Senator Susan Collins' campaign office in Biddeford, Maine, was subjected to an act of vandalism Monday night, just hours before Election Day. The incident involved red, blood-like paint splattered on the ground and a message scrawled across the sidewalk, marking the latest in a series of disturbances targeting the Republican senator's operation.
"This is another incident in a series and the second attempt at our Biddeford office to intimidate the Senator and her staff. These tactics are disturbing, but not effective. Our staff is undeterred and on the job." Katie Brown, Chief of Staff for Senator Susan Collins
According to Katie Brown, Senator Collins' chief of staff, vandals dumped a bucket of red paint in front of the office building. They then used the same red paint to write the phrase "BLOOD on her HANDS" on the sidewalk outside the entrance. Brown characterized the incident as a deliberate attempt to intimidate the senator and her staff. "This is another incident in a series and the second attempt at our Biddeford office to intimidate the Senator and her staff," Brown stated to Fox News. She added, "These tactics are disturbing, but not effective. Our staff is undeterred and on the job."
The Biddeford Police Department has launched an investigation into Monday night's vandalism. As of Tuesday morning, Senator Collins' campaign has not reported any suspects or arrests in connection with the incident.
This latest act of defacement follows a previous incident in September, when the same Biddeford office was vandalized with red spray paint. That earlier message, sprayed across the building's door, included an epithet directed at Senator Collins, referring to her as a "Trump whore." The recurrence of such acts has raised concerns about the escalating nature of political tensions in the run-up to the election.
The office has also been a focal point for protests earlier in the year. In July, days after a law enforcement officer shot and killed a 26-year-old Colombian national, Johan Sebastián Guerrero, near the office, protesters reportedly barged through the front door while chanting "vote her out." These three incidents – the July protest, the September defacement, and Monday's paint attack – illustrate a pattern of unrest and direct action aimed at Senator Collins' presence in the community.
Senator Collins is currently engaged in a closely watched race to retain her U.S. Senate seat. Her challenger is Democrat Troy Jackson, who previously served in the Maine state Senate. Jackson issued a statement condemning Monday's vandalism, echoing sentiments he expressed after the September incident.
"There’s no place for this in Maine. Vandalism and intimidation are wrong, full stop. Senator Collins and her staff should be able to do their jobs without anyone defacing their office, and I condemn whoever did this," Jackson said in a statement shared with Fox News Digital. His statement after the September vandalism used nearly identical language, underscoring a consistent stance against such actions. Jackson's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for further comment on Monday's events.
The ongoing investigation by Biddeford police seeks to identify those responsible for the vandalism. The incidents collectively highlight the charged atmosphere surrounding the current election cycle and the challenges faced by political figures and their staff. Despite the disturbances, Senator Collins' chief of staff affirmed that operations at the Biddeford office would continue unimpeded. The series of events underscores the broader debate about political discourse and acceptable forms of protest in a democratic society.
