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Maine Gov. Mills will announce challenge to Sen. Collins in key 2026 Senate contest, AP sources say
Janet Mills, Maine’s two-term governor, enters a crowded Democratic primary aiming to unseat Susan Collins, the last Republican senator in New England, backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
- Janet Mills, Maine's two-term Democratic governor, will run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Susan Collins in the 2026 election, according to sources on Friday.
- Mills' decision follows encouragement from national Democratic leaders, who saw her as the top candidate to unseat Collins and gain a critical seat for their uphill quest for a Senate majority.
- Mills, who began her trailblazing legal career in Maine in the 1970s and later served as attorney general, joins several Democrats already campaigning, including oyster farmer Graham Platner.
- Senator Bernie Sanders publicly supported Platner as “a great working class candidate…who will defeat Susan Collins” and criticized party leaders for pushing Mills to run.
- The race in Maine draws attention as it is the only 2026 Senate contest where a Republican incumbent defends a seat in a state won last year by Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
117 Articles
117 Articles
Lewiston Sun Journal
Susan Collins’ campaign responds to Janet Mills entering U.S. Senate race
National forecasters are now calling the U.S. Senate race a toss-up with the entrance of Maine's two-term Democratic governor, who also picked up an endorsement of EMILYs List, which supports pro-choice female candidates.
The friendly relationship between Janet Mills and Susan Collins will change
A version of this story was originally published in September. It has been updated. Two of Maine’s top politicians have known and respected each other for many years. That seemingly unremarkable fact about Gov. Janet Mills and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins has become notable. It also will change after the Democratic governor launches her campaign to unseat the Republican senator in an expected Tuesday move that could pave the way for the nation’s bigg…
Sun Newspapers
Democrat Mills to challenge Collins with for U.S. Senate
(The Center Square) — Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills is expected to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate with a challenge to Republican Sen. Susan Collins in next year's election.
NEW: Democrat Governor To Launch Senate Campaign
Maine Governor Janet Mills is expected to formally announce her candidacy for U.S. Senate early next week, according to multiple reports and a quickly deleted post from Mills herself. The term-limited governor will be seeking to unseat Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) in what projects to be one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 midterm election cycle. After Axios reported that Mills, 77, was planning to formally announce on Tuesda…
Maine Gov. Janet Mills to challenge Susan Collins for U.S. Senate seat
Maine Gov. Janet Mills is expected to launch a campaign on Tuesday to unseat longtime U.S. Susan Collins, R-ME, according to internal campaign documents and a now-deleted social media post.
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