Collins casts historic 9,000th U.S. Senate vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Susan Collins has cast her 9,000th consecutive roll call vote, extending her unbroken voting streak, which began in 1997. Senator Collins is the first Senator in history to have cast 9,000 votes without ever having missed a vote during her entire time in the Senate.

U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine has cast her
9,000th consecutive roll call vote and has never
missed a Senate vote during her time in office
going all the way back to 1997. FILE PHOTO 

“Growing up in Aroostook County, I learned from an early age the values of hard work, perseverance, and honoring your commitments. I am proud to bring those Maine values with me to the Senate,” said Senator Collins. “No one works harder than the people of Maine, and I strive to demonstrate that same commitment every day while representing our state.”

Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John Thune (R-SD), and Angus King (I-ME) congratulated Senator Collins on the Senate Floor.

“I'd like to acknowledge a rare milestone that has just been achieved here, or that is just about to be achieved, on this coming vote in the Senate. Our dear colleague from Maine, Senator Susan Collins, will cast her 9,000th consecutive roll call. She has never, never missed a single roll call vote in her entire career. Who else can claim that? Raise your hands! Even the freshmen can't claim that,” said Senator Schumer. “I congratulate Senator Collins on this historic accomplishment. It puts her in rare company in the history of the chamber. So, Senator Collins and I, of course, belong to different parties, but she has the respect of those of us on this side of the aisle as well as her own colleagues. And I have been grateful for the chance to work with her in recent years on many issues.”

McConnell agreed.

“The Senior Senator from Maine, our good friend, is about the cast, as we all know, her 9,000th consecutive roll call vote. Quite literally, as the occupant of the Chair knows, Senator Collins has never failed to discharge the most fundamental duty of her office. According to the historical office, only one senator in history has managed a longer streak of consecutive votes. Let's just say Senator Collins is closing in on that record as well. I hope our colleague is as proud of this accomplishment as we are of her,” McConnell said. “One thing that's for certain, she didn't reach the milestone by accident. Senator Collins arrived as a freshman, already well aware of the obligations of public service. After all, she was raised by not one, but two small town Mayors. And as our colleague knows, one of those distinguished Mayors, her mother, Patricia, passed away earlier this year, right as the government funding she had stewarded was nearing the finish line. It was a situation that made the tension we've all felt at times, between the demands of the Senate and of family. But as always, the example of the Senior Senator from Maine was instructive. Poised under pressure, prepared for any outcome, and as determined as ever to do right by the people she represents. Day after day, year after year, our senior most appropriator has demonstrated through her dedication, if you do your homework, you show up to vote, most everything else will fall in line. So, I'd like to add my congratulations to my good friend, Senator Collins, on this tremendous milestone. The people of Maine are lucky to have her.”

According to Thune, the fact that Collins has reached 9,000 votes cast is remarkable.

"She was asked by the Washington Post 12 years ago why she had never missed a vote? Why she made a decision to make every vote? And this is what she said, and I quote, ‘I think it's important at this time, when public confidence in Congress is very low, to demonstrate to my constituents that I really care about doing a good job for them,’” Thune said. "Well, Mr. President, for 27 straight years and 9,000 straight votes, she has delivered every single day for the people of Maine, and for the people of this country, and I am grateful to have the privilege and opportunity to serve with her, as I think every single one of us. Not only those who are here today, but those who have come before. It is a remarkable achievement. Senator Collins, thank you. Thank you for your record. Thank you for your example.”

Her Maine colleague Senator Angus King offered his heartfelt congratulations and pride to Collins.

“Thank you, Susan, for all you've done,” said Senator King.

Senator Collins’ first vote in the Senate was on Jan. 22, 1997, when she voted to confirm Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State. Her second vote, the same day, was to confirm former Maine Senator Bill Cohen as Secretary of Defense. Senator Collins succeeded Secretary Cohen in representing Maine in the U.S. Senate.

In addition to not missing any roll call votes, Senator Collins continues to return home to Maine on weekends and during state work periods to meet with constituents and visit communities, businesses, and schools throughout the state.

Former Senator William Proxmire (D-WI) is the only senator who has a vote streak longer than 9,000 after missing votes earlier in his tenure. Senator Proxmire, who was first elected in 1957, cast 10,252 uninterrupted votes between 1966 and 1988. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has the third-longest Senate voting streak in history. He cast an impressive 8,927 consecutive votes from 1993 to 2020. <