Feminists can find a much better investment than Susan Collins | Letter

Maine Resident Criticizes Senator Susan Collins Over Supreme Court Votes

Sharon, Mass. & Saco – Aug. 2, 2026

In a letter to the editor published on August 2, 2026, Cindy Layton of Sharon, Massachusetts, and Saco, Maine, expressed strong criticism of U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, over her role in Supreme Court confirmation and abortion‑related rulings. Layton, writing under the heading “Susan Collins is a feminist’s best investment,” challenged the senator’s support of Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination and the subsequent court decisions that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Layton began by noting that Senator Collins voted to confirm Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, a decision she said “disregarded the credible accusations against him of sexual assault.” The letter highlights that Kavanaugh’s accuser had testified under oath, “at great risk,” and that the Republican majority, including Collins, silenced her voice. “Her vote sent a message to young girls: their world is full of not oysters, but lessons in power,” Layton wrote, implying that Collins’ actions could undermine women’s confidence.

The letter also points to Collins’ acceptance of Kavanaugh’s claim that Roe v. Wade had been settled law. In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned that precedent in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Layton notes that Collins confirmed four of the six justices who participated in that decision. “It’s impossible to see how that’s a great ‘investment’ for the women of this country,” she said.

Layton argues that, although abortion restrictions have expanded in Maine following the Dobbs decision, “Collins’ vote never stood in the way of a woman’s private healthcare decisions.” The letter continues that Collins’ support of Kavanaugh “opened the door to abortion restrictions resulting in the needless deaths of women across the country.” She stresses that Maine’s women are “safe—as long as they never travel, attend school or work in states with restrictive healthcare laws.”

The letter cites an earlier op‑ed by Cynthia Dill, also published in the Press Herald, titled “Susan Collins is a feminist’s best investment.” Dill’s piece was the source of the headline that Layton referenced, and she herself has been a frequent commentator on Republican politics in Maine. While the letter adopts a strong rhetorical tone, it does not provide additional data or statistics beyond citing the Senate votes and the Supreme Court ruling.

No response from Senator Collins or her office has appeared in the Press Herald since the publication of Layton’s letter. The editor’s desk has not issued a statement. The letter is categorized as a “letter to the editor” under the publication’s “election 2026” and “senate 2026” tags.

The piece serves as an example of the polarized discourse surrounding the Supreme Court’s recent decisions and the political alignment of Maine’s Republican senator. The Press Herald continues to publish commentary and letters from readers on the state’s 2026 election cycle.