Susan Collins Is Leaving Nothing to Chance – but Can She Ward Off Another Shutdown Before Midterms?
While Maine Democrats are in meltdown mode, attempting to pick through the wreckage of their bad ship Senate candidate Graham Platner, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is doing the work of her office, bonding with the community, and ensuring she will win her race in November.
For more than four decades, the Moxie Festival has drawn people from near and far to Lisbon for a celebration that is truly one of a kind and uniquely Maine.
It was a pleasure to walk in the annual Moxie Day Parade today and see the creativity, enthusiasm, and unmistakable Moxie… pic.twitter.com/x31IGSJXwx
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) July 11, 2026
For more than four decades, the Moxie Festival has drawn people from near and far to Lisbon for a celebration that is truly one of a kind and uniquely Maine.
It was a pleasure to walk in the annual Moxie Day Parade today and see the creativity, enthusiasm, and unmistakable Moxie that make this event such a memorable highlight of the summer.
At a campaign event Friday, a reporter asked Collins about how her defense of the Maine Senate seat was going. Collins made it known that, “nobody will ever outwork me.”
WATCH:
Meanwhile, Susan Collins: “Nobody will ever outwork me — I can promise you that.” pic.twitter.com/A3Vtg6Ctr7
— Chloe Smith (@ChloSmiths) July 11, 2026
In other words, she’s leaving nothing to chance. Just because the Democrats are flailing, doesn’t mean the Republicans have the election in the bag. Far from it, and Collins has concerns of her own. As chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Collins has the gargantuan task of averting yet another government shutdown. September 30 is the deadline to fund the government in order to avoid this.
Another government shutdown could be on the books this year if Senate Republicans and Democrats are unable to come to an agreement on the funding budget for the second year in a row.
In October 2025, the United States government entered the longest complete shutdown it has ever experienced after President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to reach a funding compromise and adjourned before the Sept. 30 deadline. Both parties had deals that the opposition rejected, which, if passed, would have prevented the shutdown.
Now, Senate Republicans are beginning to worry that another shutdown could happen after bipartisan spending talks failed the week of June 22 due to conflict from both sides and senators missing from the voting panel.
One of those missing senators is Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has been hospitalized since June 14 with a mystery ailment for which no one, including McConnell’s staffers, wants to disclose or give update on his condition. That is drama of its own which you can read about here and here.
According to reports, markups on certain spending bills had to be delayed, in part because of McConnell’s absence. McConnell is also the chairman for the Defense Appropriations subcommittee which decides on the supplemental package for Iran and other defense concerns. Collins also sits on this committee.
When Congress returns on Monday from their July 4th holiday recess, there is much to decide, averting a government shutdown chief among them. This one falls squarely on Collins’ shoulders, and it’s a heavy lift, which could dictate the fate of her Senate race. Appropriations Committee ranking member Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has already thrown in Collins’ face that Democrats will vote against any bill brought to the committee, even ones that Democrats have had a hand in drafting.
Petty much?
Appropriations Vice Chair Patty Murray’s (D-Wash.) “threat to vote against all of the appropriations bills, including those Democrats have helped draft, is contrary to the way I always operated with her when our roles were reversed,” Collins told reporters last month.
According to Senate Appropriations Committee member Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), obstruction from Democrats is the sole reason why a shutdown is looming. He said:
“I think my Democratic friends at the direction of Sen. Schumer are not going to agree to a top-line [spending number], and they’re not going to agree to vote for any appropriations bill, and Sen. Schumer is going to shut down government.”
Read More: Morning Minute: Susan Sittin’ in the Catbird Seat
Another Autopsy the Democrats Do Not Want to Read – The Maine Debacle Was Entirely Their Own Creation
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) echoes Kennedy’s sentiments, and alleges that this is exactly what they want.
Democrats are going to stage another government shutdown on October 1, and they WILL USE IT TO UNDERMINE @POTUS.
We must ACT NOW! We need to be voting every week on funding the government until we get this figured out.
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) July 10, 2026
Currently, the Senate is scheduled to be in recess all of October in order to allow those who are up for re-election to focus on campaigning. So, Collins’ work ethic is going to have to kick into high gear in order to deliver a funding bill. A second government shutdown in one year will not bode well for any of the members in the midterms, no matter what letter follows their name.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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