- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Brewer Today
By the People, for the People
Collins Aligns with LePage, Echoes Trump's 'Radical Left' Rhetoric
Critics warn the senator's language could fuel division and normalize political violence.
Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:22pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has solidified her support for former Maine governor and MAGA-backed Paul LePage, as well as leaned into extremist rhetoric that critics warn the far right has been using to vilify and incite violence against Democrats. Collins urged attendees at a Republican event to vote for LePage and 'counter the very organized threat from the radical left', mirroring messaging pushed by President Trump and his allies.
Why it matters
Collins' alignment with Trump and LePage, as well as her use of divisive language, raises concerns that she is moving further away from her reputation as a moderate and towards embracing more extreme right-wing politics. This shift could alienate independent and Democratic voters in Maine, while also potentially contributing to a broader climate of political polarization and the normalization of political violence.
The details
At a Penobscot Republican Committee event, Collins urged attendees to vote for former governor Paul LePage, who is running for Maine's 2nd Congressional District seat, saying she 'need[s] some help.' Collins also asked the room 'to work as hard as we can to counter the very organized threat from the radical left.' This language mirrors messaging pushed by President Trump and his allies, who have increasingly used the term 'radical left' to escalate efforts to tie political opponents to violence.
- The Penobscot Republican Committee's Lincoln Day dinner in Brewer, Maine took place on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
The players
Susan Collins
U.S. Senator from Maine who has long been viewed as a moderate Republican, but has recently aligned herself more closely with former governor Paul LePage and embraced divisive rhetoric similar to that of President Trump and his allies.
Paul LePage
Former Republican governor of Maine who is now running for the state's 2nd Congressional District seat. LePage is a staunch supporter of former President Trump and his 'MAGA' agenda.
John Fetherson
A speaker at the Penobscot Republican Committee event and a representative of the Maine Wire, the media arm of the far-right Maine Policy Institute.
What they’re saying
“I hope she wins... She's a good person, actually.”
— Donald Trump, Former President of the United States
“While Mainers struggle with rising costs and cuts to their health care, Collins is standing with Trump and corporate interests, instead of the people she was elected to represent.”
— Kristi Johnston, Maine Democratic Party spokesperson
What’s next
Collins' alignment with LePage and her use of divisive rhetoric will likely be a key issue in the upcoming 2nd Congressional District race, as well as in her own re-election campaign for the U.S. Senate.
The takeaway
Collins' shift towards embracing more extreme right-wing politics, including her support for LePage and her use of language mirroring Trump's 'radical left' rhetoric, raises concerns that she is moving away from her moderate reputation and contributing to a broader climate of political polarization and the normalization of political violence.
