Republican Senator Susan Collins officially put an end to months of political speculation on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, by announcing her intent to seek a sixth term in the United States Senate. Her announcement, delivered through a viral “sneaker unboxing” video, sets the stage for what is expected to be the most expensive and fiercely contested campaign in the 2026 midterm cycle.
The “Sneaker” Start to a Senate Battleground
In a 15-second video shared across social media, the 73-year-old incumbent was seen unboxing a pair of New Balance sneakers—a staple of Maine manufacturing. With a smile, she delivered the punchline to her primary challengers: “This is perfect for 2026, because I’m running.”
While the video projected energy, the underlying political landscape is fraught with tension. Collins finds herself caught in a “three-front war”:
- A primary challenge from the right.
- A bruising public feud with President Donald Trump.
- A high-profile Democratic primary featuring the state’s governor and a surging progressive.
The Venezuela Fault Line: A Split with Trump
The timing of the announcement is significant, following a sharp public rebuke from President Trump. The friction intensified after Collins joined four other Senate Republicans in supporting a War Powers resolution. The resolution, which advanced 52–47, aims to restrict the President’s ability to engage in further military action in Venezuela without explicit authorization from Congress.
This legislative move came in the wake of Operation Absolute Resolve, the high-precision mission that captured former leader Nicolás Maduro. While Collins praised the operation’s technical execution, she expressed concern over the President’s rhetoric regarding long-term military occupation.
“Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America. Susan Collins… should never be elected to office again.” — Donald Trump on Truth Social, January 2026
In an op-ed published in the Bangor Daily News, Collins defended her decision as a matter of constitutional duty. She argued that the War Powers Act is a necessary check on executive overreach, particularly regarding “sustained engagement” in South America.
The Democratic Challenge: A Divided Primary
National Democrats have long viewed Collins as their primary target. Maine is currently the only state where a Republican holds a Senate seat that voted for Kamala Harris by seven points in the 2024 election. To capitalize on this, the Democratic establishment recruited Governor Janet Mills, who is currently term-limited.
However, Mills faces a formidable challenge from Graham Platner, a Sullivan harbor master, veteran, and oysterman. Platner, a “New Deal Democrat” endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders, has outpaced Governor Mills in grassroots fundraising and captured the imagination of the party’s progressive wing.
A High-Stakes Financial War
The financial intensity of the race is shattering records. According to the latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings as of early 2026:
- Susan Collins (R): Has raised over $10.1 million total, leveraging her seniority and position as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
- Graham Platner (D): Has emerged as a fundraising powerhouse, raising $7.8 million total, with significant momentum from small-dollar contributions.
- Janet Mills (D): Has stockpiled $2.7 million, supported by a broad national Democratic donor network.
The use of ranked-choice voting in Maine further complicates the math. Both the primary and the general election will use this system, meaning a candidate must eventually consolidate a broad majority of support to secure victory.
The Last New England Republican
Senator Collins occupies a unique space in American politics. Following the 2024 elections, she remains the last Republican representing any New England state at the federal level. Her political survival has historically relied on her ability to “outperform” the national Republican brand in Maine.
In 2020, for instance, Collins won her seat by nine points on the same day that Joe Biden won the state by the same margin. She is banking on that same ticket-splitting tradition to carry her through 2026. However, analysts suggest that in an increasingly polarized environment, the “moderate” middle is shrinking.
Conclusion: Defending a Fragile Majority
For the national Republican Party, Collins’ decision to run is a major relief. Republicans currently hold a 53–47 majority in the Senate. With Collins viewed as one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the country, a loss in Maine would significantly narrow the Republican margin of error for the final two years of the Trump presidency.
The road to the Senate majority in 2026 may very well run through the coastal towns and pine forests of Maine, starting with a pair of unboxed sneakers.
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