Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) faces intensifying pressure in her reelection bid as Democratic opponents and reproductive rights organizations center their campaign on her 2018 vote to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Opponents argue that Collins’ decision directly enabled the Court’s subsequent ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, a pivotal issue in the current political landscape.
The strategic focus on the Kavanaugh vote highlights the enduring political fallout from the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion. In Maine, where abortion access remains a significant concern for voters, the confirmation vote has become a primary line of attack against the incumbent senator.
What the Left Is Saying
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson released an advertisement earlier this week criticizing Collins for her role in confirming Kavanaugh. Jackson’s campaign frames the 2018 vote as a betrayal of Maine women’s rights, asserting that Collins prioritized partisan loyalty over the healthcare needs of her constituents.
Reproductive rights groups operating in Maine have echoed Jackson’s stance, noting that Collins was one of three Republican senators to vote for Kavanaugh’s confirmation. These organizations argue that without Collins’ vote, the current composition of the Supreme Court—and the resulting loss of federal abortion protections—would have been different. They contend that Collins’ record on judicial appointments has had tangible, negative consequences for access to reproductive care in the state.
What the Right Is Saying
While the source material focuses primarily on the opposition’s framing, Collins’ defense of her record has historically emphasized her commitment to originalist jurisprudence and her belief that Kavanaugh was qualified for the bench. Supporters argue that her vote was based on constitutional principles rather than specific policy outcomes regarding abortion.
Republican strategists in Maine likely view the focus on the 2018 vote as an attempt to distract from Collins’ current legislative record and her independent streak within the Senate. They argue that voters should judge her on recent actions and her ability to deliver results for Maine, rather than a judicial appointment decision made eight years ago under different political conditions.
What the Numbers Show
In October 2018, the Senate confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court by a vote of 50-48. Susan Collins was one of three Republican senators to vote in favor of confirmation, alongside Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Jeff Flake of Arizona. Both Flake and Murkowski have since faced different electoral challenges, with Flake retiring and Murkowski currently serving.
The Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, returning the authority to regulate abortion to individual states. Maine state law currently protects abortion access up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but the loss of federal protections has made state-level legislative battles more critical.
The Bottom Line
The Kavanaugh vote remains a potent political tool for Democrats in Maine as they seek to unseat one of the Senate’s few remaining moderate Republicans. By linking Collins to the national abortion controversy, Jackson and allied groups aim to mobilize suburban and independent voters who are concerned about reproductive rights.
The outcome of the Maine Senate race could have significant implications for control of the Senate chamber. With the political landscape heavily influenced by judicial appointments and their downstream effects, Collins’ ability to distance herself from the Dobbs decision or defend her vote on procedural grounds will likely be a central theme in the final stretch of the campaign.