the announcement video as she showed a pair of running shoes, adding, “because I’m running.”

Susan Collins (campaign announcement)

The exchange with former President Trump has sharpened attention on Collins’s standing within her own party.

“They should never be elected to office again,” Mr. Trump said after the vote to open debate on Venezuela policy, targeting Collins and four other GOP senators.

Donald J. Trump (public statement)

Collins framed the race’s choice in an op-ed published the same day as her announcement.

“This year’s election is a choice between leaders committed to uniting Americans or further dividing us,” Collins wrote.

Bangor Daily News (op-ed)

Unconfirmed

• No major Democratic nominee had been officially declared at the time of Collins’s announcement; possible challengers have been mentioned but not confirmed.
• Specific fundraising targets and outside-spending commitments for 2026 were not publicly disclosed by either party as of Feb. 10, 2026.
• Comprehensive statewide polling after the announcement was not yet available to gauge immediate voter reaction.

Bottom Line

Susan Collins’s formal entry into the 2026 Senate race crystallizes one of the cycle’s most closely watched contests. Her incumbency and personal brand of moderation give her structural advantages, but evolving national dynamics and intensified targeting by Democratic groups make this likely to be an expensive, high-profile battle.

For Democrats, flipping Collins’s seat would be a major step toward regaining a Senate majority, but failure there would increase pressure to find pickups in other competitive states. For Collins and Maine voters, the campaign will test whether a long-serving, centrist Republican can withstand growing partisan pressure and retain the coalition that has kept her in office for nearly three decades.

Sources

• The New York Times (national news report)
• Bangor Daily News (local news/op-ed)