Oct 7, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Scoop: Mills poised to jump into Maine Senate race

Stephen Neukam

Maine Gov. Janet Mills is preparing as soon as next week to announce her campaign for the U.S. Senate, multiple sources told Axios — potentially in the middle of a government shutdown with no end in sight.

Why it matters: An announcement from Mills, a two-term popular governor, would mark another recruiting victory for Democratic leaders. But it also would set off another complicated Democratic primary pitting the party's establishment and progressive wings against each other.

Progressive upstart Graham Platner, an oyster farmer, is attracting enthusiastic crowds at his events and has raised more than $3 million since launching his campaign.
Mills' announcement, the sources said, would certainly come this month.
Two other Democrats are also in the race: Dan Kleban, the owner of the Maine Beer company, and Jordan Wood, a former congressional staffer.

The big picture: The Democratic primary in Maine is one of a number of contests where the party is set to battle out its differences between leadership and the grassroots.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has lobbied Mills to run for months: Party leaders think she has the name recognition and reputation needed to defeat long-time GOP incumbent Susan Collins.

Leaders also have their preferred candidates elsewhere, including in Michigan and Iowa. But the left is putting up a fight with alternatives.
Collins, who chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee, is Democrats' top Senate target in next year's midterms.

The bottom line: Prepare for a long and messy primary in a state where Democrats are primed for a pickup.

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Scoop: Mills poised to jump into Maine Senate race

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