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Susan Collins 'Very Pleased' Joe Biden Called To Congratulate Her On Senate Victory

Robert F. Bukaty
/
Associated Press
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks to reporters on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, in Bangor, Maine, after Democrat challenger Sara Gideon called her to concede Tuesday's election.

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins says she wished President-elect Joe Biden the best when he called her last week to congratulate her on her reelection.

Collins and Biden served together in the Senate for years and worked together on several issues when he was vice president. But Collins says she was still surprised to hear from Biden.

“I was very pleased that the president-elect called me last week and congratulated me on my win,” she says.

Collins says it appears that Biden will be the next occupant of the White House, but says President Donald Trump has every right to pursue a legal challenge of specific results. She says the Trump administration should work with the Biden team to ensure a smooth transition and says it’s wrong for the General Services Administration to withhold typical transition services while any recounts or court challenges are being resolved.

All four members of Maine’s congressional delegation have now offered congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden.

Collins was the fourth and final member to do so, issuing a statement on Monday that she wishes Biden and running mate Kamala Harris “every success.”

“I urge people to be patient. The process has not failed our country in more than 200 years, and it is not going to fail our country this year,” Collins wrote.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.