PORTLAND, Maine — Sen. Susan Collins didn’t vote for Donald Trump for president in 2016 or 2020, and the third time will not be the charm — because she is writing in Nikki Haley.
Collins, a longtime moderate Republican senator from Maine, told reporters on Friday that she intended to write in the former South Carolina governor’s name on the ballot in November. The move recalls 2016, when Collins said she wrote in then-House Speaker Paul Ryan for president over Trump.
Collins is the only New England Republican in Congress and the only Republican holding statewide office in Maine, where Trump has twice won an electoral vote. She said Friday that she is sticking with her endorsement of Haley despite the fact Haley will not be on the ballot.
“I publicly endorsed Nikki Haley, and I wanted her to win. She’s still my favorite candidate, and I think she could do a great job. She’s my choice, and that’s how I’m going to express it,” Collins told WMTW-TV.
Collins made the remarks about the election at an event in Limerick, about 34 miles west of Portland, where she was speaking at a ribbon-cutting for a new fire and EMS station. After the event, Collins spokesperson Annie Clark said Collins has made clear that she does not intend to vote for Trump many times, and she has voiced support for Haley before, including during a June television appearance.
During that appearance, on Spectrum News, Collins said she “does not support the Democratic nominee either” and supports “some of President Trump’s policies.” However, she also said “a lot of it is President Trump’s style as well — I think it’s divisive at a time when our country is already so polarized.”
Collins was also one of seven Republicans who voted at an impeachment trial to convict Trump of inciting an insurrection after his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol.
Collins was elected to the Senate in 1996. She is the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate and is often a key vote — and she is famous for not missing votes.
Collins is not on the ballot in 2024 and was most recently reelected in 2020, when she defeated Democratic challenger Sara Gideon by a wider margin than many prognosticators expected.
She represents a state where Trump has twice lost the statewide vote but picked up one electoral vote because Maine is one of two states to apportion electoral votes by district. Trump has many fans in rural Maine, which makes up most of the 2nd Congressional District.
Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, has made headlines recently with her announcement that she will not support former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election. This decision comes as a surprise to many, as Collins has previously been a supporter of Trump and his policies.
In a statement released by her office, Collins cited Trump’s actions leading up to and following the 2020 election as the primary reason for her decision. She expressed concern over his efforts to overturn the election results and his role in inciting the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol.
Collins is known for being a moderate Republican who is willing to work across party lines to find solutions to pressing issues facing the country. Her decision to distance herself from Trump signals a shift within the Republican party, as more members begin to break away from the former president’s influence.
Many political analysts believe that Collins’ announcement could have significant implications for the 2024 election. As a respected and influential figure within the Republican party, her decision could sway other moderate Republicans to also distance themselves from Trump. This could potentially lead to a more fractured GOP, with different factions vying for control of the party.
It remains to be seen how Trump will respond to Collins’ announcement. The former president still holds significant sway within the Republican base, and his endorsement can make or break a candidate’s chances in a primary election. However, Collins’ decision could embolden other Republicans to speak out against Trump and his divisive rhetoric.
Overall, Senator Susan Collins’ announcement that she will not support Donald Trump in the 2024 election is a significant development in the ongoing saga of the Republican party. It highlights the growing divide within the party and raises questions about its future direction. As the 2024 election approaches, it will be interesting to see how other Republicans respond to Collins’ decision and what impact it will have on the party as a whole.
