Senator Susan Collins of Maine expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade but maintained that she does not regret her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. In a recent interview with News Center Maine, Collins, widely regarded as one of the Senate’s most moderate Republicans and among the few in her party supporting abortion rights, said she disagrees with Kavanaugh’s vote but stood by her confirmation decision.

Collins highlighted that when evaluating judicial nominees, she considers qualifications, integrity, background, and experience rather than specific anticipated rulings. She pointed out that liberal justices she supported, including Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, voted against overturning Roe, underscoring the complex dynamics in court decisions.

Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that ended federal protections for abortion rights, Maine has legalized abortion at all stages of pregnancy. However, Democrats contend that Collins’s alignment with several of former President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees may erode her support among moderates, particularly women, who represent a significant portion of Maine’s electorate. Female voters, especially older women, are viewed as a crucial swing demographic in the state’s politically competitive environment.

Collins is currently engaged in a closely watched re-election contest against Democrat Graham Platner, an oysterman who has mobilized support despite facing criticism over past remarks and behavior. The race is considered pivotal in Democrats’ efforts to reclaim Senate control. Collins won her last election comfortably in 2020, following a lengthy Senate floor speech in which she extensively defended her vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

The senator has previously said she felt “misled” by Kavanaugh, revealing that the justice privately assured her he did not intend to challenge the landmark abortion ruling. Besides Kavanaugh, Collins has voted to confirm seven of the nine current Supreme Court justices. She opposed the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, citing the timing of the vote late in the 2020 election cycle. Justice Clarence Thomas’s confirmation predated Collins’s Senate tenure.

While abortion rights were a significant factor in Democratic gains during the 2022 midterm elections, their influence appeared muted in the 2024 presidential race despite heightened emphasis by former Vice President Kamala Harris. Voters approved state-level abortion protections but also elected candidates with varied stances on abortion restrictions, including Republicans supportive of overturning Roe.

Looking ahead to the 2026 election cycle, Democrats in Maine plan to continue highlighting Roe’s overturn as a central issue to bolster Platner’s campaign. Platner’s messaging criticizes Collins’s record on judicial appointments, portraying her as insufficiently bipartisan. A recent campaign advertisement accuses Collins of only showing bipartisanship “when it doesn’t matter,” framing her as aligned with the Trump administration’s judicial agenda.