Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, this week revealed that she had a minor condition that caused trembling in her hand and voice, a revelation that comes amid her 2026 reelection bid against Democratic candidate Graham Platner.

Collins has served in the Senate since 1996 and is one of the older lawmakers in the Republican conference, though far from the oldest. The health and age of political candidates has increasingly become a hot button issue, with former President Joe Biden dropping his reelection bid in the wake of a disastrous debate that escalated speculation over his fitness for office.

“What I have is an extremely common condition that is called a benign essential tremor," Collins said, according to The Hill newspaper. "I have had it for the entire time that I have served in the United States Senate. It has absolutely no impact on my ability to do my job or how I feel each day."

Collins made the revelation Wednesday to NewCenterMaine.com.

Collins's age and health are likely to feature more prominently in the 2026 contest in light of the contrast presented by the 41-year-old Platner, who became the presumptive Democratic candidate after Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, dropped out of the race.

The Maine contest is expected to be competitive, though Collins has a long history of outperforming public polls and has long managed to hold her seat as a Republican in a state that hasn't backed one for president in decades.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.