Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said in an interview published Wednesday that former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has no impact on current political dynamics, in her view.
The comment came during a wide-ranging discussion with Politico's Jonathan Martin in which Collins addressed the state of the Republican Party and where she fits within it. When asked about two GOP archetypes—including those who stand up to former President Trump, like Cheney—Collins said she does not fit either category that was presented.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics have pointed to Collins' assessment as reflecting a broader trend among establishment Republicans to dismiss voices of dissent within the party. Liz Cheney, who lost her Wyoming seat after voting to impeach Trump for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, has continued to speak out against what she characterizes as threats to democratic norms.
Cheney, who has explicitly ruled out a third-party presidential bid, has instead focused on supporting candidates across the political spectrum who oppose Trump's policy agenda. Her political action committee has endorsed incumbent Republicans who voted to certify the 2020 election results and opposed primary challenges from Trump-backed candidates.
Progressive commentators have argued that Cheney's continued public advocacy represents an ongoing challenge to Trump's influence, even as some Democrats view her trajectory as a cautionary tale about the consequences of party loyalty.
What the Right Is Saying
Trump-aligned Republicans have largely echoed Collins' assessment. Since losing her House seat in a 2022 primary to Trump-backed challenger Harriet Hageman, Cheney has remained outside the GOP mainstream, with many conservatives viewing her criticism of Trump as disqualifying from Republican politics.
Supporters of Trump's agenda argue that Cheney's political influence peaked during her time as Republican Conference Chair and has since diminished significantly. They point to her electoral defeat and subsequent party ostracism as evidence that voters have rendered their judgment on anti-Trump Republicans.
Conservative commentators have noted that Collins, who has served in the Senate since 1997, represents a pragmatic wing of the GOP that seeks to work within Trump's political framework rather than oppose it—a strategy they argue has proven more electorally sustainable.
What the Numbers Show
Cheney lost her August 2022 Republican primary to Hageman by approximately 37 percentage points, with Hageman winning roughly 66 percent of the vote. That result came after Cheney received just 29 percent in a six-candidate initial contest in August 2022.
Collins has won each of her seven Senate elections since 1996, most recently defeating Democrat Maya Gideon in 2020 with approximately 51 percent of the vote. She is next up for reelection in 2026.
Cheney's post-Congress political operation has raised several million dollars for candidates who opposed Trump-backed challengers in competitive races during the 2022 and 2024 cycles, though results have been mixed.
The Bottom Line
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions within Republican ranks between members willing to work with Trump and those who have broken with him. Collins' comment reflects a view held by many mainstream Republicans that Cheney's post-impeachment political brand carries limited current influence, while critics note her continued fundraising activity and public advocacy suggest otherwise.
Cheney has indicated she will continue political engagement ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle, though it remains unclear whether her efforts will translate into measurable electoral impact. The assessment from Collins, a longtime institutional voice in Senate Republican politics, underscores how the post-Trump Republican Party has reshaped its internal hierarchies.