Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that she is running for the Senate, pitching herself as the Democratic Party's best chance to beat Republican Sen. Susan Collins next fall — and saying she does not plan to serve more than one term.
"I’ve won two statewide offices, and unlike other people in the primary right now, I’ve actually won public office, won elections," Mills said in an interview ahead of her launch.
"And I’ve stood up to Donald Trump, and I have delivered progress for Maine people when it comes to health care, clean energy, public health, education. And I’m willing to fight for that in the U.S. Senate," she said.
Mills is a top recruit for Senate Democrats, and she said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., encouraged her to run. But she will face a fight for her party's nomination, with multiple candidates already in the race and making their own pitches for why they are best suited to defeat Collins, the only Republican senator from a state Kamala Harris won last year.
At least two of those Democratic candidates — oyster farmer and military veteran Graham Platner and former congressional aide Jordan Wood — have pledged to remain in the race even if Mills launches a campaign. But brewery co-founder Dan Kleban announced Tuesday that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Mills, calling her "the right leader for this moment."
Still, the contested primary also comes at a tense moment for the party, with some Democrats calling for a new generation of leaders as they grapple with their defeat in the 2024 election. Mills, 77, acknowledged "age is a consideration."
"Honestly, I would not plan to serve for more than one term," she said. "But this time is vital, and this moment in our history is urgent and very troublesome. And I believe I’m the most qualified person for the seat, for the campaign, because I have run two statewide elections, and I have the energy and the wherewithal to do it."
"It’s urgent that I take this on," Mills added later. "I don’t think I could live with myself if I did not do this."
Primary fight ahead
Mills has been considering a Senate campaign for months, and some Democrats have touted her as a strong contender given her record in statewide races. She was elected as the state’s first female governor in 2018 by 7 points, and she won re-election in 2022 by 13 points. She could not run for governor again because of term limits.
Mills said in April that she was “not planning to run for another office,” but she told NBC News ahead of her launch that the Trump administration’s actions, and Congress’ unwillingness push back, spurred her to run.
“People extremely upset about the threats to democracy, the threats to our economy, threats to health care, education, climate action, clean energy, public health, etc.,” Mills said, adding later, “People are fed up, and so am I.”
The Maine race will be key to next year’s battle for Senate control, with Republicans defending a 53-47 majority. Collins is a top Democratic target — but she has proven tough to defeat in the past.
Collins won a fifth term in 2020 by 9 points, even as Trump lost the state by the same margin. Last year, Trump lost Maine by 7 points.
Mills said Schumer encouraged her to run when they met for the first time this year. But she focused on the encouragement she has received from Mainers.
"I expect the Maine people will have their voice heard, not the powers that be in Washington," she said.
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.
"Nobody in Maine has asked me that question. And nobody seems to be concerned about that. Look, I don’t know who’s running, who’ll be running next year, a year, more than a year from now," she said.
Platner has already chided Mills for her relationship with Collins, who has represented Maine in the Senate for nearly 30 years. Asked recently whether Collins has done enough to push back against some Trump administration policies, Mills told NBC affiliate WCSH of Portland: “She’s in a tough position. I appreciate everything she is doing.”
Platner responded with a one-line statement: “I do not appreciate everything that Susan Collins is doing.”
Mills told NBC News that her comments about Collins were "on the fly."
"We have a good working relationship, and I think people expect us to do that. But that doesn’t mean I agree with all of her votes and positions, not at all," Mills said.
She pointed to Collins' vote to advance Trump's sweeping tax cut and spending law known as the "big, beautiful bill" (Collins ultimately voted against final passage), as well as Collins' votes to confirm Trump Cabinet officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Education Secretary Linda McMahon, in addition to his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
Platner could be one of Mills' top primary rivals on the left, backing progressive policies like "Medicare for All." The Platner campaign announced last week that it had raised more than $4 million since he entered the race in mid-August. Wood's campaign said it has raised more than $3 million since he launched in April.
On Tuesday, a coalition of Democratic youth groups announced they were endorsing Platner, including College Democrats of America, Voters of Tomorrow, Gen-Z for Change, Youth Save Democracy and Leaders We Deserve, a group led by former Democratic National Committee vice chair David Hogg.
“After our historic loss in the 2024 election, conversations within the Democratic Party have rightly centered on age, the loss of young men, the working class, and the growing disillusionment of young voters," Hogg said in a statement. "As our party charts a path forward, Graham Platner represents not the entire solution, but a vital step in the right direction."
Mills makes her case
Mills, though, believes she is the best candidate to take on Trump and Collins.
"Five or six guys in the race, none of them has won an election," Mills said of her primary opponents. "And I’m the only one in this race who stood up to Donald Trump. I’m the only one in this race who’s delivered for Maine people."
Mills suggested Collins has not done enough to combat the Trump administration.
"We have to stand up to the bullies in this administration and to Donald Trump. And I don’t see the Congress doing that, neither party in a sense. And I don’t see Susan Collins doing that. It’s hurting Maine people," she said.
Mills touted her clash with Trump this year as he sought to deny states federal funds over policies that allow transgender women to compete in women’s sports. At a meeting with other governors at the White House, she told Trump, “See you in court.”
The Trump administration ultimately settled a lawsuit with Maine over threats to freeze federal funds for child nutrition programs.
"We have fought back and we’ve won," Mills told NBC News, echoing a line from her campaign launch video.
Mills, a former state attorney general, said Trump's comments that "we are the federal law" were "jaw-dropping."
"He didn’t want to discuss transgender sports. He wanted to stand there and tell me that he is the law, whatever the issue was," Mills said. "And that was a jaw-dropping moment. My God. And as a lawyer and as an American citizen, I could not let that statement stand."
Mills said the issue of transgender athletes' playing women's sports is "worthy of debate," noting that her two granddaughters play sports.
"I understand those with some concerns about equity and safety. On the other hand, my late husband was a coach, and I saw every day how sports opens up worlds of opportunities for kids and gives them confidence and teaches them teamwork. And I really don’t want to deprive any child of those opportunities, especially children who are vulnerable or picked on," she said. "But I don’t think we should be targeting children, and we shouldn’t be using them as political pawns. We should treat all people, all kids, with dignity and respect."
Republicans, meanwhile, are confident that Collins will ultimately prevail, regardless of who wins the Democratic primary.
“Maine Democrats are locked in a bruising fight between Chuck Schumer’s out-of-touch establishment and Bernie Sanders’ far-left radicals,” National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Joanna Rodriguez said in a statement.
“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," Rodriguez added. "No matter which Democrat emerges, we’re confident Mainers will continue to trust independent problem solver Susan Collins to keep delivering for them.”
