Senator Susan Collins Discusses Health Condition in Recent Interview

<figure><img alt="Susan Collins" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/WDMSD5SRANFB7ICKAV7I63Y4RE.JPG?auth=728ed3be74ffdc713e7ebb436a1e8adc8d4aa8f36d09b89193ea3a586793f0cf&amp;smart=true&amp;width=4800&amp;height=2700" /><figcaption>Evan Vucci / REUTERS</figcaption></figure><p>Maine Senator Susan Collins, 73, discussed a health condition she disclosed earlier this year during a video interview published on September 2, 2026. The interview was conducted by Politico at a lobster shack in Maine, where Collins has served in the Senate since 1997 and is currently running for a sixth term.</p><p>In May, Collins revealed that she has been living with a benign essential tremor, a common condition that she manages with medication. “What I have is an extremely common condition that is called a benign essential tremor,” Collins stated in an interview with News Center Maine. “I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate. It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or on how I feel each day.”</p><img alt="Susan Collins faces a tough reelection battle in her quest for a sixth term. / Eric Lee / REUTERS" height="2413" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/X7TEGRSQQJBJHOLVD7FHVX42S4.JPG?auth=70ee43379d73f70fbb5c7399fc78d222c9d4c11337bcdddfaa3f936a76b2a8f9&amp;smart=true&amp;width=3620&amp;height=2413" width="3620" /><p>Collins described her condition as “inconvenient at times, but that’s all,” noting that it causes trembling in her hands, head, and voice. During the nearly hour-long interview, her symptoms were visible as she consumed chowder and drank from a glass, but she chose not to open a lobster in front of her.</p><p>Dr. Rees Cosgrove, chief of the Division of Functional Neurosurgery at Mass General Brigham, clarified that Collins’ condition is not linked to neurological impairment or cognitive decline, distinguishing it from conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. However, he noted that it “tends to slowly get worse over time.”</p><p>The Daily Beast reached out to Collins’ office for comments regarding the potential worsening of her condition following the interview but did not receive an immediate response.</p><img alt="Collins says her condition does not affect her ability to do her job. / Kent Nishimura / REUTERS" height="3659" src="https://thedailybeast-thedailybeast-prod.web.arc-cdn.net/resizer/v2/D6DSCWSDQVHI3GAVJXVMZUEWIA.JPG?auth=aac9281daa848ed0b3a18aae63a5e40b83afed52bec739224628fb31e1d57be1&amp;smart=true&amp;width=5488&amp;height=3659" width="5488" /><p>In the interview, Collins was also asked about public concerns regarding the age of Congress members. She attributed these concerns to the perceived concealment of President Joe Biden’s health issues, stating, “I think it’s totally due to the concealment of Joe Biden’s health problems.” Collins had only revealed her condition in May after nearly three decades in office amid social media speculation.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">9/2 Maine Senator Susan Collins says she'd consider seeking a 7th term if she wins again in November, blames voters' concerns about elected officials' ages on President Biden <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/maine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#maine</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/MEpolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MEpolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ksrc4YJuS5">pic.twitter.com/Ksrc4YJuS5</a></p>&mdash; Maine Newsroom (@MaineNewsroom) <a href="https://x.com/MaineNewsroom/status/2095164058462736451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 2, 2026</a></blockquote><p>Collins did not rule out the possibility of running for a seventh term in the future, despite having previously pledged in 1996 to serve only two terms. “Never say never in politics,” she remarked.</p><p>Her Senate seat is considered crucial for Democrats aiming to regain control of the Senate, with several election forecasters rating it as a toss-up or giving a slight edge to her Democratic opponent, Troy Jackson, a 58-year-old logger and former president of the Maine Senate.</p><p>As of last Thursday, Collins stated she would participate in four debates, while Jackson expressed a preference for town hall-style debates.</p><p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-sen-73-shows-worrying-health-condition-she-covered-up/">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p>