Susan M. Collins
Republican | Maine
Candidate Profile*
Moderate
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Susan M. Collins
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
(Candidate did not provide)
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019-20
94%
2015-16
87%
2017-18
75%
2017-2018
71%
2020
67%
2018
63%
2019-20
57%
2017-18
54%
2019-20
50%
2017-18
58%, 47% (cum.)†
2019
23%, 44% (cum.)†
2015-16
42%
2014
40%
2019
39% (cum.)†
2019
17%, 33% (cum.)†
2019
0%, 33% (cum.)†
2019-20
40%, 30% (cum.)†
2017-18
29%
2020
D
2019-20
23%, 24% (cum.)†
2019
17%
2019
12% (cum.)†
2019
F
2019-20
|94%
2015-16
|87%
2017-18
|75%
2017-2018
|71%
2020
|67%
2018
|63%
2019-20
|57%
2017-18
|54%
2019-20
|50%
2017-18
|58%, 47% (cum.)†
2019
|23%, 44% (cum.)†
2015-16
|42%
2014
|40%
2019
|39% (cum.)†
2019
|17%, 33% (cum.)†
2019
|0%, 33% (cum.)†
2019-20
|40%, 30% (cum.)†
2017-18
|29%
2019-20
|23%, 24% (cum.)†
2019
|17%
2019
|12% (cum.)†
2019
|F
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2018
A
2019
100%
2017-18
75%
2019
70% (cum.)†
2018
21%, 61% (cum.)†
2017
13%, 52% (cum.)†
2019
60%, 42% (cum.)†
2019-20
42%
2019
38%
2017
20%, 36% (cum.)†
2017-18
33%
2017-18
33%
2019
32%
2017
30%
2017-18
28%
2017-18
25%
2018
17%
2017-18
13%
2017-18
0%
2018
0%
2019
F
2018
|A
2019
|100%
2017-18
|75%
2019
|70% (cum.)†
2018
|21%, 61% (cum.)†
2017
|13%, 52% (cum.)†
2019
|60%, 42% (cum.)†
2019-20
|42%
2019
|38%
2017
|20%, 36% (cum.)†
2017-18
|33%
2017-18
|33%
2017
|30%
2017-18
|25%
2017-18
|13%
2017-18
|0%
2018
|0%
2019
|F
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (3)
American Conservation Coalition
Maggie's List
Winning for Women
OTHER (7)
*Business - Industry PAC Action Fund (BIPAC Action Fund)
*Humane Society Legislative Fund
*Maverick PAC (MavPAC)
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Maine
Pro-Israel America
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Citizens for Prosperity in America (2019)
Jeb Bush (2015)
National Republican Senatorial Committee (2006)
Patrick McHenry (2018)
Republican Jewish Coalition (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (122)
19th Star PAC (2014)
21st Century Majority Fund (2019)
Alamo PAC (2014)
Andrew & Simona Beal (2019)
Arkansas for Leadership PAC (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (2011)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (49)
Airline Pilots Association (2019)
American Association for Justice (2018)
American Federation of Government Employees (2017)
American Federation of Teachers (2017)
American Maritime Officers (2014)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Did not answer
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Senator Susan Collins: “Throughout my service in the Senate, I have been a strong proponent of measures to promote and protect women’s health and expand all Americans’ access to quality health care. Planned Parenthood provides important family planning, cancer screening, and basic preventive health care services to millions of women across the country. For many women, Planned Parenthood clinics provide the only health care services they receive.” In 2017, it was noted that Sen. Collins bucked GOP efforts to end Planned Parenthood funding.
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Senator Collins voted for the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Did not answer
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Did not answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Did not answer
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Improving Americans’ retirement security is one of the top priorities of Senator Collins. She wants to help create more opportunities for Americans to put money aside, including employer-sponsored pensions or retirement savings plans, and individual savings. She emphasized the need for a comprehensive reevaluation of the nation's approach to financing retirement.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Did not answer
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
Did not answer
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Did not answer
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Did not answer
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Did not answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Did not answer
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Did not answer
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Did not answer
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Did not answer
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Did not answer
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Did not answer
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Did not answer
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Did not answer
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
In 2008, Senator Collins voted YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities".
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Did not answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Did not answer
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Did not answer
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Senator Collins supports adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to non-discrimination laws. “Throughout my Senate service, I have worked to end discrimination against LGBTQ Americans...”
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Senator Collins is Roman Catholic.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Did not answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Did not answer
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Senator Collins introduced a "red flag" law in 2019. “Gun violence is a problem that affects far too many communities across the country,” said Senator Collins. “Family members and law enforcement officers are often in the best position to identify when someone poses an immediate threat to themselves or others, but in many cases they are unable to intervene before it is too late. Our bipartisan legislation would provide a way for them to temporarily prevent dangerous individuals from possessing firearms. Several states already have ‘red flag’ laws, which enhance gun safety while retaining important due process protections and preserving the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
In 2018, Senator Collins cosponsored the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act, a legislation that supported full funding of security assistance to Israel as outlined in the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. She opposes the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and cosponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act and the Combating BDS Act of 2017, two bills that aimed to fight discriminatory boycotts that target Israel.
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Sen. Susan Collins doesn’t support making marijuana legal for recreational use at the national level. “From a federal perspective, if there were a bill in the Senate to legalize marijuana, I would vote against it,” Collins said. “When we legalize a controlled substance, we send a message that there is no harm and that, based on all the conversations I’ve had with medical personnel and others, is just not the case,” Collins said.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Senator Collins wants to ensure that we maintain election integrity, stating,"We must continue to be vigilant and redouble our efforts to secure our electoral process, the cornerstone of our democracy.”
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Did not answer
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Did not answer
