Table of Contents
- Mills Enters the Ring
- Who’s Challenging Mills in the Democratic Primary?
- Age, Experience, and Electability
- What’s at Stake: Collins’ Record Under Fire
- Grassroots vs. Establishment: A Party at a Crossroads
- Sources
Janet Mills Enters the Ring
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Maine Governor Janet Mills officially announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate, setting her sights on unseating Republican incumbent Susan Collins in what’s widely seen as Democrats’ best pickup opportunity in the 2026 midterm elections.
At 77, Mills — a two-term Democratic governor who is term-limited — called herself “battle tested” in a recent interview, citing her record of winning statewide in a politically divided state. “This is an urgent, unprecedented, dangerous moment in the country’s history,” Mills said, “and it demands more of every one of us, including me.”
Who’s Challenging Mills in the Democratic Primary?
Despite her stature, Mills won’t have a clear path to the general election. She’s entering a crowded and increasingly contentious Democratic primary that includes:
- Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer, military veteran, and political newcomer who’s raised $4 million in under two months and drawn endorsements from progressive groups like Leaders We Deserve and the College Democrats of America.
- Jordan Wood, a former congressional aide with $3 million in fundraising.
- Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, who has hinted he may drop out if Mills runs.
Platner, backed by Senator Bernie Sanders, has openly criticized the Democratic establishment and called Mills “very much of the party that has built the world we live in now.”
Age, Experience, and Electability
If elected, Mills would be sworn in at age 79 — making her the oldest first-time U.S. senator in American history. This fact looms large in a post-Biden political climate where voter concerns about age and cognitive fitness have intensified.
Yet Mills argues that her decades of experience — as Maine’s first female district attorney, attorney general, and governor — are precisely what the moment demands. “Defeating Susan Collins will be hard — the stakes are high, and we should leave nothing to chance,” she said.
Notably, Maine has the oldest median population of any U.S. state, which may blunt age-related criticisms that could resonate more strongly elsewhere.
What’s at Stake: Collins’ Record Under Fire
Mills didn’t mince words when discussing Collins’ recent Senate votes, particularly her support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary and Linda McMahon as Education Secretary.
“I’m trying to preserve health care, and this man she voted for, RFK Jr., is tearing that apart. While I’m building up education, the secretary she voted for is tearing it down.”
Collins, 72, is seeking her sixth Senate term and remains a rare Republican survivor in a state Joe Biden won by double digits in 2024. Despite trailing in polls before her 2020 re-election, she won comfortably — a testament to her enduring appeal among Maine moderates.
Grassroots vs. Establishment: A Party at a Crossroads
The Maine Senate primary is emerging as a microcosm of national Democratic tensions: older, establishment-aligned leaders versus a younger, progressive base demanding systemic change.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has aggressively recruited Mills, along with other seasoned candidates like Roy Cooper (NC) and Sherrod Brown (OH), to maximize 2026 pickup chances. But critics, including Sanders, warn this strategy could backfire.
“It’s disappointing that some Democratic leaders are urging Governor Mills to run,” Sanders wrote on X. “We should not waste millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary.”
Platner’s campaign claims over 9,200 volunteers and growing town hall attendance — signs that his anti-establishment message is finding traction.
Sources
The New York Times: “Gov. Janet Mills of Maine to Run for Senate, Aiming at Senator Susan Collins”
