Maine Senate Race Heats Up: Governor Janet Mills Eyes Challenge to Susan Collins
A potential blockbuster Senate race is brewing in Maine, as Governor Janet Mills is seriously considering a bid to unseat five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in 2026. This development comes after a surprising 2024 election result that saw Kamala Harris defeat Donald Trump.
Mills has publicly acknowledged her contemplation of a Senate run, stating she will announce her decision by mid-November. Her potential candidacy adds to a growing wave of prominent, re-elected Democrats exploring Senate bids, signaling renewed optimism for the party.
Nationally,former North carolina Governor Roy cooper has already announced his candidacy for an open Senate seat,following Senator Thom Tillis’s decision not to seek re-election. In ohio, former Senator Sherrod Brown is mounting a comeback bid after a narrow defeat in the previous election. While trump carried both North Carolina adn Ohio in the last presidential cycle, Maine presents a different landscape.
Mills boasts a strong record of success in statewide elections. Harris carried Maine by approximately 7 percentage points in 2024, and Mills herself secured a decisive re-election victory in 2022, defeating former Governor Paul LePage by a margin of around 13 percentage points.
Her profile rose nationally earlier this year following a tense exchange with Trump during a meeting of governors. Trump pressured mills to enact policies restricting transgender athletes, threatening to withhold federal funding. Mills responded defiantly, stating, “We’ll see you in court,” to which Trump retorted with a prediction of her political future.
Despite Maine’s consistent support for Democratic presidential candidates in the last nine elections,the state’s 2nd Congressional district – a largely rural area – has voted for Trump three times. Maine uniquely awards electoral votes by congressional district as well as to the overall state winner.
Senator Collins, first elected in 1996, has historically been a formidable opponent. She consistently won re-election by important margins until 2020,when she defeated Sara Gideon by 8.6 percentage points. Collins has cultivated an image as a bipartisan centrist,actively participating in cross-party negotiations,such as the 2009 healthcare discussions.
However, she has faced criticism for her perceived alignment with Trump, particularly her votes to confirm Supreme Court justices who ultimately overturned Roe v.Wade.
Should Mills enter the race, she will face a Democratic primary challenge from oyster farmer Graham Platner, Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban, and Jordan Wood, a former chief of staff.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has been actively involved in recruiting strong candidates, successfully persuading Sherrod Brown to remain in the Senate race. While Schumer has spoken with Mills about a potential run,he has not yet visited Maine this year. Cooper, the North carolina Governor, has been more directly involved, encouraging Mills to consider a Senate bid following his own proclamation.
