Maine Republican Senator Collins Diverges From Trump on Tariffs and Mail-in Voting as Vance Visits State

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican facing a competitive re-election campaign in a Democratic-leaning state, will not attend Vice President JD Vance’s Monday appearance in her home state. Collins has emerged as a top Democratic target in this year’s midterm race, one of roughly a dozen Senate contests that will determine whether Republicans maintain control of the chamber.

Vance’s visit to Maine coincides with two significant policy disagreements between Collins and the Trump administration. The senator opposes the president’s recent decision to implement 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, particularly consequential given Maine’s geographic proximity to Canada. She has also come out against new U.S. Postal Service regulations that could restrict mail-in voting options.

Speaking to reporters at the Madison-Anson Days parade on Saturday, Collins cited a prior scheduling conflict for her absence from Monday’s event at Compotech, a defense technology manufacturer in Brewer. “I am already scheduled on Monday, so I will not be able to join the vice president,” she explained. This marks the second occasion during Vance’s 2024 visits to Maine that Collins has not participated alongside him.

Collins articulated her opposition to the tariff policy directly, stating, “I still think imposing new tariffs on Canada is a mistake.” On the postal matter, she emphasized that mail-in ballots remain essential to Maine voters, particularly seniors, and expressed concern about restrictions that would complicate their use during elections.

The senator distinguished her position on voter eligibility requirements, indicating support for the House version of the SAVE America Act, which requires citizenship documentation and photo identification. However, she joined three other Republicans and all Democrats in voting against a Senate version of the legislation, which ranks among Trump’s top priorities.

Collins has previously voted against Trump administration positions, including her 2021 conviction vote during the president’s second impeachment trial following the January 6 Capitol attack. Her public distance from the administration may prove strategically advantageous as she courts independent voters and moderate Democrats in a state that supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Vance acknowledged Collins’ independent streak during his May visit to Maine, saying, “Sometimes I get frustrated with Susan Collins,” before praising her alignment with Maine’s independent-minded electorate. “If she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was, she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine,” he added.

Collins’ Democratic challenger, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, has consistently linked her to Trump policies and criticized her prior funding support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Jackson’s campaign characterized Vance’s visit as evidence of the vice president’s approval of Collins’ record.

Former two-term GOP Gov. Paul LePage will accompany Vance in Brewer, serving as the Republican nominee in Maine’s 2nd Congressional District. That rural, heavily Democratic-leaning district represents a significant pickup opportunity for Republicans this cycle.