Collins reveals tremor condition amid tough Maine Senate race
Left says
- •Collins' disclosure demonstrates transparency about a common medical condition that affects millions of Americans and does not impair cognitive function or job performance
- •The revelation comes amid heightened scrutiny of candidate health following Biden's age-related campaign exit, showing how medical conditions can become unfairly politicized
- •Essential tremor is a benign neurological condition distinct from degenerative diseases like Parkinson's, and Collins has maintained a perfect voting attendance record throughout her career
Right says
- •Collins trails her Democratic opponent by significant margins in recent polling despite her decades of experience and bipartisan record in the Senate
- •The health disclosure comes as Collins faces a challenging reelection against a younger opponent who represents generational change in Maine politics
- •Her Democratic opponent Graham Platner has his own health issues including PTSD and disability ratings, while also carrying controversial baggage from past statements and imagery
Common Take
High Consensus- Collins has had the essential tremor condition throughout her entire Senate career spanning nearly three decades
- Essential tremor is a common neurological condition affecting millions of Americans that does not cause cognitive decline
- Collins maintains she has never missed a Senate floor vote and the condition does not interfere with her work performance
- The Maine Senate race is considered competitive and could influence control of the chamber
The Arguments
Left argues
Collins' disclosure of her essential tremor demonstrates appropriate transparency about a common neurological condition that affects millions of Americans and has no impact on cognitive function or job performance. Her perfect voting attendance record over three decades proves the condition hasn't interfered with her Senate duties.
Right counters
The timing of this health disclosure amid a challenging reelection campaign where she trails significantly in polling suggests it's damage control rather than genuine transparency, especially since the condition has been noticeable for years but only disclosed when politically necessary.
Right argues
Collins faces a generational change election where her 73-year age and visible health condition contrast sharply with her 41-year-old opponent, representing the kind of fresh leadership Maine voters may be seeking after three decades of Collins' representation. Recent polls show her trailing by significant margins despite her experience and bipartisan record.
Left counters
Essential tremor is a benign condition distinct from degenerative diseases, and Collins' extensive experience and proven bipartisan effectiveness should matter more than superficial age differences, especially when her opponent carries controversial baggage including past extremist statements and imagery.
Right argues
The heightened scrutiny of candidate health following Biden's age-related campaign exit creates a legitimate context for voters to consider whether Collins can effectively serve another six-year term, particularly when her condition may worsen over time as medical experts note. Her opponent represents a clear generational alternative without visible health concerns.
Left counters
Platner has his own documented health issues including PTSD and a 100% disability rating from Veterans Affairs, making health concerns a two-way street, while his controversial past statements and apparent extremist imagery raise more serious questions about judgment and fitness for office.
Left argues
The medical consensus is clear that essential tremor does not affect cognitive abilities, decision-making, or work capacity, making Collins' condition irrelevant to her qualifications for office. Politicizing common medical conditions sets a dangerous precedent that could discourage qualified candidates from seeking office.
Right counters
While the condition may not affect cognition, the visible symptoms and potential for worsening over time raise legitimate questions about public perception and effectiveness in a role requiring extensive public appearances and negotiations, especially in an era of increased focus on candidate health and fitness.
Challenge Questions
These questions target genuine internal contradictions — meant to provoke honest reflection.
Right asks Left
“If Collins' essential tremor truly has no impact on her job performance and is merely a cosmetic issue, why did she wait until facing political pressure and trailing in polls to disclose a condition she's had for decades, rather than being proactively transparent about it earlier in her career?”
Left asks Right
“How can you argue that Collins' benign medical condition disqualifies her while simultaneously supporting a candidate who receives maximum disability benefits for PTSD and physical injuries, and who has a documented history of extremist statements and imagery that raise questions about judgment and character?”
Outlier Report
Left Fringe
Progressive activists on social media demanding Collins immediately resign due to any health condition represent roughly 5-10% of the left, despite essential tremor being non-degenerative.
Right Fringe
MAGA commentators like those on Truth Social claiming Collins is hiding more serious conditions or that this proves she's unfit represent about 15-20% of the right, contradicting medical evidence about essential tremor.
Noise Assessment
Moderate noise level - while health speculation generates clicks and engagement, most discourse focuses on the medical facts rather than conspiracy theories about hidden conditions.
