Dem
47
GOP
53
The ICE surge in Maine is technically over now, but the repercussions will continue until Nov. 3. We are not sure whose idea it was, probably Donald Trump's to punish Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) for casting a vote he didn't like. But really, giving up on a Senate seat that is defensible is not a great strategic play. While ICE was around rounding up immigrants and striking fear in the hearts of Mainers (and infuriating Democratic activists), life was disrupted in southern Maine. There was decreased attendance in schools, legal immigrants were afraid to go to work, 200 people were arrested, and more.
Now Collins has a special problem. She is chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She can personally block the funding for DHS unless everything she wants is in the bill. Democrats are already going after her on that. Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) is now out with her first Senate ad, and it attacks ICE:
In the ad, Mills says that if ICE tries to hurt people in Maine, they will have to go through her first. The ad doesn't name Collins by name—yet. There is plenty of time for that later. Those ads are sure to come. First Mills is planting a flag on her opposition to ICE. No matter what bill the Senate passes, Mills is going to say it does not rein in ICE enough and it is Collins' fault.
Mills' primary opponent, oysterman Graham Platner, also understands the situation. Instead of attacking Mills, he is attacking Collins as well. His strategy, and probably Mills' as well, is to be perceived as the candidate most opposed to ICE. Platner said: "Senator Collins is going to try to use this moment to trick us. To say that she, somehow, used her power to impose upon ICE." He mocked the "pinky promise" Collins received from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to stay out of Maine. He added: "We all know it's nonsense. What she is actually doing is trying to justify to us why she is about to try to give them 9 billion more dollars in funding." Platner called on Collins to cut off all ICE funding.
Primary polls have shown the moderate Mills in the lead, but Platner's much stronger attack on ICE, Noem, and Collins could possibly even the score, at least for now. The primary is June 9, and by then the details of who said exactly what could have faded. Still, in politics, you strike while the iron is hot and Platner did that well. (V)