Is Susan Collins present on the Senate floor? “Aye” has now been the answer for 10,000 consecutive roll-call votes.
Maine’s senior U.S. senator reached that milestone on Thursday night, voting yes on an amendment to Medicaid legislation as she seeks a sixth term as the only Republican up for reelection in a state President Donald Trump lost in 2024. Collins has not missed a vote since she arrived in the Senate in 1997. It’s the longest streak in Senate history when measured from a senator’s first vote in the chamber, according to her office.
Collins’ 10,000th vote underscores her longtime presence in the Senate, where she chairs the Appropriations Committee. For her campaign, it’s a useful marker of steadiness during a week when her presumptive Democratic opponent, Graham Platner, has come under renewed scrutiny just before the primary election on Tuesday.
He admitted last weekend to sending sexually explicit messages to several women outside of his marriage and then on Thursday The New York Times reported that he bragged to an ex-girlfriend about having a Nazi tattoo and regularly grabbed her by the shoulders during fights.
The Republican senator’s office has often touted her unbroken streak of roll-call votes, including near the start of this year, when the tally was 9,853 votes. The only senator to have participated in more consecutive roll-call votes than Collins is William Proxmire, D-Wis., who served in the Senate from 1957 to 1989 and cast 10,252 straight votes from 1966-88, according to a January press release from Collins’ office.
“Mainers work hard and they deserve a Senator who works hard for them,” Collins said in a statement issued by her office Thursday night. “Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, and honoring your commitments. I am proud to bring those values with me to the Senate every day.
“Representing the state of Maine is the honor of a lifetime, and I will continue to serve with the diligence and responsibility that Mainers deserve.””
Platner has criticized Collins for many of her choices among the 10,000 votes and for being a Washington insider who has grown her personal wealth while in office. Platner and Collins have exchanged barbs over Collins’ 2002 vote to authorize the United States’ war in Iraq, two years before Platner joined the Marines.
Senators on both sides of the aisle gave brief speeches ahead of the vote Thursday night to congratulate Collins, including Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. He called it “a truly remarkable achievement that reflects her character and dedication to the people of this country.”
“Our state is not one where the weather is always favorable and it’s always easy to get here,” King said. “To have maneuvered through bad storms — snowstorms, nor’easters — and to be here for every single vote since the first day she set foot in this chamber is a truly remarkable achievement.”
Other Senate colleagues also weighed in.
“For nearly 30 years, Susan Collins has shown up for Mainers, has ensured that they are represented in every single vote the Senate takes, no matter what,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “Not just the headline-making votes. Every vote, without fail.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said that making every vote is something senators strive for, but Collins “has actually done it.”
“Senator Collins and I belong to different parties and do not always see eye to eye,” Schumer said, resulting in chuckles from colleagues, “but 10,000 consecutive roll-call votes is an extraordinary streak by any measure, and I congratulate her on reaching it.”
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the Republican whip, lauded Collins’ consistency in a speech last month.
“It is my job to count the votes,” Barrasso said.”No matter the topic, I can count on this: Susan will be here, she will vote with intelligence and integrity, and she will be doing it for the people of Maine.”
Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed to this story.
