Politics makes for weird neighbors. Honestly, nobody really expected a veteran moderate like Susan Collins to be the one to clear the path for Tulsi Gabbard. It was about a year ago, in early 2025, when the nomination for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) looked like it might actually crash and burn. Gabbard was facing a wall of skepticism. Critics were screaming about her past meetings with Bashar al-Assad and her comments on Russia. Then, Collins stepped up.
The Maine Senator didn't just give a thumbs up; she provided the structural support Gabbard needed to survive a brutal 9-8 committee vote. If you've followed Collins' career, you know she’s usually the "wait and see" type. She's famous for her deep "concern." But this time, her support was the linchpin that allowed the nomination to move to the full Senate, where Gabbard eventually took the reins.
Sen. Susan Collins Announces She Will Support Tulsi Gabbard: The Turning Point
When Sen. Susan Collins announces she will support Tulsi Gabbard, it isn't just a news alert. It’s a shift in the gravity of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Collins is a stickler for the rules. She actually helped write the 2004 law that created the DNI position. She cares about the "original intent" of the office.
Basically, her logic was pretty simple, though some found it surprising. She argued that the DNI office had become a bloated monster. Gabbard promised her she would shrink it. During those tense closed-door sessions, Gabbard apparently gave the right answers about Edward Snowden and national security protocols. Collins decided those answers were good enough.
Why the Endorsement Caught Everyone Off Guard
- The Hegseth Contrast: Just days before, Collins had voted against Pete Hegseth. People thought she was on a "no" streak for Trump’s more controversial picks.
- Intelligence Pedigree: Collins has sat on the Intelligence Committee for over a decade. She knows where the bodies are buried, so to speak.
- The Snowden Factor: Gabbard’s past support for a Snowden pardon was a massive red flag for traditional Republicans. Somehow, she convinced Collins she’d "leave her personal views at the door."
The Grilling and the Pivot
The confirmation hearing was a mess. You had senators from both sides bringing up Gabbard’s 2017 trip to Syria. They pushed her on whether she thought Putin was a war criminal. Gabbard didn't always give the "correct" Washington answer, which made people nervous.
But Collins focused on the mechanics. She wanted to know if Gabbard would respect the 18 different agencies under her watch. Gabbard played it smart. She framed herself as an outsider who wanted to stop "weaponized intelligence." For a moderate like Collins, who often worries about government overreach, that resonated.
It’s kinda funny looking back. The very people who thought Collins would be the "no" vote were the ones most shocked when her press release dropped. She didn't just say "yes." She said she was "looking forward to working with her." That's high praise in Senate-speak.
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What This Means for the 2026 Midterms
We are in 2026 now, and Collins is up for re-election. This vote is still a talking point in Maine. The political landscape is jagged. Some voters see her support of Gabbard as a betrayal of her independent streak. Others see it as a pragmatic move to ensure the intelligence community gets the reform it desperately needs.
The Senate is currently split, and every vote feels like a high-stakes poker game. Just recently, Collins broke ranks on the Venezuela War Powers Resolution, proving she still does whatever she wants. But the Gabbard vote remains the most significant moment of her current term. It showed that even the most "establishment" Republicans were willing to gamble on a total outsider if the pitch was right.
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Real-World Impacts of the DNI Shift
Since Gabbard took over, we've seen a push to declassify more documents. There's also been a massive "right-sizing" of the DNI staff in D.C. Whether you like the new direction or not, you can't deny that Collins' support made it possible. She didn't just open a door; she blew it off the hinges.
Actionable Insights for Following Senate Politics
If you’re trying to track how these high-level nominations and endorsements actually work, don't just look at the public hearings. The real deals happen in the "closed-door" briefings where classified info is shared.
- Watch the Committee Chairs: The real power isn't on the floor; it's in the committees where the 9-8 votes happen.
- Follow the "Gang of Three": In a tight Senate, keep your eyes on Collins, Murkowski, and whatever Republican is feeling grumpy that week. They decide the fate of the country.
- Check the Record: Don't trust the headlines. Look at the actual statements released by the Senator's office. They usually contain the "why" that the news skips over.
The story of how Susan Collins backed Tulsi Gabbard is a masterclass in Senate leverage. It wasn't about friendship or even shared ideology. It was about a specific vision for a specific office. In the end, the moderate from Maine decided that an unconventional choice was better than the status quo.