Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has revealed she has long lived with a benign essential tremor after she launched her re-election campaign for a sixth term in the US Senate.
Collins, 73, disclosed the condition — which causes visible shaking in her hands, head and voice — publicly for the first time on Wednesday while she insisted that it has not impacted her ability to serve in office.
“I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate,” Collins told NEWS CENTER Maine. “It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or on how I feel each day.”
Collins, first elected in 1996, said she has never missed a Senate floor vote during her nearly 30 years in office — a streak approaching 10,000 consecutive votes — and pointed to that record as evidence she remains healthy enough to continue serving.
“If you talk to anybody in Washington, they will tell you that I am the hardest working person that they have ever worked with, and the fact is I’ve never missed a single vote in all the time that I’ve been honored to represent the people of Maine,” Collins said.
“I think that’s pretty good evidence of the fact that I am blessed with great health.”
Collins added her condition has had “zero impact” on her job performance or “ability to function.”
“It’s inconvenient at times, but that’s all,” she said.
Collins, a fixture in US politics for three decades, is the longest-serving member of Congress from Maine and the longest-serving Republican woman currently serving in the Senate.
Essential tremor is a nervous system condition that causes rhythmic shaking that a person cannot control, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The condition can affect almost any part of the body, but the trembling most often appears in the hands.
The Mayo Clinic says it is generally not dangerous, though it typically worsens over time and can be severe in some cases.
It is sometimes mistaken for Parkinson’s disease, but it is a separate condition. There is no known way to prevent it.
Dr. Rees Cosgrove, chief of the Division of Functional Neurosurgery at Mass General Brigham in Boston, said essential tremor affects about 5% of adults over 40 and roughly 20% of people over 65.
In February, Collins announced her reelection bid.
“This is perfect for 2026,” Collins said as she opened a new box of sneakers in her campaign video. “Because I’m running!”
Collins’ Democratic challenger and left-wing populist Graham Platner has also faced questions about his health during his campaign.
The 41-year-old Iraq and Afghanistan veteran has said he suffers from PTSD and combat-related injuries after serving four tours overseas.
Last month, the Post exclusively reported that Platner once defended a Marine who urinated on a dead Taliban fighter.
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