Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) cast her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote on Thursday night during a Democratic motion to commit the $70 billion budget reconciliation package back to the Judiciary Committee.
Collins stood at her desk wearing a red dress underneath a blue blazer with bright brass buttons and announced 'aye' when the clerk called her name. The vote received an immediate round of applause from some colleagues, though Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) could be overheard expressing surprise that Collins voted for the motion sponsored by Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
Warnock's motion would direct the Senate to commit the reconciliation package back to the Judiciary Committee with instructions to require the federal government to investigate the loss or denial of Medicaid coverage to eligible beneficiaries and release information to the public.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), who has had his differences with Collins over the years, offered praise for her accomplishment. 'Sen. Collins and I belong to different parties and do not always see eye to eye, but 10,000 consecutive roll call votes is an extraordinary streak by any measure and I congratulate her on reaching it,' Schumer said.
Democrats have noted Collins' willingness to occasionally cross party lines, pointing to her vote for Warnock's Medicaid-related motion as evidence of her moderate tendencies. Some progressive voices have acknowledged the significance of her voting record while noting policy disagreements they continue to have with the Maine senator on issues like healthcare and abortion rights.
What the Right Is Saying
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) temporarily halted the Senate vote-a-rama with a floor speech congratulating his colleague. 'Susan takes pride in the milestones she's achieved, not because of any desire to have her name in the history books but because to her these votes are a tangible marker of the goal she set for herself since she came to the United States Senate, and that is ensuring that Mainers always have a voice,' Thune said.
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) pointed out that casting 10,000 consecutive votes is even more impressive when considering how severe winter weather can be in northern New England. The Wall Street Journal editorial board recently praised Collins' dedication as she approached the milestone. 'Whatever else you say about Sen. Collins, she isn't a slacker. She didn't miss a vote despite the vagaries of chance and personal sadness, such as the death of her mother,' the newspaper wrote.
What the Numbers Show
Collins cast her first Senate vote on Jan. 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeleine Albright as the first woman to serve as secretary of State. That same day, she voted to confirm her predecessor, Maine Sen. Bill Cohen (R), as secretary of Defense.
Thursday's historic vote puts Collins closer to the all-time record set by Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wis.), who cast 10,252 consecutive votes between his service in the Senate. Collins needs just 252 more consecutive votes to surpass that mark.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has the third-longest Senate voting streak at 8,927 consecutive votes between 1993 and 2020. Some colleagues have compared Collins' consistency to famed Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr.'s record of playing in 2,632 consecutive Major League Baseball games.
The Bottom Line
Collins' voting streak represents a rare feat of legislative attendance that spans nearly three decades. Her accomplishment has drawn bipartisan praise from colleagues across the political spectrum who view consistent participation as essential to representing constituents effectively.
The milestone comes as Collins runs for re-election to her sixth Senate term, facing Democrat Graham Platner, an oyster farmer, in what is expected to be a competitive race. The senator thanked her colleagues for their tributes and reflected on her Maine upbringing. 'Growing up in northern Maine... I learned the values of hard work, perseverance and keeping your commitments. Mainers are known for their work ethic and I have strived to bring those values here to my work representing them in the United States Senate,' she said.