Politics
Sen. Susan Collins breaks with Trump on tariffs and mail-in voting as JD Vance visits Maine
The Maine Republican cited a scheduling conflict for skipping the vice president's campaign stop while taking positions against key administration policies.
The short version
- Sen. Susan Collins did not join Vice President JD Vance during his visit to Maine on Monday, citing prior campaign scheduling.
- Collins publicly opposed two major Trump administration initiatives: new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods and proposed Postal Service rules restricting mail-in voting.
- The split highlights political dynamics in Collins' re-election race in Maine, a blue-leaning state critical to the Senate majority balance.
Key facts
- Sen. Susan Collins did not attend Vice President JD Vance's appearance at a defense technology manufacturer in Brewer, Maine, citing a prior schedule.[Fox News]
- Collins expressed opposition to President Trump's implementation of 50% tariffs on goods from Canada, calling new tariffs on the neighboring country a mistake.[Fox News]
- Collins stated opposition to proposed U.S. Postal Service rules tied to an executive order that could limit mail-in voting for states that do not share raw voter rolls with federal departments.[Fox News]
- Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage, currently running for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, accompanied Vance during the Brewer event.[Fox News]
- Collins is the only Republican senator seeking re-election in a state won by Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the proposed Postal Service restrictions on absentee ballot delivery will be formally implemented or face legal challenges.[Fox News]