Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine who supports abortion rights, endorsed Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination for the Supreme Court in 2018. Her vote to confirm him has emerged as a defining issue in her campaign for re-election.

Critics argue Collins’ support was pivotal in securing a conservative majority that ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The decision eliminated the federal constitutional right to abortion, contradicting Collins’ stated position that she would not support a justice who would overturn the precedent.

On the campaign trail, opponents have seized on the vote, running ads and organizing protests that frame Collins as complicit in the rollback of reproductive rights. The senator has defended her decision, saying she relied on Kavanaugh’s assurances during his confirmation hearings that he respected precedent.

The controversy has energized both sides of the abortion debate in Maine, turning what was once considered a safe seat into a competitive race. Political analysts say the Kavanaugh vote remains the single biggest liability for Collins as she seeks a fifth term.