Skip to content

Angus King Rolls Out Bipartisan Senate Endorsements (Video)

King is backing Republican and Democratic Senate colleagues. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
King is backing Republican and Democratic Senate colleagues. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Maine’s Angus King, one of two independents serving in the Senate, is endorsing two colleagues on Friday: New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Maine Republican Susan Collins.  

Collins, who lost to King in the 1994 gubernatorial race, is a solid favorite for re-election, despite the fact President Barack Obama carried Maine by double digits in both 2008 and 2012.  

“I think she’s one of the Senate’s MVP’s — smart, tough, and always willing to listen,” King said in a statement shared with CQ Roll Call. “In my book, she’s a model senator and I’m delighted to support her re-election.”  

Despite Collins’ advantage, the endorsement, which was first reported by the Associated Press, is nonetheless noteworthy because King caucuses with Senate Democrats. Collins is being challenged by Democrat Shenna Bellows, who released a statement Friday noting that King gave her a heads-up about his endorsement.  

[field name=iframe]  

King made a “thoughtful and independent decision,” Bellows said.  

Shaheen, who is being challenged by former Sen. Scott P. Brown, R-Mass., will appear with King this afternoon in Concord, N.H., to receive his endorsement, the campaign announced. Shaheen and King overlapped as governors of neighboring states for several years.  

The New Hampshire race is rated Democrat Favored and Maine is rated Safe Republican by the Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.

Recent Stories

Trump announces plan to replace FBI director with Kash Patel

Trump’s USDA pick could focus on foreign investments in agricultural land

Angling for open Appropriations seats set to ratchet up

Trump names pick for NIH director

Countries criticize Trump tariff plans, which could flout trade pacts

Trump and recess appointments: A procedural and legal quagmire