Susan Collins Pledged to Only Serve 2 Terms, But She’s Likely Running for a 6th

In 1996, the future senator said, "Twelve years is long enough to be in public service." Maybe she's grown too accustomed to billing meals and fancy hotels to her campaign account?

By Susan Rinkunas  |  September 8, 2025 | 10:59am
Photo: Getty Images Politics
Susan Collins Pledged to Only Serve 2 Terms, But She’s Likely Running for a 6th

Maine Senator Susan Collins (R) hasn’t officially said that she’s running for re-election in 2026, but she’s strongly hinted that she will seek a sixth term, even as her approval rating is in the toilet.

Collins has been in the Senate for almost 30 years. That fact is interesting because, when she first ran in 1996, she swore she’d only stay in office for two terms if she won. No, this is not like former President Joe Biden implying he would serve just one term—Collins actually made a concrete promise during a debate in October 1996. “I have pledged that if I’m elected, I will only serve two terms,” she said, around 49:30 into this clip. “Twelve years is long enough to be in public service, make a contribution, and then come home and let someone else take your place.”

Yet here she is now, serving her fifth term. She told CNN in May that she intends to go for another six years. “It’s certainly my inclination to run and I’m preparing to do so,” she said. “I’ve obviously not made a formal announcement because it’s too early for that.”

What prompted the change of heart compared to 1996? It could be the allure of power and prestige, and it could also be about her access to lavish meals and travel.

According to campaign finance reports reviewed by Jezebel, Collins’ campaign and leadership PAC have both drastically increased their spending in recent years. Since 2003, when detailed receipts became available via the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the entities have spent more than $700,000 on travel, hotels, and dining in the Washington, D.C., area—but nearly $320,000 of that came in the last four years alone.

Collins’ campaign and PAC have spent $92,000 on hotels in the past four years, including at five-star properties and other extravagant resorts. (In general, FEC filings don’t note whether the candidate is present when an expense is made, but it’s unlikely that staff would go to fancy hotels if the principal wasn’t also staying there.)

In her current term, the groups paid for stays at multiple luxury properties including Montage Big Sky in Montana (“the region’s pre-eminent luxury resort“), Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas (“one of the finest luxury hotels in the country“), and the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs (“the world’s longest-running consecutive winner of both the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond awards“).

Now onto the food: Collins’ campaign and PAC spent $198,000 on food and beverages in the last four years, up from $130,000 in her fourth term. The groups spent $8,000 at lobbyist favorite the Monocle, $1,200 at power-broker hangout Charlie Palmer Restaurant, and $3,700 in 2024 alone at the Capital Grille.

Jezebel contacted Collins’ Senate office, campaign, and leadership PAC for comment about her two-term pledge and her spending, and did not hear back by publication time.

While Collins won her last election by nearly 9 points, things may not be so easy if she runs again next fall. Collins’ favorability as of April is a net negative 9 points, with 42% approving and 51% disapproving. At a similar point in the 2020 cycle (meaning, the first quarter of 2019), she had a net positive approval of 13 points, or 52% approve and 39% disapprove.

Her constituents seem quite mad at her for several reasons, including her votes to confirm Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who both voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, and her refusal to hold a single town hall in more than 20 years. She was mercilessly booed at a ribbon-cutting event late last month because Mainers have so few opportunities to speak to her face-to-face.

If she’s not yet concerned for her career, she should be.

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