Born in Caribou, Maine, in 1952, Susan Margaret Collins graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1975 with a degree in government. She went on to receive a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Maine in 1976. In 1980, Collins began her political career working as a staff member for Republican Senator William Cohen, and in 1996 embarked on her own political journey by winning a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Collins first attracted national attention in 1998 when she played a crucial role in the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, voting in favor of acquittal against what most of her Republican colleagues had proposed. Her decision to side with Democrats on this occasion set the tone for her future as a highly respected moderate voice and champion of bipartisanship.
Throughout her long career, Collins has been a crucial swing vote on a number of highly contentious issues. In 2017, for instance, she helped block the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, citing concerns about the bill’s effects on the people of Maine. Collins also recently drew attention to herself by being one of only seven Republican senators who voted in favor of impeaching former President Donald Trump.
Senator Collins has also been instrumental in a number of legislative successes, most notably in the realm of healthcare. She played a key role in passing the 2010 Affordable Care Act and has also been a vocal advocate for increasing funding for medical research, particularly in the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Perhaps most notable about Collins, however, is her reputation for reaching across the aisle in order to find common ground on a wide variety of issues. Her willingness to engage with Democrats has allowed her to achieve a number of legislative victories, including her successful efforts to pass major transportation bills in 2012 and 2015.
Throughout her career, Susan Collins has consistently prioritized the needs and interests of her constituents over the demands of her party or political ideology. Her unfailing commitment to bipartisanship has made her one of the most respected legislators on Capitol Hill, and her tireless work on behalf of the people of Maine ensures that she will be remembered as a true stateswoman.
In a political landscape that is often marked by intransigence and vitriol, Susan Collins represents a beacon of hope and optimism, a figure who stands out as someone who is committed first and foremost to the common good. As she continues to serve the people of Maine and the United States as a whole, it can only be hoped that her example inspires others to follow in her footsteps and embrace a politics of compromise and collaboration.