MILBRIDGE — A longtime physician who moved to Maine three years ago announced Monday she plans to run as a Democrat against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in 2020.

Dr. Cathleen London said the state’s four-term Republican senator “has forgotten who she represents.”

“Rather than putting her constituents first, it has become apparent that when it comes to the tough decisions, it is President Donald Trump and the GOP first and Mainers last,” London said.

Collins has not said anything about her plans for the 2020 race, but others are not wasting time declaring they want to beat her.

London’s general practice serves about 1,000 patients in this Down East town between Ellsworth and Machias, where medical care is hard to come by. She said last month she was eyeing a possible U.S. Senate race against Collins.

As traditional, middle-of-the-road lawmakers find themselves increasingly squeezed, Collins faces opponents from both sides of the political divide.

Republican Max Linn has said he plans to take her on in a Republican primary. Linn, who has allied himself closely with Trump, failed in his bid to run against Maine U.S. Sen. Angus King this year when the state threw out many of his petition signatures.

London said in a prepared statement Monday she decided to start early in the campaign “because health care and the Supreme Court cannot wait until another full election cycle.”

She said she does not trust Collins to look out for a woman’s right to an abortion as she considers whether to vote for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.

London said she is tired of seeing Collins described as a moderate “when she has voted with President Trump nearly 90 percent of the time,” and sided with the GOP more than ever in 2017.

She also castigated Collins for failing to stand up to the Senate’s leadership as it steamrolled her effort to improve the Affordable Care Act.

“I will stand up for the poor and working class by not voting for huge Republican tax breaks, as Senator Collins did,” London said. “I will stand up for our country when it is under attack from foreign powers intent on meddling in our elections.

“It is time for Maine for have a senator who puts her constituents first and isn’t afraid to stand up to her party and the president.”

A number of other Democrats are eyeing Collins’ seat. Most of the better-known ones are unlikely to say anything about their intentions until after the November election.

scollins@sunjournal.com

Cathleen London, a Milbridge physician, confirmed Monday she is running against U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in 2020. (Courtesy photo)

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