Senator Susan Collins Faces Enduring Political Fallout Over 2018 Supreme Court Vote
Of the more than 10,000 votes cast by Senator Susan Collins of Maine, her deciding vote on October 6, 2018, to confirm Brett M. Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court remains a central issue in her campaign for a sixth term. As one of only two Senate Republicans supporting abortion rights at the time, her vote preceded the Supreme Court’s decision four years later to overturn Roe v. Wade, dismantling nearly half a century of guaranteed constitutional protections for abortion rights. This historical vote has redefined her reputation as a moderate Republican and created deep divisions among Maine voters, pitting abortion-rights activists and sexual violence advocates against constituents who view her actions as those of a principled lawmaker.
The 2018 Confirmation Fight and Strict Review Process
Ahead of the confirmation, Senator Collins established a strict litmus test requiring nominees to demonstrate no hostility toward Roe v. Wade before receiving her support. Following the announcement of Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination in July 2018, she organized a team of five lawyers, participated in 10 hours of briefings from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, and held a two-hour meeting with the nominee to discuss abortion precedent. The confirmation process intensified significantly after Dr. Christine Blasey Ford publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh of sexual assault during a high school gathering in the 1980s—allegations that the judge denied. Despite protests, coat-mail deliveries, and violent threats, Senator Collins ultimately defended the nominee on the Senate floor, concluding that Dr. Ford’s allegations did not meet a “more likely than not” standard before casting her confirmation vote.
Escalating Political Backlash and Long-Term Alliances Undone
The aftermath of the confirmation permanently altered Senator Collins’s political relationships, most notably ending her long-standing alignment with Planned Parenthood, an organization that had honored her in 2017 before endorsing her Democratic opponent three years later. Publicly unbowed, the senator stated during a Portland appearance and a Randolph, Maine event that she would vote to confirm Justice Kavanaugh again, though associates note she continues to harbor frustration over ongoing criticism from liberals who overlook her votes to confirm Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her spokeswoman, Blake Kernen, defended the senator’s record by highlighting legislative efforts to codify abortion rights into federal law and noting a 2025 commendation from a Maine Planned Parenthood affiliate for opposing Republican efforts to defund the organization.
Current Re-Election Landscape and Public Divisions in Maine
As Senator Collins campaigns for her sixth term in a race that could determine control of the Senate, the Kavanaugh confirmation vote continues to serve as a character test for Maine voters. Former aides and political analysts, such as Kay Rand, note that the vote transformed into a galvanizing lightning rod across the state. While allies like former campaign aide Lance Dutson argue that the senator acted transparently based on the information available and a nominee’s assurance regarding legal precedent, critics maintain that the vote demonstrated a profound disregard for reproductive rights and the testimony of sexual assault survivors, leaving her political standing fundamentally altered.
