Politics
Our political journalists are based in the Maine State House and have deep source networks across the partisan spectrum in communities all over the state. Their coverage aims to cut through major debates and probe how officials make decisions. Read more Politics coverage here.
By not making an explicit decision on running for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Janet Mills is causing several Democrats to hold off on deciding whether or not to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in 2026.
The Democratic governor termed out of office next year has seen her national profile rise since her “see you in court” remark to President Donald Trump during a verbal clash in February at the White House over Maine’s transgender student-athlete policies that led to Trump targeting the state. National Democrats have spoken with Mills about challenging Collins, the Republican seeking a sixth term.
At 77, Mills is five years older than Collins but remains Maine’s only Democrat with a proven record of winning statewide elections. Mills is a centrist compared with her party in Augusta. Yet her standing up to Trump also burnished support among liberals eager to unseat Collins, whose voting record puts her in the middle of the Senate while she has also gotten headlines for voting against Trump policies that still had enough Republican support to pass.
But the governor’s hemming and hawing has chilled up the rest of the Democratic field that currently includes Jordan Wood as its best-organized candidate while past Senate candidate David Costello and others are longshots. While the election is still 15 months away, any not-so-established candidate will need time to ramp up a campaign worthy of beating Collins.
Mills did not respond to a request for comment sent to her personal email address and shared with her spokespeople in the governor’s office. Potential contenders in Mills’ party complimented her while also saying her ultimate decision could affect theirs on running.
House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, D-Biddeford, said in a statement the governor’s “track record of public service … would make her a great choice to be Maine’s next U.S. senator.”
“If she decides not to run, I would need to consider whether or not Maine is ready for a new voice, representing a new generation to fight the deeply broken establishment that is stealing the American Dream from hard working Mainers and their families,” Fecteau, 32, said.
Another rumored candidate, former state Sen. Cathy Breen, D-Falmouth, quit her lobbying role with Maine Conservation Voters following the end of this year’s session in Augusta. Breen has not responded to requests for comment on her latest plans. Maine Beer Company cofounder Dan Kleban had no comment Friday via a person assisting him as he mulls a bid.
The Maine Democratic Party and national campaign arm for Senate Democrats both said there is more time for additional candidates to join the field and expressed confidence in the race.
“I think we’re going to have a very strong campaign against an increasingly weak incumbent,” Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman said, alluding to the low approval marks for Collins in polling this year.
National Republicans are firmly behind Collins, even when she votes against parts of Trump’s agenda, and they have been criticizing Mills to test certain messages on voters, even without a decision from the governor on running in 2026.
National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesperson Joanna Rodriguez said Mills is “going to have to be held accountable for her record in Maine” and that Collins has been a “tireless champion” for people here.
Wood, a 35-year-old Bristol resident and activist who served as chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-California, raised more than $1.6 million in his first few months on the trail, while Collins raised $2.4 million and closed the quarter with more than $5 million on hand. Wood has held four town halls so far as part of a pledge to hold forums in all 16 counties.
His fifth town hall was set for Monday evening in the York County village of Cape Porpoise. Wood focused on his campaign in response to questions about Mills and the rest of the field.
“This is a time for courage, not calculation,” Wood said. “Mainers have seen too much of that from Susan Collins.”
