Brett Kavanaugh Emerges as Key Figure in Maine Senate Race

Democrats in Maine are making Brett Kavanaugh’s 2018 confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court a central issue in the state’s fall Senate race, arguing that Sen. Susan Collins’ decisive vote for him should haunt her campaign again. Collins, a longtime Republican senator and frequent Democratic target, was the pivotal vote that helped confirm Kavanaugh after she said she believed his stance on Roe v. Wade was settled law. That position later collapsed when Kavanaugh joined the 5-4 majority that overturned Roe in 2022, opening the door to abortion bans in many states.

The abortion ruling has given Collins’ Democratic challenger, Graham Platner, fresh political ammunition. Platner used his primary victory speech to attack Collins over Kavanaugh, saying she had promised to protect abortion rights and then supported a justice who helped overturn them. At rallies and campaign events, Platner has repeatedly framed the confirmation vote as proof that Collins cannot be trusted on reproductive rights, health care, and other major issues.

Collins has defended her 2018 decision, saying she made the “right vote” after careful study and consultations with legal experts. She has also expressed disappointment in Kavanaugh’s later abortion ruling, though she has not said she regrets voting to confirm him. Her campaign says Democrats are recycling old attacks and trying to distract from what it calls problems on their own side.

The race has become more complicated because Platner himself is facing scrutiny after an ex-girlfriend accused him of physically threatening behavior. Platner has denied the allegation and called it a smear. His allies, however, have pointed to the accuser’s past support for Kavanaugh and her criticism of his accusers during the 2018 confirmation battle, arguing that the attacks on Platner are politically motivated.

Abortion is expected to be a major theme in Maine’s Senate contest, with Democratic groups preparing ads that highlight Collins’ role in Kavanaugh’s confirmation and her long record on reproductive rights. Maine is unusual among battleground states because voters there have often supported abortion rights while still electing Collins, making the issue especially potent for Democrats.

The broader political stakes also remain high. If Republicans keep the Senate or regain control, Collins could again become crucial in any future Supreme Court confirmation fight, since multiple conservative justices are at or near retirement age. That possibility adds to the significance of her past vote and keeps Kavanaugh at the center of the race.

For Democrats, the message is simple: Collins made a defining choice in 2018, and the consequences are now visible nationwide. For Collins, the fight is about reminding voters that she has backed justices of both parties and arguing that Maine voters care about more than one six-year-old vote.