Scope
Back to results

Susan M. Collins

U.S. Senator for ME

RepublicanSenate

Positions last updated Oct 12, 2026

In Congress since
1997
Years served
30
Age
73
Current term ends
Jan 3, 2027

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress (via the public congress-legislators dataset). Photo: official congressional portrait.

Compare with another member

Where their record lies

Between the typical Democratic and typical Republican record

CollinsBetween the two parties. Susan M. Collins's record sits 57% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record. 258 Democratic and 269 Republican members are shown; 13 of 530 sit in the middle.
Democratic258 members
Middle13 members
Republican269 members

Between the two parties

Susan M. Collins's record sits 57% of the way from the typical Democratic record to the typical Republican record.

Built from 6 topics that divide the parties. It describes a record of votes and statements, not a person. How this is calculated.

Their record by topic

Further from the center means more agreement with the quiz statement

Web chart of Susan M. Collins’s positions on 8 topics; a larger shape means stronger agreement.Health careTaxes & spendingImmigrationClimate & energyGunsAbortionEducationForeign policy

Each point averages how Susan M. Collins votes and what they say on that topic. A topic with no data is left out, not drawn as neutral. The sources are in the sections below.

Where they stand

Each topic is a statement from the quiz. "Agree" means their votes or words line up with it.

  • Health care

    “The federal government should guarantee health coverage for every American.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Taxes & spending

    “Lowering taxes matters more than expanding government services.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: Agree

  • Immigration

    “Border security should be the top priority in immigration policy.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Climate & energy

    “The federal government should require cuts to carbon emissions, even if energy costs rise.”

    Votes: Disagree|Says: No data

  • Guns

    “Federal law should require background checks on all gun sales, including private sales.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Abortion

    “Abortion law should be decided by each state, not the federal government.”

    Votes: No data|Says: No data

  • Education

    “Public school funding should follow students to the school their family chooses, including private schools.”

    Votes: Neutral or unsure|Says: No data

  • Foreign policy

    “The U.S. should keep providing military aid to its allies abroad.”

    Votes: Strongly agree|Says: Strongly agree

Votes on key bills

The final vote on each bill Scope tracks (not every vote they have cast). Newest first.

Show 3 more votes

Source: House Clerk and Senate roll-call records via Congress.gov. For every vote they have cast, see GovTrack.

Words versus votes

Pro preview · free for now

No topic where votes and statements point in opposite directions (2 topics compared).

A difference is a prompt to look closer, not proof of anything. Votes come from a short list of tracked bills; statements come from speeches, press releases and bills they put their name on. See the evidence for each topic. On 1 more topic one side is neutral, so there is nothing to contrast.

Campaign money

$16.2 million raised in the 2025-2026 cycle

For the 2025-2026 election cycle, through Jun 30, 2026. Who funds a campaign can shape who a member listens to, though it does not decide how they vote.

Raised
$16.2 million
Spent
$7.7 million
Cash on hand
$0

Where the money came from

  • Small donors (under $200 each)9%
  • Larger individual donors56%
  • Political action committees (PACs)7%
  • Other28%

Source: Federal Election Commission filings · see top donors on OpenSecrets.

What they work on

25 bills written, 207 signed onto. Top topic: Health

In the current Congress they have written 25 bills and signed on to 207 more. A bill someone writes shows what they want to change.

Topics of the bills they wrote

  • Health13
  • Education5
  • Families2
  • Taxation2
  • Armed Forces and National Security1

Most recent bills they wrote

  • S. 3267: ASAP Act (Sep 24, 2026)
  • S. 5250: Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act of 2026 (Aug 5, 2026)
  • S. 3934: Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2026 (Jul 16, 2026)
  • S. 4641: Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2026 (May 21, 2026)
  • S.Res. 744: A resolution expressing support for designation of the month of May 2026 as "Osteoporosis Prevention and Awareness Mo... (May 20, 2026)

Source: Sponsorship records from Congress.gov; each bill links to its page there.

Committees

3 committees: Senate Committee on Appropriations; Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions...

Committees study and rewrite bills before the full chamber votes.

  • Senate Committee on AppropriationsChairman

    Subcommittees: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Department of Defense; Energy and Water Development; Financial Services and General Government; Department of Homeland Security; Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

  • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

    Subcommittees: Primary Health and Retirement Security

  • Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Source: Committee rosters from the congress-legislators dataset (built from the House and Senate committee pages, as of 2026-10-12). Each committee name links to its official page.

Career in Congress

1997 to present
  • 1997 to presentU.S. Senate, MERepublican

Source: Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Contact and learn more

Office phone, website, message form and where to read more

Contact their office

Read more about them

Source: Contact details from the member's official pages, via the congress-legislators dataset. Outside sites are not run by Scope.

The evidence, topic by topic

Every position links to the votes, quotes and bills it was built from

Health care

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 3 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Health care

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Taxes & spending

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Agree (+1)

Based on 1 cosponsored bill related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

cosponsored bill: S 213: Main Street Tax Certainty Act

Statements behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Taxes & spending

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Immigration

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on billRoll call on bill

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Immigration

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Climate & energy

How they vote

Disagree (-1)

Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S. Con. Res. 14.

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Climate & energy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Guns

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 1 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Guns

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Abortion

How they vote

No data

What they say

No data

Education

How they vote

Neutral or unsure (0)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.Roll call on bill

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Education

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

No data

Foreign policy

How they vote

Strongly agree (+2)

Calculated from 2 recorded vote(s) using the public issue-to-bill list.

Verified · Last updated Oct 12, 2026

Roll call on Making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, and for other purposes.Roll call on bill

Votes behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

What they say

Strongly agree (+2)

Based on 3 cosponsored bills, 1 floor speech related to this issue.

Verified · Last updated Oct 8, 2026

“it would sustain security cooperation with close allies and partners whose growing defense capabilities are force multipliers for the United States”

cosponsored bill: S 1521: Stand with Israel Actfloor speech: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026 (Executive Session)cosponsored bill: S 554: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025cosponsored bill: SRES 612: A resolution acknowledging the fourth anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, reaffirming support for the people of Ukraine, and emphasizing the importance of

Statements behind Collins, Susan M.'s position on Foreign policy

A position is built from many pieces of evidence. Each one is listed here, strongest first. Open any to see its source, how it counted, and how it was produced.

Revision history

50 recorded changes
  • Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 12, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 12, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): 1 to 1Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): 2 to 2Bulk approval (statements): Spot-checked a sample of the AI's readings · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): 1 to 2Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (statement): created at 1Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Immigration (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -1 to -1Bulk approval: AI bill check reviewed and accepted · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): 2 to 0Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -2 to -1Status changed: needs_review to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Guns (vote): created at 2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Taxes & spending (vote): 0 to 0Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Education (vote): created at -2Created · Oct 8, 2026
  • Foreign policy (vote): 2 to 2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Health care (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026
  • Climate & energy (vote): -2 to -2Status changed: verified to needs_review · Oct 8, 2026