Democratic Ad Targets Sen. Susan Collins on Healthcare and Iran War Votes — But Facts Are More Complex

A Democratic ad running in Maine is going hard after Sen. Susan Collins, accusing her of voting “with Donald Trump to raise healthcare costs and raise insurance premiums” and giving the former president “a blank check for his war in Iran.” The ad, backed by Majority Forward and reportedly costing $600,000 statewide, aims to paint Collins as out of touch with Maine voters on two hot-button issues. But FactCheck.org’s deep dive shows the reality is more complicated — Collins’ votes and public statements reveal a nuanced approach that doesn’t fit neatly into the ad’s attack lines.

Healthcare: Not Just a Simple “No” on Subsidies

The ad’s claim that Collins voted to raise healthcare costs hinges on her opposition to a September 2023 Democratic bill that would have permanently extended the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits and funded the government. Collins voted against that continuing resolution multiple times, but not because she opposed extending the subsidies outright. Instead, she argued that the subsidies, which were set to expire at the end of the year, should be handled separately from must-pass spending bills aimed at avoiding a government shutdown.

Collins publicly stated that she supported extending the premium tax credits for certain populations and proposed a bipartisan bill to do just that — extending the subsidies for two years but with income caps and a minimum premium requirement. She also voted to advance a Senate bill extending the credits for three years, though she sought to add income limits to that legislation. Neither of those efforts ultimately passed.

Her opposition to the September spending bill was more about process and opposition to Democrats attaching numerous policy changes to must-pass funding legislation than a rejection of healthcare aid itself. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins later helped craft the bill that ended the 43-day government shutdown but which did not extend the subsidies.

Iran War: Conditional Support, Not a Blank Check

On the Iran war claim, Collins initially voted against several Democratic resolutions that sought to force the Trump administration to get congressional authorization for ongoing military actions against Iran. However, she later indicated she would support requiring congressional approval if the conflict extended beyond 60 days — a position she followed through on. That resolution ultimately failed in the Senate.

This stance reflects a middle ground: Collins was wary of immediate constraints on the administration’s military operations but insisted on legislative oversight if the conflict dragged on. The ad’s “blank check” framing oversimplifies her evolving position.

What This Means

The ad’s blunt messaging is typical of political attack ads — designed for impact, not nuance. But the facts show Collins walking a tightrope between opposing government shutdowns, supporting targeted healthcare subsidies, and demanding some congressional oversight on military actions. For voters in Maine, understanding these subtleties is crucial when deciding if Collins truly aligns with their interests or if the ad’s sharp lines are just political theater.

At Only Clowns Are Orange, we cut through the spin to hold power accountable — even when the truth isn’t as black and white as political ads would have you believe.