Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Wednesday that she has long lived with a benign essential tremor, a medical condition that explains the shaking in her hands, head and voice that some observers have noted in recent years. The 73‑year‑old Republican told News Center Maine that the tremor has been present “for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate” and insisted it does not interfere with her duties.
“I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate,” Collins said. “It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or on how I feel each day.” She pointed to a long record of Senate attendance, noting, “I’ve never missed a single vote in all the time that I’ve been honored to represent the people of Maine,” as evidence of her ongoing capacity to serve.
Essential tremor is a common movement disorder that most often affects the hands but can also involve the head, voice and other parts of the body. It is typically considered non‑progressive in the same way as neurodegenerative diseases and, while it can be socially and functionally disruptive, it is generally medically classified as benign. Collins emphasized she is “blessed with great health” and described herself as a hard worker, a refrain she used to counter public questions about her fitness for office.
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Collins’ public discussion of the tremor is the first explicit confirmation of the condition by the senator. The disclosure comes as she prepares to defend her Senate seat this autumn against Democratic challenger Graham Platner. Collins, a four‑term senator and often a pivotal vote in a narrowly divided Senate, has been viewed as politically vulnerable in recent election cycles, making any questions about her health potentially salient to voters.
The senator’s announcement appears aimed at quelling speculation and preempting concerns about her capacity to fulfill senatorial responsibilities. Collins’ insistence on an unbroken voting record and on the benign nature of her diagnosis is likely intended to reassure constituents and colleagues alike. No comments from her Democratic opponent or other political figures were included in the News Center Maine interview.
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Medical experts say transparency about health issues among public officials can reduce rumor and help voters make informed judgments. Collins’ statement puts her condition on the record more clearly than before and frames it as a long‑standing, manageable medical issue that she says does not impede her work. The disclosure will now become part of the public dialogue as Collins continues her re‑election campaign ahead of the November contest.
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