A revealing new poll has sent shockwaves through Maine’s political landscape, indicating that a substantial majority of the state’s voters believe longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins should step aside rather than pursue another term in office. The survey results present a stark challenge to Collins, who has represented Maine in the U.S. Senate since 1996 and has already expressed her intention to seek reelection in 2026. This growing sentiment for retirement cuts across party lines and raises significant questions about the future of one of the Senate’s most prominent moderate voices, with potential implications for the broader battle for control of the upper chamber in the next election cycle.

The Poll Results: A Clear Message

According to data from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, an overwhelming 71% of Maine voters believe Collins should not seek another term, compared to just 21% who think she should run again. This lopsided result represents a remarkable shift in sentiment toward a senator who has previously enjoyed broad bipartisan support throughout her nearly three-decade career in Washington.

Perhaps most striking is the cross-partisan nature of this sentiment. While Democratic opposition might be expected given the increasing polarization of American politics, the poll reveals that 84% of Democrats, 67% of independents, and—most notably—57% of Republicans believe Collins should retire rather than run again. This majority opposition within her own party constitutes a particularly troubling signal for the 72-year-old senator as she contemplates her political future.

The survey’s methodology and sample size details have not been fully released, but the University of New Hampshire Survey Center is generally regarded as a reputable polling organization with a solid track record in New England politics. The decisive margins across all political affiliations suggest a robust finding that would likely hold up across various sampling approaches.

Collins’ Political Position and Recent History

Susan Collins has long occupied a unique position in the Senate as one of the body’s few remaining moderates in an era of increasing polarization. First elected during the Clinton administration, Collins has built her political brand around independence from strict party orthodoxy, occasionally breaking with Republican leadership on high-profile votes while maintaining enough conservative credentials to retain support from Maine’s more rural, right-leaning regions.

This balancing act served Collins well for much of her career. In 2014, she won reelection by a commanding 37-point margin, demonstrating remarkable cross-party appeal in a state that typically leans Democratic in presidential elections. However, her political standing shifted significantly during the Trump presidency, particularly after her decisive vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 despite allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

That vote alienated many Democratic and independent voters who had previously supported Collins based on her reputation for moderation and women’s rights advocacy. The political repercussions were evident in her 2020 reelection campaign, where she faced the toughest challenge of her career against Democratic former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon.