Consulting Work by Senator Collins’ Husband Raises Questions Amid Campaign Challenges
Maine Senator Susan Collins is facing scrutiny over consulting work conducted by her husband, Thomas Daffron, for Chesapeake Enterprises. This firm has been actively lobbying for increased data center developments, an issue currently under significant voter consideration.
In 2025, Chesapeake Enterprises, with Scott Reed as its sole registered lobbyist, engaged Daffron for consulting services. Reed is now embroiled in an alleged pay-to-play scheme that poses a threat to Collins’ reelection efforts.
Data centers and political integrity are hot topics for voters this year, and Senator Collins is navigating challenges on both fronts. Thomas Daffron, whom Collins married in 2012, has a background as a lobbyist, business consultant, and Republican political advisor. Since their marriage, Collins’ net worth has increased from $250,000 to $4.1 million.
Disclosures from May reveal Daffron received at least $1,000 in consulting fees from Chesapeake Enterprises last year. Senate rules mandate reporting of any spousal income over $1,000, but not the exact amount. Daffron’s past role as executive vice president of the firm from 2001 to 2004 adds layers to the current situation.
While advising Chesapeake Enterprises, Daffron was involved when the firm lobbied the federal government on behalf of Hillwood Investments. This company, chaired by billionaire and Collins campaign donor H. Ross Perot Jr., has contributed to the establishment of several data centers, including a notable facility in Texas managed by Meta, Facebook’s parent company.
Data centers have sparked debate due to their high consumption of electricity and water, leading to increased utility bills nationwide. A New York Times/Siena poll highlighted that 61% of Americans are against the establishment of data centers in their localities. In response, several communities in Maine have enacted temporary bans on further data center development.
Reed, who managed the Hillwood Investments account for Chesapeake Enterprises in 2025, has been involved in lobbying the House and Senate on “real estate investments.” He also leads Pine Tree Results, a super PAC supporting Collins. In 2019, the FBI investigated Reed over a large donation from Navatek, a defense contractor.
The former CEO of Navatek, Martin Kao, now imprisoned for wire fraud, alleged that the donation was intended to secure Collins’ assistance in obtaining federal contracts for the company, which she delivered. The investigation into Reed was dropped after Donald Trump resumed the presidency.
ProPublica’s report on the alleged scheme appeared on Sept. 22. While Collins has challenged the report’s credibility and denied any wrongdoing, ProPublica has consistently defended its findings, rebuffing her claims.
In legislative developments, Collins supported the Ratepayer Protection Act, designed to make large data centers responsible for their own electricity costs. However, Senate Democrats criticized the bill as ineffective, emphasizing that while it suggests public utility commissions consider cost-sharing standards, it does not mandate their implementation.
“It’s just fakery to try to fool voters into forgetting that Republicans spent the entire term trying to stop states from regulating AI,” commented Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy to Yahoo Finance. The act did not pass the Senate as of Sept. 30.
As Collins seeks a sixth term, she is viewed as one of the most at-risk Republican incumbents. Her opponent, Democrat state Sen. Troy Jackson, advocates for data center projects to proceed only if they provide a clear benefit to Maine residents.
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