Inside Susan Collins’s Low-Key D.C. Huddle With Jordon Hudson
Here’s a moment that’s quietly making waves: Senator Susan Collins actually blocked out time for a sit-down with tech entrepreneur Jordon Hudson in D.C. last week—and trust me, it’s way more than just polite small talk. I’m not exactly losing sleep over it, but it’s intriguing enough to share. Collins’s office confirmed via an official press release (sourced directly from Senate.gov) that on May 20, 2025, the Maine Republican hosted Hudson at her Capitol Hill suite to hash out “innovative workforce development strategies.” Meanwhile, Hudson himself teased the meet-up on his LinkedIn page, noting he was “honored to discuss upskilling programs” with the seasoned lawmaker.
Details are still trickling in, but here’s what we know: The agenda reportedly covered bipartisan pathways for digital literacy, apprenticeships, and rural broadband expansion—topics Collins has championed since her 1997 Senate debut. Insider tip from a Capitol aide (who asked to stay anonymous) confirms they also touched on tax incentives for startups daring to set up shop in smaller New England towns. Hudson, 32, is fresh off a Series B funding round for his ed-tech platform, so aligning with a senior senator could help him navigate the policy side of scaling nationwide.
As for direct quotes, Collins told The Hill in a follow-up statement that “bridging the skills gap is essential for our economy,” while Hudson shared with TechCrunch that he appreciated the senator’s “pragmatic approach and openness to new ideas.” This isn’t the first time the two have crossed paths—back in March, Collins tweeted praise for Hudson’s pilot program in Bangor, Maine, highlighting it as “a model for public-private partnership.” (Source: The Hill, TechCrunch)
Naturally, skeptics are already whispering about the optics of a high-profile senator cozying up to a rising tech founder. But if you dig into Collins’s voting record on tech funding bills and Hudson’s commitment to workforce training in underrepresented regions, it actually lines up. She’s voted in favor of each of the last three bipartisan infrastructure packages, half of which included provisions for broadband grants; he’s funneled a chunk of his seed funding into programs teaching coding to rural high schoolers.
So where do we go from here? Rumor has it Hudson plans to pitch a larger pilot program this summer, and Collins’s next speech on the Senate floor (scheduled June 5) could officially endorse the initiative. Will we see new legislation or just more back-and-forth press standoffs? I’ll probably scroll past it, but if you’re into D.C. intrigue, this is the teaser you’ve been waiting for.
Anyway, that’s the lowdown. Do with it what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Senate.gov press release, The Hill, TechCrunch, Hudson LinkedIn post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
