Planned Parenthood Votes, a super PAC, began a digital advertising campaign on Monday targeting Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The campaign involves a spend of more than $600,000 and focuses on Collins's voting record regarding judicial appointments and abortion access. The ads are part of an effort by Democrats to contest the Maine Senate seat in the upcoming fall elections.
The campaign specifically highlights Collins's votes to confirm U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. Both justices were part of the 6-3 majority that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending federal protections for abortion. One digital ad features a voter who stated she regretted voting for Collins due to these judicial confirmations.
Blake Kernan, a spokesperson for the Collins campaign, responded by stating that Planned Parenthood had acknowledged the senator's support for essential health care as recently as 2025. Kernan said the organization prioritized electing Democrats over specific issues. The Collins campaign also pointed to the past record of the Democratic nominee, Troy Jackson, who previously held a "100% pro life" rating in 2013 and once opposed same-sex marriage.
For residents of Maine, this means an increase in political advertising across digital platforms leading up to the November election. Voters will see competing characterizations of both Sen. Susan Collins and Troy Jackson. While Collins has supported legislation to codify federal abortion protections, such as a bill introduced with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in 2022, the super PAC is focusing on her role in the current composition of the Supreme Court.
Jackson, the Democratic nominee, has acknowledged that his positions on abortion and same-sex marriage have changed since his time in the state legislature, where he initially served as a Republican. He replaced Graham Platner on the Democratic ticket after Platner withdrew from the race. The primary focus for voters in the coming months will be the candidates' evolving records and their potential impact on federal law following the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision. The election will take place this fall.