Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, pushed back Wednesday against a pair of political advertisements from a group aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that accuse her of using her position to enrich herself through stock trading.
Majority Forward, a political action committee affiliated with the Schumer-linked Senate Majority PAC, announced a $700,000 ad buy in Maine that includes a 30-second spot titled "Greed" and a 15-second spot titled "This Life." The ads criticize Collins for opposing legislation that would ban members of Congress and their families from trading individual stocks, saying such opposition amounts to "the worst kind of greed." Collins has not formally announced a bid for a sixth Senate term.
Collins' office disputed the ads' implication that she personally benefits from stock trading, pointing to her financial disclosure filings and asserting that she "has never bought, sold, or owned any shares of stock during her entire Senate tenure." A spokeswoman for the senator said the holdings referenced in the advertisements belong to Collins' husband, Thomas Daffron, and are managed by a third-party adviser. Collins' office added that Daffron's account has had no individual stock purchases or sales in almost three years.
"Senator Collins has never bought, sold, or owned any shares of stock during her entire Senate tenure," the statement said. "Tom Daffron's investment decisions are made exclusively by a third-party advisor without his consultation. No individual stocks have been bought or sold from his account in almost three years."
Majority Forward defended the ads as a response to Collins' opposition to a bipartisan ban on congressional stock trading, which it said enjoys wide support among Maine voters. "Nowhere in the ad does it say Senator Collins regularly buys, sells, or owns stocks (though her husband does) — but if she is still confused, we'll be happy to continue airing it throughout Maine so both she and her constituents can understand how her opposition to ending stock trading is enabling her colleagues to benefit from their positions of power," Majority Forward spokeswoman Lauren French said.
The ads land amid renewed scrutiny on stock trading by lawmakers and their families. Legislation to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks has been debated on both sides of the aisle. Collins has publicly opposed the framework pushed by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., arguing instead for stronger enforcement of existing rules that bar insider trading.
Republicans have been divided over the shape of any ban. The White House criticized Hawley's proposal, and many Republicans on relevant congressional committees voted against the bill, though Hawley and a handful of others supported it. President Donald Trump has expressed mixed signals on the issue but has voiced support for some proposals to restrict stock trading by lawmakers.
In Maine, Democrats have signaled interest in contesting Collins' seat. Gov. Janet Mills, the state's Democratic governor, has been discussed as an attractive potential challenger but has not made an official campaign announcement. The Democratic primary field in Maine has grown more crowded as party operatives and outside groups weigh the race as a potential pickup opportunity.
Collins, a four-term senator first elected in 1996, has faced increased public scrutiny in recent months. She was reportedly heckled at a Maine ribbon-cutting event, a sign of heightened local attention as national groups target the race. The Majority Forward ads aim to pin Collins' votes and public positions on a broader narrative about lawmakers' access to financial information and personal investments.
Outside groups on both sides of the aisle have already invested in Maine ahead of the 2026 cycle, reflecting the strategic importance of the seat in an evenly divided Senate. Majority Forward's $700,000 ad buy represents one of the early major investments against Collins; the group says it plans continued airing across the state.
Collins' office reiterated that she remains focused on constituent issues and on reinforcing enforcement of ethics rules in Congress. The senator has yet to officially declare whether she will seek another term.
