In a move that could potentially tip the balance of power in the Senate, Democratic Governor of Maine, Janet Mills, has announced her intention to run for Senate.
She is setting her sights on the seat currently held by veteran Republican Senator Susan Collins. Mills, who is term-limited as governor, made her official declaration on Tuesday, following encouragement from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to join the race.
According to the Daily Caller, Mills, at 77 years old, enters the race with almost universal name recognition and the support of the Democratic Party's establishment wing. However, she faces a tough primary battle against several far-left contenders, including an oyster farmer endorsed by Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Mills' campaign had earlier mistakenly announced her candidacy in a now-deleted video and fundraising page.
In the video, Mills asked, Folks, do you want Democrats to take back the Senate? She then introduced herself, saying, Well, Im Gov. Janet Mills, and Im running to flip Maines Senate seat blue.
Despite Mills' established political presence, she faces competition from several political newcomers who argue they are better equipped to challenge Collins in the general election. Among these is Graham Platner, a 41-year-old Marine veteran and oyster farmer backed by Sanders, who is rallying support from the party's left wing. Jordan Wood, a 36-year-old former congressional aide to now-Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter, has also pledged to remain in the race.
Platner is seen as Mills' strongest challenger, thanks to endorsements from the party's left, including former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna, and grassroots enthusiasm. The contest between Mills and Platner could expose Democratic divisions over generational change and support for Israel, two issues currently causing turbulence within the party.
Sanders has urged Mills to withdraw from the race, arguing that the primary clash between Platner and the governor would be unnecessary & divisive. Platner's campaign has also received an endorsement from Leaders We Deserve, a group advocating for younger, more progressive Democrats, founded by 25-year-old activist David Hogg.
Platner has centered his campaign on anti-Israel messaging, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing genocide in Gaza. He has also declined to back Schumer as Democratic leader. Platner's campaign raised $3.2 million in the third fundraising quarter, as reported by Axios.
The victor of the Democratic primary may face an uphill battle against Collins, who has demonstrated her ability to win close races over her five Senate terms. Collins won the 2020 election by almost nine percentage points, even as President Donald Trump lost the state by the same margin. Collins is the only Republican incumbent representing a state won by former Vice President Kamala Harris in the last election.
Despite Collins' track record, Democratic groups are expected to invest heavily in the race, as winning in Maine is likely crucial to retaking Senate control. However, Mills may face scrutiny over her age during the primary contest. If elected to the Senate in 2026, she would be the oldest freshman senator in U.S. history.
Former Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild, who lost reelection in 2024, wrote on X, Janet Mills is ten years older than I am, and now Im wondering why I decided not to run for Congress again next year because I didnt want to be part of the aging problem in Congress.
Despite these concerns, Mills has highlighted her clash with the president over transgender policies in education and sports as evidence of her willingness to challenge Trump and congressional Republicans. She has so far rejected the Trump administrations interpretation of Title IX, which prohibits biological males from competing on girls and womens sports teams in school athletic programs.
In her campaign announcement video, Mills stated, We stood up to Trump and stopped him from cutting the school lunch program for Maine kids, referring to the Trump administrations threats to withhold federal funding due to the states transgender policies.
National Republican groups are likely to focus on Mills' age and her left-leaning record as governor in their efforts to reelect Collins. Collins has not officially declared her candidacy for a sixth term but has indicated her intention to seek reelection.
National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Joanna Rodriguez criticized Mills, saying, Janet Mills wants to be the oldest freshman Senator in American history after a record of failure that turned Maine into one of the weakest economies in New England.
Senate Leadership Fund executive director Alex Latcham praised Collins, stating, The only thing Mills has gotten right in her career is praising Senator Susan Collins effective and proven leadership. So while Democrats fight among themselves, Senator Collins will keep doing what shes always done delivering for Maine families.
Before her tenure as Maine's first female governor, Mills served as a state lawmaker and state attorney general. As the race heats up, the conservative values of limited government and individual freedom will be at the forefront, with Collins' proven leadership and Mills' progressive agenda set to clash in the battle for Maine's Senate seat.
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