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4h ago

Susan Collins Declines to Attend JD Vance Appearance in Brewer

Her absence highlights growing rifts in Maine’s Republican ranks over public ties to national MAGA-aligned figures and invites attack from Democratic groups.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a Congressional Roundtable on Anti-Fraud Initiatives at the Indian Treaty Room of Eisenhower Executive Office Building on August 5, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Collins’ campaign confirmed she will not attend Vance’s Brewer event, saying a personal schedule prevents her appearance and that she maintains a good working relationship with the vice president.
  • Former governor Paul LePage is expected to appear with Vance while GOP gubernatorial nominee Bobby Charles is reported to be skipping the stop, exposing split choices by Maine Republicans.
  • American Bridge, a Democratic-aligned super PAC, seized on Collins’ absence to accuse her of dodging Vance and pointed to past private meetings between the two when she made votes tied to national security posts.
  • Coverage differs on emphasis: local reporting framed the decision as an optics fight inside the state GOP, while national outlets noted Collins’ policy breaks with President Trump on tariffs and mail voting rules as background to her distance.
  • The development matters for the 2026 midterms because public attendance at national events is being treated as a signal of loyalty that could shape voter perceptions of Collins’ independence and affect campaign messaging on both sides.