Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she does not regret her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, though she expressed disappointment with his decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to overturn the constitutional right to abortion that had stood for nearly 50 years.

Collins discussed her position in a televised interview with News Center Maine, arguing that Kavanaugh was qualified to serve on the nation's highest court based on his credentials and judicial experience.

What the Left Is Saying

Abortion rights advocates have pointed to Collins's comments as evidence of the consequences of her confirmation votes. The senator voted to confirm three conservative justices appointed by former President Donald Trump — Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett — all of whom joined the majority in the 2022 Dobbs decision.

Progressive groups noted that Collins had previously stated she believed Kavanaugh would uphold precedent on Roe v. Wade based on private assurances he made during his confirmation hearings. The Brennan Center for Justice and other organizations have tracked how justices' rulings have diverged from statements made during Senate testimony.

Democratic challenger Graham Platner, a combat veteran and oyster farmer running against Collins in the 2026 Senate race, has emphasized reproductive rights as a key campaign issue, arguing that Maine voters need a senator who will codify abortion protections into federal law.

"When I look at a justice, I look at their qualifications, their integrity, their background, their experience in reaching a decision," Collins said in the interview. "Obviously, I'm disappointed in that decision, which turned abortion issues back to the states."

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative defenders of Collins highlighted her consistent stated criteria for judicial nominees: qualifications, integrity, and legal philosophy rather than anticipated policy outcomes. They argue that evaluating judges based on how they might rule on specific issues undermines judicial independence.

Supporters noted that Collins has supported numerous liberal-leaning Supreme Court nominees put forward by Democratic presidents, including Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, all of whom voted to preserve Roe v. Wade in the 2022 decision.

Some conservative commentators have argued that Collins's criticism of Kavanaugh's ruling reflects political pressure from her reelection bid rather than genuine disagreement with originalist jurisprudence. They contend that senators should not expect justices to rule based on campaign assurances.

"I would point out that in that decision several Supreme Court justices whom I supported voted the other way," Collins said, naming Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson as examples of nominees she backed who ruled differently than Kavanaugh on abortion.

What the Numbers Show

Kavanaugh was confirmed by a 50-48 Senate vote in October 2018. At the time, several Democratic strategists suggested that if Collins had voted against confirmation, it could have swayed centrist Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) to also oppose Kavanaugh, potentially changing the outcome.

The Dobbs decision in June 2022 eliminated the constitutional right to abortion established by Roe v. Wade in 1973. Twenty-two states have enacted complete or near-complete abortion bans since the ruling, according to data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute.

Maine enacted a law in 2023 that expanded abortion access, allowing advanced practice clinicians to perform the procedure. The state has remained among those with more permissive abortion regulations despite the federal change.

Collins is seeking her sixth Senate term. Recent polling in Maine's Senate race has shown a competitive contest between Collins and Platner, with abortion policy cited as a significant factor for many voters.

The Bottom Line

The interview highlights the political tightrope Collins walks heading into her reelection bid. She has maintained her position that she evaluates judicial nominees based on qualifications rather than predicted rulings, while simultaneously criticizing specific outcomes she finds disappointing.

Her race against Platner is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate contests of 2026. Both candidates have made their positions on abortion rights central to their campaigns, reflecting the issue's continued salience with voters three years after Dobbs.

Collins's approach — supporting conservative nominees while disagreeing with their rulings — reflects a broader debate within the Republican Party about judicial confirmation standards and whether senators should consider potential policy implications when evaluating nominees.