Maine’s Gov. Janet Mills launches Senate bid against Collins, vows to ‘stand up to Trump’
Maine Gov. Janet Mills officially launched a 2026 Senate bid against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, releasing a campaign video vowing to “stand up to Trump,” citing a February clash over transgender‑athlete policy and criticizing Collins’ votes on budget and judicial matters that she says harmed health care and families. Her entry — after a briefly posted then deleted launch clip and donation link — sets up a crowded Democratic primary (including Graham Platner, Dan Kleban and Jordan Wood), drew support from leaders like Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and criticism from Sen. Bernie Sanders for creating a contested primary despite Platner’s early fundraising and endorsement.
Elections
Politics
📌 Key Facts
- Maine Gov. Janet Mills officially announced Tuesday she will run for the U.S. Senate in 2026 against Republican Sen. Susan Collins, saying she is "running to flip Maine’s Senate seat blue."
- Mills released a campaign launch video that was briefly posted on X and quickly deleted; the post had directed supporters to an ActBlue donation page that was also taken down, and NRSC staff and other commentators flagged the deleted post as evidence she was entering the race.
- In her launch video and statements Mills attacked Collins for recent votes and positions — including support for a July tax-and-spending bill Mills says cut food and health care aid for children and low-income Americans, and votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — arguing Collins "is helping" Trump and no longer reflects Maine’s senatorial legacy.
- Mills tied her campaign to a February face‑to‑face clash with President Trump over his executive order on transgender athletes, saying, "I’ll stand up to Trump, just as I did in February," and declaring, "I’ve never backed down from a bully and I never will… Donald Trump is ripping away health care… And Susan Collins is helping him."
- Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Mills to run and viewed her as the best Democratic candidate to defeat Collins; PBS/AP reporting framed Maine as the only 2026 GOP‑held Senate seat in a state carried by the Democratic ticket, noting Democrats need a net gain of four seats in 2026.
- Several Democrats are already in or preparing for the primary: Graham Platner (a military veteran and oyster farmer) is running and reported to have raised $3M+ early and has the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders — who criticized party leaders for urging Mills to run as an "unnecessary & divisive primary" — and other announced entrants include Dan Kleban and Jordan Wood.
- News coverage emphasized the stakes by comparing Collins’ electoral track record with Mills’ prior statewide margins and by invoking Maine’s senatorial legacy (Margaret Chase Smith, William Cohen, George Mitchell, Olympia Snowe) to argue for a change in representation.
📰 Sources (5)
Maine Democratic Gov. Mills plans to confront President Trump again with her campaign for Senate
New information:
- Mills ties her bid to a February face‑to‑face clash with President Trump over his executive order on transgender athletes, saying, “I’ll stand up to Trump, just as I did in February.”
- She attacks Collins for voting for the July tax-and-spending bill Mills says cut food and health care aid for children and low‑income Americans.
- Mills faults Collins for votes to confirm Brett Kavanaugh and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing Roe’s overturning and RFK Jr.’s public‑health stances.
- AP notes Democrats view Maine as the only 2026 GOP‑held Senate seat in a state carried by Kamala Harris; Democrats need a net gain of four seats.
- Mills invokes Maine’s senatorial legacy (Margaret Chase Smith, William Cohen, George Mitchell, Olympia Snowe) and argues Collins no longer reflects it.
Maine Gov Mills joins crowded Dem primary in race to challenge longtime GOP senator
New information:
- Fox names Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as having urged Mills to run and viewing her as the best candidate to defeat Collins.
- Includes Mills’ launch‑video framing of a February clash with President Trump over transgender sports policy, with Trump warning of withheld federal funding and Mills responding, “we’ll see you in court.”
- Adds verbatim launch‑day quote from Mills: “I’ve never backed down from a bully and I never will… Donald Trump is ripping away health care… And Susan Collins is helping him.”
- Notes additional Democratic primary entrants by name (Dan Kleban and Jordan Wood) beyond Graham Platner, and reiterates Platner’s early $3M+ fundraising and Sanders’ endorsement.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills kicks off Senate run in critical 2026 race
New information:
- Janet Mills officially announced Tuesday she will run for the U.S. Senate in 2026 against Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
- Mills released an announcement video with the quote: "I won't sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend the knee..."
- Sen. Bernie Sanders publicly backed Graham Platner in the Democratic primary and criticized party leaders for urging Mills to run, calling it an "unnecessary & divisive primary."
- Platner is described as a military veteran and oyster farmer already in the race.
- Article reiterates Collins’ electoral track record and Mills’ prior statewide margins to frame the stakes.
Democrat prematurely announces Senate campaign launch, but quickly deletes post
New information:
- Janet Mills briefly posted a Senate campaign launch video on X on Friday and then deleted it.
- The video directed supporters to an ActBlue donation page that was also taken down.
- In the video, Mills attacked Sen. Susan Collins and said she is “running to flip Maine’s Senate seat blue.”
- NRSC staff and other commentators flagged the deleted post as evidence Mills is entering the race.