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Maine Governor Janet Mills is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
She was urged to run by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Democrats in Washington landed another high-profile recruit in the 2026 battle for the Senate majority, as two-term Maine Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday announced her candidacy in the race to take on longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
The long-anticipated campaign launch by the battle-tested 77-year-old Democratic governor is seen as a victory for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The top Democrat in the Senate urged Mills to run and sees her as the best candidate to defeat Collins, the only Republican senator up for re-election next year in a state the Democrats carried in the presidential election. A Collins defeat would be essential for the Democrats to have any chance of winning back the Senate majority.
But before she reaches the general election, Mills first has to navigate a likely competitive and potentially divisive primary among a crowded field of contenders that includes a much younger rising star on the left who’s backed by longtime progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
Bernie Sanders was not happy that Democrat leaders were urging Mills to run.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has endorsed Platner, wrote on X last week that it was “disappointing” that some party leaders were urging Mills to run, adding, “We need to focus on winning that seat & not waste millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary.”
Mills said she “had a chuckle” at Sanders’ comments. “I think Mr. Sanders is very familiar with primaries,” she said, nodding at his Democratic presidential bids in 2016 and 2020.
“Look, primaries are healthy for a democracy. I look forward to a robust and civil debate and discussion of the issues,” she said.
Mills did not commit to support Schumer as the next Democratic leader and said she has not given the question any thought.