Former Sen. Joe Manchin will campaign alongside Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine on Wednesday, offering a defense of her bipartisan record as she faces Democratic challenger Troy Jackson in a closely watched Senate race.

Manchin, an independent from West Virginia who previously served as a Democrat, is scheduled to join Collins in Androscoggin County, a politically divided region of Maine. The appearance comes as Collins seeks to counter Democratic criticism of her support for Trump administration nominees and legislation.

Manchin told Semafor that attacks portraying Collins as a reliable Trump ally motivated his decision to campaign with her. He argued that her willingness to work across party lines has been overlooked and said he wants Maine voters to understand how her approach has benefited the state.

“She is not a Trump senator,” Manchin said.

Collins has emphasized her bipartisan work during the closing weeks of the campaign, while Jackson has presented himself as a check on Trump and attracted support from prominent progressive Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats have criticized Collins for backing Trump’s nominees and legislative agenda. They have also cited voting analyses suggesting she votes with the president at least 90% of the time.

Manchin disputed the significance of those figures, arguing that the calculations are misleading because they largely include votes on presidential nominees. He said his campaign appearance would focus on “debunking” the portrayal of Collins as an enabler of the president.

Collins has broken with Trump on several high-profile issues. She opposed the president’s tax cuts legislation and the confirmation of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. In 2017, she also helped block Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Jackson, however, has argued that Collins’ disagreements with Trump often do not change the outcome of Senate votes, challenging her claim to be an effective bipartisan check on the administration.

Manchin highlighted Collins’ work on changes to the Electoral Count Act designed to clarify the process for certifying presidential election results and reduce opportunities to obstruct certification. The two senators also worked together on the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Collins praised Manchin’s record of cooperation across party lines and said the Senate needs more lawmakers willing to work with members of the opposing party.

“In the Senate, Joe and I worked across the aisle to tackle some of our nation's toughest challenges. Together, we built bipartisan coalitions to end government shutdowns, secure critical COVID-19 relief, and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law,” Collins said.

“We need more people in the Senate, not fewer, who are willing to put partisanship aside, listen to one another, and deliver results.”

Manchin’s appearance provides Collins with a prominent ally who can speak to her bipartisan credentials from his own experience working with her in the Senate. His support also offers a contrast with Jackson’s progressive backers as the race enters its final stretch following the candidates’ debates.

Jackson has received support from progressive figures including Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He is also scheduled to hold a town hall Thursday with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, adding another high-profile progressive appearance to his campaign.

The race highlights a central dispute in Collins’ reelection bid: whether voters view her cross-party negotiations and occasional breaks with Trump as evidence of independence, or believe her broader voting record aligns too closely with the president.