Sen.Susan Collins of Maine defended her 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during her re-election campaign, saying she does not regret supporting his nomination even though she disagreed with his role in the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v.Wade.

Speaking to reporters, Collins explained that her evaluation of judicial nominees is based on factors such as qualifications, integrity, professional background, and legal experience rather than agreement on every future ruling.

While acknowledging her disappointment with the Court’s decision to return abortion policy decisions to individual states, she maintained that Kavanaugh met the standards she considered important for confirmation.

Collins also pointed out that she voted to confirm other Supreme Court justices, including Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, all of whom supported preserving abortion rights.She argued that a senator cannot predict with certainty how a justice will rule on every issue once seated on the Court.

The abortion issue remains politically significant in her campaign, particularly because many critics have argued that Kavanaugh’s confirmation helped create the majority that overturned Roe v.Wade.Collins noted that Maine has since expanded protections for abortion access at the state level.

The remarks come as she faces a competitive re-election race against Democratic nominee Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and harbormaster who is running on a progressive platform.

The contest is being closely watched as both parties view the seat as important in the broader political landscape leading into future congressional elections.