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George Katilus IV is a 27-year-old resident of Portland.
Maine’s upcoming U.S. Senate election is a crucial election for Democrats hoping to reclaim power. The race has already drawn national attention as candidates jockey for the opportunity to unseat Sen. Susan Collins.
The perceived frontrunners, Susan Collins (72) and Janet Mills (77), are, in my estimation, too old to provide lasting leadership in our state. Instead of passing the torch, they continue to attempt endlessly to climb the ladder of power. I believe real leaders would be coaching the new generation of leadership and ensuring their experience is successfully shepherded forward.
Collins has been in the Senate for 28 years and, if reelected, would be nearly 80 years old by the end of her next term. I thought this was extreme until I learned Collins doesn’t even make the list for the top 25 longest tenures in the U.S. Senate (the longest being 51 years).
Unfortunately, the trend of either dying in office or being pushed out due to age has become prominent in U.S. politics. President Joe Biden failed to honor his stated position of being a “bridge” candidate and dropped out from his reelection just three months from election day. Sen. Dianne Feinstein died in office in 2023 after a public decline and missed legislative sessions. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed while holding a seat in 2020, indirectly abetting the fall of Roe v. Wade. These are just a few examples of politicians failing our democracy, continually refusing to relinquish power.
There are exceptions. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, despite being one of the oldest senators, has been actively building the future of progressive politics. He recently toured the country with U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on their “Fighting the Oligarchy Tour.” He’s worked closely with progressive candidates, endorsing and supporting newcomers like Graham Platner in Maine while bringing working-class hope to communities abandoned by establishment Democrats.
Sadly, most of our leaders are not acting with the same foresight.
Our current 77-year-old governor recently announced her run for the U.S. Senate. By the time she would finish her term as a junior U.S. senator, she would be 83 years old. She’s pledged to serve only a single term. Could we trust her to pass the baton when the time comes?
I believe Mills’ decision to run rather than leave the door open for new leadership represents yet another systemic failure of the Democratic Party. She is risking another Biden moment, while we deserve new candidates who will establish a new direction and build a lasting movement.
Mills and the Democratic Party would be better served, I believe, if her deep understanding of Maine politics and legal expertise were used to seed the party’s future, not endanger it.
