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Senator Susan Collins’ Biddeford constituent office was vandalized the night before Election Day. Red paint was left on the sidewalk, some paint splattered on the glass doors, and the words “BLOOD ON HER HANDS” were scrawled where staff and voters would see them. The campaign shared photos with local media and Biddeford police say they took a report shortly before polls opened.
What happened at the Biddeford office
The vandalism took place outside Collins’ Main Street office in Biddeford. Staff released images showing red paint on the walkway and the threatening message in bold letters. Katie Brown, chief of staff to Senator Susan Collins — who also serves as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee — called the act “disturbing” and said it was “another incident in a series” aimed at intimidating staff. Police are investigating the case.
Context: this isn’t an isolated flare-up
This was not the first time the Biddeford office has been targeted. In recent weeks the doors were spray-painted with a vulgar slur, eggs were thrown at the senator’s Bangor home, and suspicious mailings reached her offices. The office sits in an area that has seen protests in the wake of an ICE officer-involved shooting earlier this year, so tensions have been high. All of that makes this Election Eve vandalism look less like random mischief and more like a pattern of harassment.
Why this matters beyond paint and profanity
Vandalizing a constituent office on the eve of an election is not political debate — it is intimidation. Senator Collins’ office performs constituent services for ordinary Mainers, not just campaign work. Painting threats on a sidewalk is a crude message meant to frighten staff and voters who need help from their senator. If anyone thinks vandalism equals persuasion, they should try running for office by spray paint and see how that poll number holds up.
Bottom line: law enforcement and leaders must act
Local police should be held to the same standard as any other investigation: follow leads, collect evidence, and charge whoever is responsible. Political leaders — on both sides — should loudly condemn threats and intimidation. Staff at the Biddeford office say they remain on the job and refuse to be intimidated. That resolve is good. But resolve alone doesn’t replace accountability. Voters deserve safe, orderly elections and public servants deserve the protection of the rule of law.
