Sen. Susan Collins' tremor visible in new interview as she hints at another run

Senator Susan Collins, 73, appeared in a lengthy interview filmed at a lobster shack in her home state of Maine, where her tremor was plainly observable as she ate chowder and drank from a glass. She reiterated that the shaking, which she describes as a benign essential tremor, has accompanied her throughout her Senate tenure and does not impair her work or daily life. Dr. Rees Cosgrove of Mass General Brigham explained that the condition can gradually worsen over time but is unrelated to neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s. Collins suggested that worries about senior members of Congress stem from concealment of President Joe Biden’s health issues, and she declined to rule out a run for another term when she would be 79, invoking the phrase “never say never in politics.”

The seat is crucial for Democrats’ hopes of retaking the Senate, with former state Senate president Troy Jackson, 58, as the Democratic contender; both have committed to four debates, though Jackson prefers town-hall formats. The interview underscores both health transparency and the electoral stakes in Maine’s pivotal Senate contest.