Republican Sen. Susan Collins has publicly disclosed for the first time that she has a benign essential tremor, a long-standing health condition, as she campaigns for reelection in one of this year’s most competitive Senate races.
The Maine senator confirmed the tremor to WCSH-TV on Wednesday, following questions about her health that arose from recent video appearances, including her campaign announcement.
Collins stated the condition causes trembling in her hands, head, and voice, and she has lived with it throughout her nearly three-decade career in the Senate. She clarified in a Thursday statement to The Associated Press that the condition affects millions of Americans over 40, “does not interfere” with her work, and is not neurodegenerative.
“The tremor is occasionally inconvenient, and sometimes the subject of cruel comments online, but it does not hinder my ability to work and, as I said, is something that I have lived with for decades,” her statement read.
The health and age of candidates have come under increased scrutiny in high-profile elections, particularly after Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, announced he would not seek reelection in 2024. Similar questions have persisted regarding Republican President Donald Trump, 79, who has recently been observed with bruising on the back of his hand, at times concealed with makeup. The White House confirmed last year that Trump was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.
Collins’ Senate seat is a key target for Democrats hoping to regain control of the chamber. Her likely opponent is Democrat Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and combat veteran, after Democratic Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the race last week. Age has emerged as a factor in the contest, with Collins, 73, and Mills, 78, significantly older than Platner, 41.
Platner has also openly discussed his own health challenges early in his campaign. He has spoken about chronic pain in his shoulder and knees, which he attributes to his combat service, and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Platner holds a 100% disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs but continues his work as an oyster farmer.
“There are a lot of disabled combat veterans, or just disabled vets, at 100%, who still work,” Platner told WCSH last year. “It’s a very normal thing.”
First elected to the Senate in 1996, Collins noted in her statement that she has had the condition for her entire tenure. Over the years, the tremor has been noticeable during her debates and numerous public engagements. As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Collins has played a central role in the chamber’s spending disputes this Congress, frequently leading floor debates and delivering the Republican Party’s closing arguments. She maintains a streak of 9,966 consecutive Senate votes, the second-longest in the chamber’s history.
Essential tremor, sometimes referred to as benign essential tremor, is one of the most common movement disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health. It occurs when nerves do not properly communicate with certain muscles. While the risk of developing it increases with age, at least half of cases are inherited and tend to manifest at younger ages. It predominantly causes shaky or trembling hands but can also affect the head, voice, or lower limbs.
