Maine Governor Janet Mills Announces Senate Bid, Setting Up Challenge to Susan Collins
AUGUSTA, Maine – Maine Governor Janet mills will challenge incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the 2025 U.S. Senate race, according to a campaign launch prematurely announced – and then deleted – from Mills’ X account Friday evening. The move comes as Mills is term-limited and unable to seek re-election as governor.
Mills’ expected entry into the Democratic primary field has been actively sought by party leaders who view Collins as vulnerable, citing her recent low approval ratings. A video briefly posted to Mills’ social media account stated she is “running to flip Maine’s seat blue” and accused Collins of prioritizing “special interests and Donald Trump.”
The governor’s public break with former President Donald Trump in 2019 – when she opposed his efforts to exclude transgender women and girls from female sports - brought her national attention. While Collins has a history of occasionally breaking with her party and Trump, the Democratic Senatorial Committee has designated the Maine Senate seat a priority target. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reportedly favors mills’ candidacy.
Collins secured a fifth term in 2020, defeating Democrat Sara Gideon by nearly 9 percentage points despite Gideon’s significant financial advantage – $62.9 million spent compared to Collins’ $29.6 million.
Mills will first need to win the Democratic primary, where she faces Graham Platner, an oyster farmer endorsed by Senator bernie Sanders; Jordan Wood, former vice president of End Citizens United; and brewery owner Dan Kleban.
