Overview

• Video shows chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” repeatedly overwhelming the Republican senator during Tuesday’s ceremony marking the completion of Route 1 reconstruction in Searsport.
• Demonstrators pressed grievances over Medicare, U.S. aid related to Gaza, Supreme Court confirmations, and a lack of town halls, while holding signs criticizing her record.
• Collins asked the crowd to let her finish brief remarks, cut the ribbon, and later told a local NBC affiliate she spoke with some protesters and encountered “misinformation.”
• One attendee shouted “Vote Graham Platner!” referencing the progressive Democrat who announced a challenge last week, tying the protest to the newly launched 2026 campaign.
• News coverage and widely shared clips amplified the scene, with one outlet reporting more than 200 protesters, as analysts noted the episode adds to scrutiny of Collins’ reelection bid.