‘RINO’ Senator’s Approval Rating Hits Rock-Bottom Amid Feuds With Trump

Maine Senator Susan Collins is facing the political fight of her career—and this time, it’s not coming from the left.

A new Morning Consult poll reveals that a majority of Mainers—54%—now disapprove of Collins’ job performance, marking her worst numbers since she took office in 1997. Her approval rating has sunk to a record low of 38%, just as she prepares to seek a sixth term in the U.S. Senate. The steep drop is largely fueled by mounting frustration from the Republican base, much of it stemming from her increasingly public disagreements with President Trump.

Collins, who currently chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, has taken several high-profile positions that have alienated her from Republicans aligned with Trump. Most recently, she bucked party leadership by opposing a $9.4 billion rescission package—one backed by the Trump administration—citing a lack of transparency and potential harm to rural healthcare and public broadcasting.

While Collins has long been viewed as a centrist, her defiance of Trump-backed budget priorities has ignited new friction within the GOP. Conservative activists and donors have branded her a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only), and some have even suggested she no longer represents the will of her constituents.

🚨 JUST IN: Senator Susan Collins (R-MAINE) hits record-low approval rating, per Morning Consult

🟢 Approve: 38% (-16)
🔴 Disapprove: 54% pic.twitter.com/70l67quXcV

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 16, 2025

The political backlash appears to be taking a toll. Collins suffered the largest net drop in approval ratings among all sitting senators in the latest national tracking. GOP challengers are already lining up, including Carmen Calabrese and Daniel Smeriglio, who are expected to run to her right in the Republican primary.

Collins’ career began in Washington as a Senate staffer, and she went on to hold several roles in government, including Maine’s commissioner of professional regulation and regional director of the Small Business Administration. She won her Senate seat in 1996 and has since built a reputation as a centrist with an independent streak—sometimes supporting Democratic nominees and crossing the aisle on major votes.

That image, once her political strength, may now be her biggest liability.

Her support for the confirmation of liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, her vote to impeach Trump after January 6, and her defense of Senate filibuster rules have drawn sharp criticism from conservatives. Even her high-profile vote for Justice Amy Coney Barrett didn’t fully repair her standing with the GOP base, which increasingly demands total alignment with Trump.

Democrats, sensing vulnerability, are also preparing for a fight. Multiple challengers have already filed paperwork, including David Costello of Brunswick. The race is expected to draw national money and attention, with Democrats eager to flip the only Republican-held Senate seat in New England.

Despite the tough road ahead, Collins still commands significant financial resources. Her campaign raised $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2025, and her super PAC has $5.4 million in cash on hand, according to Axios. That war chest, along with her name recognition and long tenure, makes her a formidable contender, even as her approval numbers tank.

Collins has confirmed she intends to run for re-election in 2026.