Susan Collins Faces Backlash Over Kavanaugh Vote Claim

The Maine senator claims she could not anticipate the justice would vote to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade precedent.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Elections

Susan Collins Faces Backlash Over Kavanaugh Vote Claim

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Should politicians be held accountable for the long-term consequences of their past judicial confirmation votes?

Senator Susan Collins is facing scrutiny over her past support for Justice Brett Kavanaugh following his vote to overturn Roe v. Wade. Collins recently claimed she could not have anticipated the justice would support the decision to strike down the precedent.

Why it matters

The senator's comments draw attention to her 2018 vote to confirm the justice, which remains a central point of contention during her reelection campaign against Troy Jackson.

The Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade by a 5-4 margin in 2022, a decision that followed a pledge by President Donald Trump to appoint judges who would do so. Collins incorrectly claimed in June 2026 that the ruling was a 6-3 decision.

The players

Susan Collins

She is a long-serving United States Senator representing the state of Maine.

Brett Kavanaugh

He is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Troy Jackson

He is the political challenger currently running against Senator Susan Collins for her seat.

Donald Trump

He is the current President of the United States.

The details

Senator Susan Collins defended her 2018 confirmation vote in a recent interview with WMTW, arguing that she could not have anticipated the judicial outcome. In 2018, the senator had previously acknowledged concerns regarding the nomination while suggesting that Republican-appointed justices had a history of reaffirming the precedent.

1973: The Supreme Court established the Roe v. Wade precedent.
October 5, 2018: Collins acknowledged concern Kavanaugh would overturn Roe v. Wade.
2022: The Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade precedent.
June 2026: Collins claimed Roe was overturned by a 6-3 margin.
October 2026: Collins stated she could not anticipate Kavanaugh's vote.

Political Context

Opponents of Senator Susan Collins argue that her past support for judicial nominees contradicts her stated desire to protect the 1973 Roe v. Wade precedent. Advocacy groups maintain that her confirmation votes directly enabled the eventual reversal of this landmark decision.

Voters in Maine are now weighing the senator's legislative record and her public explanations against their own stances on reproductive rights. This ongoing debate affects how citizens evaluate candidates ahead of the upcoming election cycle.

The takeaway

The scrutiny surrounding this confirmation vote highlights how judicial appointments remain a defining issue in federal election campaigns. Voters are encouraged to review the specific voting records of their representatives to understand how past decisions align with current platform promises.