Democrat enters crowded key Senate race, muddying waters and helping gop incumbent

Civilian Air Force Leader Daira Smith-Rodriguez officially launched her bid for incumbent Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins’ Senate seat on Thursday.

Smith-Rodriguez, who is running as a Democrat, claimed in her announcement of candidacy that she hopes to “bring a fresh voice to Maine families who deserve better than a broken system.” Smith-Rodriguez’s entry into the race comes as several other Democrats are hoping to unseat Collins, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996, in the 2026 midterms.

“As the daughter of a Brigadier General whose orders took our family around the world, the call to serve was instilled in me at a young age,” Smith-Rodriguez said in her announcement. “I answered that call as a civilian leader in the U.S. Air Force, where I have spent nearly 15 years saving billions of taxpayer dollars and protecting our service members from corporations trying to take advantage of our country. After seeing the weakness of career politicians like Susan Collins, I’m proud to be answering a new call to service — bringing a fresh voice to Maine families who deserve better than a broken system Collins has enabled for too long.”

A press release from Smith-Rodriguez’s campaign said that the candidate is “committed to utilizing her experience to be a Senator who cannot be bought by corporate elites and who will fight every day to make government work for ordinary Mainers.”

Other Democrats running in Maine’s crowded 2026 Senate Primary include oyster farmer Graham Platner, Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban and former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood. Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills — who is viewed as a potential top recruit for the party — is currently interviewing campaign managers for a potential Senate run, Punchbowl News first reported on Sept. 10.

“While she [Mills] personally likes Susan Collins, how, if you’re Janet Mills, could you not want to help Democrats take back the Senate given the severity of the situation in this country?” an anonymous source told NOTUS in April.

Collins told the Maine Morning Star in June that she is planning to run for reelection in the upcoming midterms. The Senate seat is seen as one of the Democratic Party’s strongest pickup opportunities in the 2026 midterm elections.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has notably already released ads this year in support of Collins.

This year, Collins has notably voted against some key elements of President Donald Trump’s agenda, including the president’s “big, beautiful bill” and rescissions package. In 2020, Collins won her most recent reelection bid against Democrat Sara Gideon by 9 percentage points, despite former President Joe Biden winning in Maine.

In the 2024 presidential election, former Vice President Kamala Harris won 52.4% of the vote in Maine, while Trump won 45.5%. Collins is currently the only GOP Senator to represent a state which Harris carried.

Collins’ office and Smith-Rodriguez’s campaign both did not respond to a request for comment.

 All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].

Latest posts by Ireland Owens (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.