Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, facing a challenging re-election battle, has revealed she has a benign essential tremor, a condition she says affects her appearance but not her ability to serve. Collins, 73, disclosed the diagnosis in an interview with News Center Maine, an NBC affiliate, stating she has had the condition throughout her Senate tenure and treats it with medication.
Collins Addresses Health Concerns Amid Tight Race
Collins, first elected to the Senate in 1996 and the longest-serving Republican woman in the chamber, is seeking a sixth term. Recent polls show her Democratic opponent, Graham Platner, holding a slight lead. The race is considered pivotal in determining control of the Senate after the November midterms. Collins has drawn criticism from some Republicans for her occasional votes with Democrats, including her vote to convict Donald Trump during his second impeachment trial.
Medical Condition Clarified
Collins emphasized that the tremor does not impair her work. She noted she has not missed a vote in 30 years and described herself as one of the hardest-working senators in Washington. Essential tremor, a neurological condition often mistaken for Parkinson's disease, causes rhythmic shaking, typically in the hands. Dr. Rees Cosgrove of Mass General Brigham explained that it affects about 5% of adults over 40 and is not linked to cognitive decline.
Renewed scrutiny of Collins's health emerged after her February re-election announcement, with videos showing visible shaking. Independent journalist Ken Klippenstein questioned her physical decline on social media. Platner, a military veteran, has highlighted Collins's 1996 pledge to serve only two terms, a promise she did not keep.
