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Senator Susan Collins’ 10,000 Votes: A Legacy of Undermined Democracy & Deepening Inequality

Senator Susan Collins has cast 10,000 votes—a numerical milestone that masks a troubling legacy. Her decisions have not merely shaped policy; they have eroded democratic safeguards and exacerbated inequality, leaving a trail of controversial legacies in their wake.

A Broken Promise on Reproductive Rights

In 2018, Collins stood firmly behind Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation, assuring constituents that Roe v. Wade would remain untouched. Yet, just four years later, the Court—with Kavanaugh’s decisive vote—overturned the landmark decision, stripping millions of women of their reproductive freedoms. The senator’s early assurances now ring hollow in the face of irreversible consequences.

Undermining Public Health & Scientific Integrity

Collins’ support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—appointed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services—unleashed a wave of harm. Under his tenure, critical medical research funding was slashed, and the CDC’s ability to track disease outbreaks was systematically weakened, leaving public health in a precarious state.

Dismantling Government Accountability

Another controversial confirmation was Russell Vought, installed as director of the Office of Management and Budget. Vought’s agenda was clear: dismantle the federal merit-based civil service system and illegally freeze funding, further destabilizing government functions and eroding public trust.

Striking Down Voting Rights Protections

The senator’s votes have directly contributed to the erosion of voting rights. The Supreme Court’s rulings in Shelby County v. Holder and Louisiana v. Callais—both influenced by justices Collins helped confirm—stripped pre-clearance requirements for discriminatory states and legalized racially motivated gerrymandering, entrenching systemic disenfranchisement.

A Record of Consequences

Collins’ 10,000 votes are not just a statistic—they represent a pattern of enabling policies that weaken democracy, deepen inequality, and prioritize partisan loyalty over public welfare. As her career continues, the question remains: Will history remember her as a steadfast leader—or a facilitator of decline?