Maine Sen. Susan Collins says she has long had a tremor

Republican Sen. Collins Reveals Long-standing Health Condition Amid Reelection Bid

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has publicly disclosed that she has been living with a benign essential tremor throughout her nearly three-decade Senate career, addressing questions about her health that have emerged during her current reelection campaign in Maine.

Collins confirmed her condition to Maine’s WCSH-TV on Wednesday after viewers noticed trembling in her hands and voice in recent video appearances, including her campaign announcement. The 73-year-old senator explained that the condition causes tremors in her hands, head, and voice but emphasized that it does not impair her ability to perform her senatorial duties.

“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 a statement to The Associated Press. She clarified that benign essential tremor is not a neurodegenerative condition.

Medical experts identify benign essential tremor as one of the most common movement disorders, affecting millions of Americans over age 40. According to the National Institutes of Health, the condition occurs when nerves don’t properly communicate with certain muscles. While the risk increases with age, at least half of cases are inherited, and those tend to begin at younger ages.

The timing of Collins’ disclosure comes as health issues and candidate age have taken center stage in numerous high-profile elections. Democratic President Joe Biden’s decision not to seek reelection at age 81 brought increased scrutiny to candidates’ physical and mental capabilities. Similarly, 79-year-old former President Donald Trump has faced questions about his health, particularly after visible bruising on his hand that was sometimes concealed with makeup. The White House previously acknowledged Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

Collins is facing a tough reelection battle in a race that Democrats view as essential to recapture control of the Senate. Her likely opponent is Democrat Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and combat veteran, after Democratic Governor Janet Mills, 78, recently suspended her campaign. The 30-plus year age gap between Collins and Platner has become a notable aspect of the contest.

Platner has been similarly transparent about his own health challenges. Early in his campaign, he spoke openly about chronic pain in his shoulder and knees resulting from military service, as well as a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis. Though Platner has a 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, he continues to work as an oyster farmer.

“There are a lot of disabled combat veterans, or just disabled vets, at 100%, who still work,” Platner told WCSH last year. “It’s a very normal thing.”

Despite her condition, Collins has maintained a remarkable record of Senate participation. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she has been at the forefront of the chamber’s numerous spending negotiations, frequently leading floor debates and providing the Republican party’s closing arguments. Her streak of never missing a Senate vote stands at 9,966 – the second-longest consecutive voting streak in the chamber’s history.

Collins’ condition has been occasionally noticeable in her public appearances and debates throughout her political career, which began with her first Senate election in 1996. However, this marks the first time she has formally addressed it, choosing to do so at a time when health transparency has become increasingly important to voters.

The Maine Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests in the 2024 election cycle, as Democrats need to flip Collins’ seat to have a realistic chance of regaining control of the Senate. Collins has historically maintained strong support in her home state, winning reelection multiple times despite Maine’s tendency to support Democratic presidential candidates.