Senator Susan Collins went public this week about a neurological condition she has managed throughout nearly three decades in Congress, dismissing any suggestion it might affect her performance in office.
The Maine Republican revealed to NBC affiliate WCSH on Wednesday that she has benign essential tremor, a nervous system condition that produces visible shaking in her hands and head at times. Collins, 73, said the tremor has persisted since she first entered the Senate in 1997 but carries no meaningful consequence for her duties.
"I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate," Collins told the station. "It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or how I feel each day."
She characterized the condition as merely "inconvenient at times" and pointed to her legislative record as evidence of robust health. Collins noted she has not missed a single vote during her Senate tenure, a streak her office says ranks second-longest in chamber history at nearly 10,000 consecutive votes.
Benign essential tremor is relatively common, particularly among people over 40, according to medical literature. While the condition can intensify with age, it is not life-threatening and does not produce other complications.
The disclosure comes as Collins prepares for what is shaping up to be a competitive reelection fight. She is expected to face Democrat Graham Platner, 41, after Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the Democratic primary last week. Collins won her previous race in 2020 with 51% of the vote, a nine-point margin over her Democratic challenger.
The upcoming general election is anticipated to be among the most contested matchups of the midterm cycle.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Collins' move to get ahead of the story now, with a general election looming, is smart politics but doesn't necessarily settle questions that will almost certainly resurface on the trail."
Comments