Democrat Enters Crowded Key Senate Race, Muddying Waters And Helping GOP Incumbent

Civilian Air Force Leader Daira Smith-Rodriguez officially launched her bid for incumbent Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins’ Senate seat on Thursday.

Smith-Rodriguez, who is running as a Democrat, claimed in her announcement of candidacy that she hopes to “bring a fresh voice to Maine families who deserve better than a broken system.” Smith-Rodriguez’s entry into the race comes as several other Democrats are hoping to unseat Collins, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996, in the 2026 midterms.

“As the daughter of a Brigadier General whose orders took our family around the world, the call to serve was instilled in me at a young age,” Smith-Rodriguez said in her announcement. “I answered that call as a civilian leader in the U.S. Air Force, where I have spent nearly 15 years saving billions of taxpayer dollars and protecting our service members from corporations trying to take advantage of our country. After seeing the weakness of career politicians like Susan Collins, I’m proud to be answering a new call to service — bringing a fresh voice to Maine families who deserve better than a broken system Collins has enabled for too long.”

A press release from Smith-Rodriguez’s campaign said that the candidate is “committed to utilizing her experience to be a Senator who cannot be bought by corporate elites and who will fight every day to make government work for ordinary Mainers.”

Other Democrats running in Maine’s crowded 2026 Senate Primary include oyster farmer Graham Platner, Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban