Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is emerging as the most important vote in the Senate battle over President Trump’s impeachment trial, as Democrats regard her support as key to getting the additional witnesses and documents they need to build their case.
Collins, who has played a pivotal role in the biggest Senate debates of the Trump era, finds herself once again in the spotlight as one of the Republicans considered most likely to side with Democrats.
“She’s an important player,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who noted that while every Senate vote is important, key trial questions will be decided by a handful of lawmakers.
“Four Republicans can bring this back to a bipartisan position,” he said.
Collins cast pivotal votes to defeat legislation to repeal ObamaCare in 2017 and to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
Partisan lines have become so entrenched in the Senate that only a handful of senators are considered potential defectors on contentious votes.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, said there’s “no question” that Collins will be a pivotal vote. She cited Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) as another potential swing vote.
But Stabenow said fellow senators don’t know what to expect from Collins, who has kept her cards close to the vest.
“That is one of the big questions at this point,” she said. “We’re getting no indication at all.”
A Democratic senator who requested anonymity said the Democratic caucus is most focused on Collins and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
“Susan Collins and Lisa are key. Everyone is watching them because Susan is up for reelection and we all know what the party did to Lisa, so she has an interest in being independent,” the senator said.
In 2010, Murkowski lost the Alaska GOP Senate primary but won the general election as a write-in candidate.
When asked by The Hill whether she’s experiencing a sense of déjà vu about being the center of attention, Collins replied, “That’s not what I’m seeking to be. I’m just trying to do my job.”
