Susan Collins

Vice President JD Vance acknowledged his frustration with his former Republican colleague, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, during a trip to Bangor on Thursday.

He told a crowd gathered for a speech on the administration’s fraud-fighting efforts that he’d like Collins to be more partisan. The lawmaker, who is seeking a sixth term, is a moderate Republican voice in a Democratic state.

“Here’s the thing I’ll say about Susan Collins is sometimes I’ll get frustrated with Susan Collins. I almost wish that she was more partisan,” Vance said. “But the thing I love about Susan is she is independent because Maine is an independent state, and frankly, if she was as partisan as I sometimes wish that she was, she would not be a good fit for the people of Maine.”

While Collins has represented Maine since the late ‘90s, state Democrats have controlled Augusta for much of the past decade. All three of Maine’s other federal lawmakers also caucus with the Democrats.

She has crossed the aisle for some key votes over the course of the current Trump administration, including to oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year. Collins has also backed Democratic efforts to restrict the president’s war powers, most recently voting to advance a resolution that would have curbed his actions against Iran.