Full Breakdown
Susan Collins Discloses Benign Essential Tremor Amid Maine Senate Race
5/7/2026, 7:11:37 AM
Disclosure and Immediate Context
Senator Susan Collins, the 73-year-old Republican from Maine, told News Center Maine she has lived with a benign essential tremor throughout her Senate tenure and stressed it “has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job.”
Background: Health Scrutiny in an Age-Driven Election Cycle
Collins’ disclosure arrives as voters scrutinize senior candidates’ health after President Joe Biden withdrew in 2024 over age concerns and President Donald Trump, soon 80, faces similar questions. Progressive activists have amplified calls for transparency.
Key Players: Senator Susan Collins and Challenger Graham Platner
Collins, first elected in 1996, holds the Senate’s record for consecutive votes and describes herself as a hard-working moderate. Democrat Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and veteran, carries a 100 % VA disability rating and has disclosed PTSD.
Political Stakes: Senate Control and Maine’s Electoral Landscape
The Collins-Platner contest is seen as pivotal for Senate control in the last two years of President Trump’s term. Republicans hold a slim majority; Trump lost Maine by seven points in 2024, and Democrat Janet Mills’ withdrawal cleared the way for Platner’s nomination.
Official Statements & Responses
Collins called the tremor “occasionally inconvenient” but said it does not hinder her work, noting she has never missed a vote. Experts confirmed the condition is benign and unrelated to cognitive decline. Platner affirmed his disability and PTSD “do not impact my ability to serve.”
Criticism & Opposition
Progressive activists have circulated videos of Collins shaking, framing the tremor as evidence of declining fitness. Left-leaning outlets have framed the disclosure as a symptom of a gerontocratic system, while Democrats tout the race as a prime flip chance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list Collins’ Senate start as 1996 or 1997, and prevalence of essential tremor as 1 in 20 or 5 %. No independent medical assessment beyond her statements has been published.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate. It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or on how I feel each day.” — Susan Collins, U.S. Senator
- “The tremor is occasionally inconvenient, and sometimes the subject of cruel comments online, but it does not hinder my ability to work,” — Susan Collins, U.S. Senator
- “My shoulder’s a wreck. My knees bother me. The VA gives me physical therapy for those things. I was also diagnosed with PTSD.” — Graham Platner, Democratic Senate candidate
What’s Next
As November approaches, both candidates will stress health readiness. Collins will tout her flawless voting record; Platner will emphasize his veteran service and that his disability does not impede his duties. Maine voters will weigh these narratives alongside policy issues.