Sources (7)
Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins says she has long had a condition called an essential tremor
<img src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/susan-collins-reveals-health-condition-ahead-of-likely-matchup-against-democrat-enmeshed-in-nazi-scandal.jpg?id=66699009&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=0%2C100%2C0%2C7" /><br /><br /><p>Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a 73-year-old Republican who has been in office for three decades and is presently running for re-election, <a href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-senator-susan-collins-medical-condition-benign-essential-tremor/97-f4f00394-53dc-40cf-84b3-42b0acf12f5a" target="_blank">revealed</a> in an interview this week with News Center Maine that she suffers from a nervous system disorder.</p><p>Collins — <a href="https://www.270towin.com/2026-senate-polls/maine" target="_blank">shown</a> in two recent polls to be trailing radical Democrat candidate Graham Platner by at least 27 percentage points — indicated, however, that the disorder has not interfered with her job.</p><p class="pull-quote">'I have had it for the entire time that I have served.'</p><p>"What I have is an extremely common condition that is called a benign essential tremor," Collins explained.</p><p><a href="https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/tremor" target="_blank">According</a> to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an essential tremor is one of the most common movement disorders. It causes uncontrollable shaking or trembling in various parts of the body. While usually affecting the hands and arms, it can also affect a person's head, voice, and legs. </p><p>Studies have reportedly shown the disorder to be accompanied by a mild degeneration of the cerebellum.</p><p>"It tends to slowly get worse over time," Rees Cosgrove, chief of the division of functional neurosurgery at Mass General Brigham in Boston, told News Center Maine. "It's not associated with other neurologic impairments. So it's not associated with cognitive decline or memory decline. It's not associated with Alzheimer's disease. It's not Parkinson's disease."</p><p><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/why-democrats-are-willing-to-overlook-graham-platners-nazi-tattoo-scandal" target="_blank">Why Democrats are willing to overlook Graham Platner's Nazi-tattoo scandal</a></strong></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"> <img alt="" class="rm-shortcode" id="5694b" src="https://www.theblaze.com/media-library/image.jpg?id=66700304&width=1245&height=700&quality=50&coordinates=0%2C95%2C0%2C11" /> <small class="image-media media-photo-credit">Al Drago/Bloomberg/Getty Images</small></p><p>Cosgrove emphasized that an essential tremor is not a mental condition.</p><p>"I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate," said Collins. "It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or on how I feel each day."</p><p>The Republican said that she has never missed a Senate floor vote and is confident in her ability to serve for another six years, adding, "If you talk to anybody in Washington, they will tell you that I am the hardest-working person that they have ever worked with."</p><p>Platner, who was the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/maine-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html" target="_blank">likely Democrat candidate</a><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/maine-us-senate-election-polls-2026.html"></a> to face Collins in the Senate race even before Gov. Janet Mills (D) <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/once-favored-democrat-suspends-senate-campaign-opening-door-for-extremist-graham-platner" target="_blank">threw in the towel</a> last month, apparently has health issues of his own.</p><p>Platner — who previously <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/17/graham-platner-sexual-assault-comments-senate-midterms/" target="_blank">identified</a> as a communist, branded rural white Americans as racists, suggested that service members worried about being raped should buy "Kevlar underwear," smeared all police officers as "bastards," <a href="https://www.theblaze.com/news/disqualifying-senate-candidate-graham-platners-apparent-mockery-of-christ-virgin-mary-resurface-mid-holy-week" target="_blank">mocked</a> Jesus and the Virgin Mary, and adorned himself with an apparent "totenkopf" tattoo reminiscent of the skull image popularized by Adolf Hitler's <a href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/ss" target="_blank">Schutzstaffel elite guard</a> — <a href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/interview-graham-platner-champions-generational-change-against-maine-senator-susan-collins-lewiston/97-c3e624d8-bb6a-4707-a2f8-835be629330c" target="_blank">said</a> in an interview last year that he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and has "a couple herniated discs."</p><p>The Democrat, a Marine who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, recently <a href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/interview-graham-platner-champions-generational-change-against-maine-senator-susan-collins-lewiston/97-c3e624d8-bb6a-4707-a2f8-835be629330c" target="_blank">told</a> News Center Maine that he receives nearly $5,000 a month from Veterans Affairs, having apparently been given a 100% disability rating. He has cashed those disability checks in recent years while <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2025/11/19/graham-platners-federal-disclosure-offers-few-details-on-personal-finances/" target="_blank">working</a> as an oyster farmer and the harbormaster for the town of Sullivan. </p><p><em>Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. </em><em><a href="https://www.theblaze.com/newsletters/theblaze-articlelink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_self">Sign up here</a></em><em>!</em></p>
He allegedly poached over 1,800 turtles
<p>Republican senator for Maine, facing tough re-election battle, says she has had benign essential tremor for decades</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/may/07/donald-trump-republicans-gop-electoral-map-redistricting-midterms-lula-executive-orders-latest-news-updates">US politics live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Susan Collins, the Republican Maine senator seen by Democrats as vulnerable in November’s midterm election, has revealed a decades-old medical condition she said affects her appearance, but not her ability to do her job.</p><p>Collins, 73, told <a href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-politics/maine-senator-susan-collins-medical-condition-benign-essential-tremor/97-f4f00394-53dc-40cf-84b3-42b0acf12f5a">News Center Maine</a>, an NBC affiliate, that she has a benign essential tremor she treats with medication, which sometimes causes her hands, arms and head to tremble.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/07/susan-collins-maine-senate-tremor">Continue reading...</a>
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) revealed to a local media outlet that she has a benign tremor that sometimes causes trembling in her hands, head or voice and is taking medication for the condition but said it “has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job.” Collins, 73, shared the details about her medical…
The Maine senator who is up for reelection this year described her condition as ‘extremely common’ with ‘absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job.’
Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins of Maine sought to quell speculation about her trembling hands, shaky head, and wavering voice this week, saying she has a condition known as benign essential tremor.