Republican Discloses Her Health Diagnosis
Republican Sen. Susan Collins is speaking publicly about a medical condition she has quietly managed for decades as she prepares for what could become one of the most competitive Senate races in America.
The longtime Maine senator recently disclosed that she suffers from a benign essential tremor, a common neurological condition that can cause shaking in the hands, head, or voice. Collins made clear that the condition has never interfered with her work in Washington and says she remains fully capable of continuing her duties in the Senate.
At 73 years old, Collins is once again facing intense political scrutiny as Democrats aggressively target her seat ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
During an interview with a Maine news outlet, Collins explained that she has dealt with the condition throughout her entire Senate career.
Collins described the condition as a very common benign essential tremor and said she has lived with it throughout her entire Senate career, stressing that it has never affected her ability to carry out her responsibilities in office.
The veteran Republican emphasized her work ethic and long-standing attendance record as evidence that her health remains strong despite occasional public speculation online.
Collins noted that she has never missed a Senate floor vote during nearly three decades in office and is expected to soon cast her 10,000th consecutive vote in Congress.
“If you talk to people in Washington, they’ll tell you I’m one of the hardest-working members of the Senate,” Collins said. “I’ve never missed a single vote while representing the people of Maine.”
She added that she considers herself fortunate to remain in excellent health overall.
Medical experts say essential tremor is not connected to memory loss or cognitive decline, a point Collins stressed again in a separate statement released after the interview.
“I have an essential tremor, which I have lived with throughout my Senate service,” Collins explained. “This benign condition affects millions of Americans over the age of 40 and does not interfere with my ability to serve the people of Maine.”
The senator acknowledged that the condition can sometimes be inconvenient and has occasionally drawn harsh comments online, but she said it has never limited her ability to perform her responsibilities on Capitol Hill.
Collins first entered the Senate in 1996 and now serves as chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, giving her enormous influence over federal spending decisions and budget negotiations in Washington.
Her health disclosure comes as the Maine Senate race continues attracting national attention from both parties.
Collins is expected to face Graham Platner, a Democrat and military veteran who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming an oyster farmer in Maine.
Platner has publicly discussed his service-related disabilities and receives compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs in addition to income from his farming business.
Recent polling suggests the race could become one of the nation’s top political battlegrounds.
One survey conducted earlier this spring showed Platner holding a narrow lead over Collins, while another poll found Collins ahead of Democratic Gov. Janet Mills before Mills later decided against launching a Senate campaign.
Political analysts continue to rate the Maine contest as one of the most important toss-up races in the country, with control of the Senate potentially hanging in the balance.
For Republicans, Collins remains one of the party’s most experienced lawmakers and a key figure in ongoing budget fights, judicial confirmations, and battles over federal spending under President Donald Trump’s administration.
