Dark money ads are flooding our airwaves and social media feeds endlessly saying we should reelect Susan Collins because she does so much for Maine, serving as Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee—like bringing $3.5 billion in earmarks and rural hospital funds to Maine through Trump’s One Big “Beautiful” Bill. But where did Susan Collins learn to do math? 

Under Trump’s bill, cuts in funding to health care, food assistance and clean energy in Maine will add up to $4.2 billion. Even I can do that math:Trump’s One Big “Beautiful” Bill will result in a $675 million loss to Maine from one vote cast by Senator Collins. (And that’s without mentioning Collins’ support for Trump’s war in Iran – with its increases in gas and heating oil costs and record prices for diesel.) 

When I add up Susan Collins’ record over decades as a Washington political insider, voting for Trump 96% of the time, the result says it’s time for Susan Collins to retire.

I will be voting for Troy Jackson to be Maine’s next U.S. Senator. Troy’s background as a fifth generation Maine logger, his Maine legislative track record demonstrating advocacy of Medicare for all, reigning in Big Pharma, funding childcare, standing up for Maine unions and protecting women’s reproductive rights add up to a candidate I am confident will go to Washington to fight for Mainers in the U.S. Senate, not to express “concern” while serving lobbyists and corporations.

Laurence Anne Coe lives in Rockland