Supreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first bid after abortion rights decision
Collins is defending her Kavanaugh vote as voters weigh her record and abortion-rights positions.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates SFGATE, where this article appeared. The other scores rate the article itself.
San Francisco Gate republishes an Associated Press report, which is clearly attributed in the article. The reporting is therefore supported by AP’s established wire-service standards, though the page itself provides limited detail about SFGate’s own editorial process.
- Source type — The article identifies itself as an Associated Press report, a major wire service.
- Author attribution — The article names Kimberlee Kruesi and identifies additional AP polling-editor contribution.
- Transparency — The AP attribution and reporting locations are disclosed, but no correction or editorial-policy information appears in the article text.
The report includes voter interviews, campaign statements, polling, spending figures and an academic expert, while giving context for both candidates’ positions and challenges. Some claims come from campaign-aligned groups or poll findings with limited detail about methodology in the article.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The report includes criticism of Collins’s Kavanaugh vote and voters who continue to support her, while also covering Jackson’s positions and vulnerabilities. It offers polling and expert context, though the piece gives substantial space to the abortion-rights dispute and campaign advertising.
- Counterarguments presented — Critical voters are balanced with a Collins supporter and Collins’s own stated position.
- Source diversity — Draws on voters, campaign representatives, advocacy-group activity, polling and an academic expert.
- Omitted context — Provides context on Maine’s abortion laws and voters’ other concerns, though polling details are limited.
The article uses neutral language and presents criticism of Collins alongside support for her, as well as both Jackson’s abortion-rights message and the difficulties he faces. Its attention to the issue reflects the campaign story rather than an evident partisan framing.
- Language tone — Mostly descriptive language, with critical characterizations attributed to voters and campaign advocates.
- Source selection — Includes voters with differing views, both campaigns, a poll and an academic expert.
- Framing — Covers abortion as a campaign issue while noting its limits in voter priorities and in Maine.
Original publisher not identified
This article credits another publisher, which ChamberLight has not identified, so the scores are SFGATE's own.
Susan Collins’s 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh is a central issue in her first Senate campaign since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Democrat Troy Jackson is highlighting abortion rights as he challenges Collins, while the article describes obstacles facing both campaigns.
The article reports that Collins’s vote to confirm Kavanaugh has angered some voters who once supported her, and that Jackson and Democratic groups are using the vote in campaign messaging. Collins says she does not regret the vote; she has also described herself as pro-choice and supported other Supreme Court nominees who later dissented in the abortion ruling.
Jackson has emphasized his support for abortion access and received endorsements from abortion rights groups. The article also describes his need to win over voters after Graham Platner left the race and notes Jackson’s past opposition to abortion rights and same-sex marriage. It reports that abortion may be outweighed by economic concerns for some voters and that the issue has had less impact in Maine than in some other states.
Community verdict
16 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Maine senator seeking reelection whose vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh is a central campaign issue.
Democratic Senate candidate challenging Collins and campaigning on abortion access.
Jackson's version of this story ↗President whose Supreme Court nominee Collins voted to confirm.
Former Senate nominee whose departure left Jackson as the Democratic nominee.
Maine governor who enacted legislation protecting abortion and gender-affirming care providers.
Part of a bigger story
9 OUTLETSCollins is seeking reelection against Troy Jackson, and her 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh has become a focus of the campaign as abortion rights figure in the contest. Left-leaning outlets center whether Collins’s Kavanaugh vote could move voters toward Jackson, including his past and current abortion positions. Center outlets present it as one campaign issue alongside polling that abortion may rank behind the economy or other voter concerns, with voters expressing differing views of Collins.
- ARTICLES
- 11
- OUTLETS
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- AVG CRED
- 81
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette · Supreme Court abortion vote shadows election for Collins | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
- PBS · Supreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first bid after abortion rights decision
- KOB.com · Supreme Court vote shadows Maine Sen. Susan Collins in her first race after abortion rights decision
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