Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, did not say whether she would appear with President Donald Trump if he came to Maine on his midterm campaign tour.
Collins faced Democratic challenger Troy Jackson, former logger and Maine state Senate president, on Oct. 6 in the first of four debates in the race for U.S. Senate. Collins was asked whether she would join Trump at a campaign event if he traveled to the Pine Tree State, but she avoided a direct answer.
"I don't think that President Trump is going to come to Maine. He's talking about going to a lot of different states. I've heard nothing from his office, and I'm not exactly his favorite senator," she said. She was pressed for a yes or no answer, but said instead, "I would say that he is not coming to Maine."
Trump has called Collins 'not my best friend at all'
Collins is the sole Republican senator up for reelection in a state that Trump lost in 2024, making her seat a target for Democrats in their quest to win a majority of the U.S. Senate. Trump has vowed to visit 35 of the most competitive congressional races this fall to try to bolster Republican turnout, despite historically low approval ratings.
Earlier this week, he was non-committal on whether that would include Maine.
“I don't know about Maine, I think we're going to Maine, too, but we're going to Michigan in a week and a half," Trump told reporters outside the White House on Oct 5. "We're sort of scheduled to be someplace almost every night."
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Collins' debate answer.
Collins has a reputation for being a moderate Republican senator who might break with the party. For example, she is one of a few senators still in office who voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial. She also drew ire from Trump on Truth Social earlier this year when she voted with Democrats in a war powers resolution.
"Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Rand Paul, Josh Hawley, and Todd Young should never be elected to office again," Trump's Jan. 8 post read.
But she ran in the primary unopposed, and Trump said earlier this summer he supports her reelection campaign.
"She's a sane woman. She's not my best friend at all," Trump said in the Oval Office on June 10, and went on to praise her voting record. "She's a respected person. Maybe a little different ideology than me"
Maine race is key for Democrats hoping to flip Senate
Jackson's campaign frequently tries to associate Collins with Trump, pointing to her voting record with the Republicans despite her bipartisan reputation. Jackson is running a truncated campaign after replacing the elected Democratic nominee Graham Platner on the ticket in late July.
Scandal-embroiled Platner dropped out of the race following a rape allegation, which he denies. Jackson had previously lost the Democratic primary for the Maine Gubernatorial race.
The Senate race is rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, and polls indicate it could go either way. A New York Times/Siena University poll released Sept. 24 found 49% were likely to vote for Collins while 46% were likely to vote for Democratic nominee Troy Jackson.
Another poll released the same day byUMass Lowell/YouGov found Jackson leading by five points.
Trump may have a more enthusiastic welcome from the Republican candidate in the state's 2nd Congressional District, former Maine Gov. Paul LePage.
LePage, running for the seat vacated by outgoing Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, has already appeared with Vice President JD Vance at campaign events. LePage touted his friendship with Trump in his first debate against Democratic challenger Matt Dunlap, the state auditor, on Oct. 1. LePage's campaign did not respond to questions about Trump's plans, or lack thereof, to visit the state. The House race is rated as "likely Republican" by the Cook Political Report.
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She is reporting from Maine for the 2026 midterm elections. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky and TikTok.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Not 'his favorite senator': Susan Collins says Trump not coming to Maine
