Democratic Gov. Janet Mills of Maine is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in a June 9 primary, positioning herself against Republican Sen. Susan Collins in what Democrats consider a crucial race for control of the chamber. The governor, 78, faces Graham Platner, 41, a military veteran and oyster farmer, in the Democratic primary.
Mills has built a career of historic firsts in Maine: the state's first female district attorney, first female attorney general, and now its first female governor serving two terms. She argues this experience makes her the strongest candidate to defeat Collins, who has served in the Senate for decades by winning as a moderate in a blue state.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive supporters of Platner argue that Democrats need new leadership after the party's 2024 losses and say voters should elect someone who will serve multiple terms to build seniority in Washington. Sanders endorsed Platner, arguing the party needs a new direction.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren joined Platner at a recent rally, telling hundreds of attendees that the country needs major change. "He's been nowhere on these issues," Mills said of Platner regarding reproductive rights and gender equity, noting she co-founded the Maine Women's Lobby in the 1970s.
Some liberal voters have criticized Mills for opposing a voter referendum to create a red flag gun law in Maine, which ultimately passed. Others question whether her age, 78, makes her the right candidate at a time when Democrats have grown increasingly wary of older candidates following President Joe Biden's aborted run for a second term at 81.
What the Right Is Saying
Mills supporters say her decades of governmental experience and widespread name recognition give her an inherent advantage over Platner in both the primary and general election. Emily Cain, former Maine state lawmaker and former executive director of EMILY's List, which backs Mills, said voters will ultimately ask: "Who do you think has the best chance of beating Sen. Collins?"
The governor has been endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Her campaign argues that Platner's past controversies make him a riskier general election candidate against Collins.
Shelley Stevens, 51, who owns Fiddleheads Florist in Cape Elizabeth, said Mills' experience could benefit Maine's federal standing. "Janet Mills has a ton more experience at many levels of government and I think has the best chance to hopefully give Maine a little bit of a leg up," Stevens said.
What the Numbers Show
Platner entered the race last summer and has raised more money than Mills, flooding airwaves with advertisements. He has drawn larger crowds at rallies around the state compared to Mills' smaller, intimate gatherings in communities like Cape Elizabeth and South Portland.
Maine supported Democrat Kamala Harris for president over Donald Trump in 2024, but Collins has won re-election repeatedly by positioning herself as a moderate. Trump won the presidential vote in Maine's Republican-leaning 2nd Congressional District three consecutive times.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed Mills earlier this month. Mills has said she would serve only one term if elected to the Senate, while Platner argues voters should elect someone who will remain in office long enough to build seniority and influence over policymaking and federal funding.
The Bottom Line
The May 7 debate will be the first of five scheduled before the June 9 primary. Platner's past controversial online postings and a Nazi symbol tattoo he got while on military leave in Croatia, which he has since covered up, are expected to be focal points. Mills' opposition to Trump, while potentially helpful in much of Maine, could alienate rural voters where Trump won three straight times.
Polls show undecided Democratic primary voters remain torn between experience and generational change. "I think the governor has a path to victory," Cain said. "I think it's going to be up to her, her team and her supporters to get across that finish line." The outcome could determine whether Maine sends an established political figure or a newcomer to challenge Collins in November.