As she runs for a sixth six-year term in the U.S.Senate in left-leaning Maine, Republican Sen.
Susan Collins is now officially her party's nominee in a crucial race that's one of a handful across the country that will determine whether Republicans keep control of their slim Senate majority.Collins can toss the "presumptive nominee" title after formally landing her party's nomination on Tuesday by running unopposed in Maine's Senate GOP primary.As she fights for re-election, the 73-year-old Collins is once again a top target for Democrats as they aim to win back the Senate majority in this year's midterms."I have been the No.1 target of Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, not only in this campaign, but the last two campaigns as well.
I'm always his No.1 target," Collins said in a recent Fox News Digital interview.SIX MONTHS TILL MIDTERMS: THE TEN RACES THAT WILL DETERMINE THE SENATE'S MAJORITYRepublican Sen.
Susan Collins of Maine tours a food bank in Harrison, Maine, on May 5, 2026.The food bank was able to expand thanks to federal funding that the senator helped obtain.
(Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)Facing Collins will be military veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner, the all-but-certain Democratic nominee after two-term Gov.Janet Mills, who was backed by Schumer and the Democratic Party establishment, dropped out of the race earlier this spring after significantly trailing Platner in fundraising and polling.While Collins has focused on her Senate agenda, and on Friday she received bipartisan praise after reaching a milestone by casting her 10,000th consecutive Senate vote, Platner has been playing defense amid multiple controversies, ranging from inflammatory online comments made on Reddit, a well-publicized and now covered-up tattoo on his chest that resembled a Nazi symbol, to new allegations last week from ex-girlfriends of a history of rape fantasies, heavy drinking and violent episodes.Platner, who has acknowledged his battle with post-traumatic stress dis...