politics
Sen. Susan Collins Discloses Longstanding Benign Essential Tremor
The 73-year-old Maine Republican senator, who has never missed a vote in nearly 30 years, revealed she has lived with the condition for her entire Senate career. Collins faces Democrat Graham Platner in one of 2026's most competitive races. Separately, Rep. Tom Barrett introduced legislation to limit the U.S. military campaign against Iran, while Sen.
May 5, 3:09 PM·2m read8 sources
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U.S. Sen. Susan Collins disclosed on Thursday that she has a benign essential tremor that causes trembling in her hands, head and voice. Collins, 73, first confirmed the condition to WCSH-TV in Maine on Wednesday after questions arose from recent video appearances, including her campaign announcement video.
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She issued a statement to The Associated Press the following day confirming she has had the tremor for the entirety of her nearly three-decade Senate career. Collins was first elected to the Senate in 1996. "The tremor is occasionally inconvenient, and sometimes the subject of cruel comments online, but it does not hinder my ability to work and, as I said, is something that I have lived with for decades," Collins said in the statement.
Collins maintains a streak of never missing a Senate vote that stands at 9,966, the second-longest consecutive voting streak in the Senate’s history. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee she continues to lead floor debates on spending measures and regularly engages with reporters in the hallways.
The disclosure comes as Collins seeks reelection in one of this year’s toughest Senate races.
Her likely opponent is Democrat Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and combat veteran. Democratic Gov. U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs stemming from chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder after his military service. "There are a lot of disabled combat veterans, or just disabled vets, at 100%, who still work," Platner told WCSH last year. " In a separate development on Thursday, GOP Rep.
U.S. military campaign against Iran. Sen.
