Maine Senator Susan Collins was faced with heckling from Maine residents during a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday in Searsport, according to a report from NBC. The hecklers can be heard shouting “shame shame Shame” as well as confronting her on her recent actions on Trump’s “big beautiful bill”. This isn’t the only sign of discontent from Mainers. 

Collins, who has served as Maine’s senior Senator since 1996 who has been an influential bipartisan figure in the Senate is facing low approval ratings as well as several democratic and independent challengers. According to a July poll from Newsweek, she currently has an approval rating of 38 percent.

Historically, Collins has been seen as a moderate, as well as being referred to as “RINO” (Republican in name only) for her more moderate views, including her pro-choice view on abortion. That doesn’t mean, however, that she doesn’t sometimes follow party lines,

In 2018, she voted to confirm President Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Justice Kavanaugh who Has Been criticised for his anti abortion opinion. Something that Senator Collins had long run on protecting.

In 2020, The Senator faced a tough battle to be reelected as she was seen as a part of the Trump era politics,s specifically on the issue of abortion. While she was reelected, it was in her second closest election, only behind her first Election In 1996. 

In 2022 she became an internet meme for her statement that she was “deeply concerned” about the overturning of Roe V. Wade by the Supreme Court. And again stated she was “deeply concerned” about President. Trumps tariffs early this year.  

While Collins is not facing any primary challenges at the moment, she is facing a full primary of Democrats as well as an Independent. Right now, the race is considered a toss-up and is considered to be one of the closest-watched races in the 2026 election.  

Whether or not a 29-year career will end for Collins will be decided next fall. The general election occurs on November 3, 2026.