Janet Mills, Governor of Maine, Suspends Senate Campaign

[demmiblue]

Source: NYT

Gov. Janet Mills of Maine, the Democratic establishment’s choice to run for the Senate seat long held by Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, suspended her campaign on Thursday, saying she no longer had the financial resources to compete against Graham Platner, a progressive political newcomer.

Her exit paves the way for Mr. Platner, an oysterman who has led her in polls, to become the Democratic nominee in one of the most important Senate races in the country.

“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else — the fight — to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” Ms. Mills said in a statement.

Her exit is a blow not only to the two-term sitting governor but also to Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and the Democratic Party establishment that he leads. Mr. Schumer, the minority leader, has for almost two decades chosen his party’s Senate candidates with little internal opposition.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/us/politics/janet-mills-drops-out-senate-race-platner-schumer.html

[bearsfootball516]

1. Any path to victory she had evaporated over the last couple months.

Multiple polls showed Platner 20-30 points ahead, she was basically spinning her wheels if she kept running.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. I was sad to hear this

Link to tweet

[MaineNative]

21. Her heart wasn't in it, and

She vetoed the proposed data center moratorium passed by the legislature, giving the go-ahead for construction on the site of the former North Jay paper mill. She got many very negative comments in the Portland Press Herald over that action.

I am female and was in the military and DOD for several years. I am not excusing Graham, but what he said was mild.

His talk with John Stewart is worth watching, especially the last 10 minutes, when John asks his young female associates to weigh in.

[PatrickforB]

50. Thank you for posting this. I wish this guy was running in Colorado because he seems like

the real deal. You know what I like the most? He is well informed!

[Multichromatic]

3. I just hope Platner isn't another Fetterman, Manchin, or Sinema

[Harker]

4. Those are going to hurt for a long time.

[niyad]

7. I would have thought his misogyny alone would have been a disqualifier.

[QueerDuck]

42. Yep.

For me... it was the "I had no idea for 17 years that it was a Nazi symbol, and nobody bothered to tell me or point it out, it was just a cool skull and crossbones that looked edgy" that was a dealbreaker. But... I hope he wins and I hope he doesn't disappoint. Mentally, I'm preparing for the worst. I can't stand any more disappointments.

[AllyCat]

8. I hear ya. I'm really annoyed with Dem "establishment", but Platner

is worrisome in my book. I like what he has to say on policies, but am concerned about his past.

Mills would be a solid Dem vote in most cases even if she is, IMO, a "right of center" Dem.

I guess we'll see.

[infullview]

33. I also worry about Platner being a ringer for the repukes

Look what happened with Fetterman

[KPN]

25. Seems like nothing is certain except uncertainty these days. We can only hope and only time will tell. But I do think

populism has a role to play in shaking things up and shaping our future, just as the Tea Party and MAGA have done.

I do hope Platner is genuine in what he says, but he could also be just smart enough to take advantage of a growing populist wave for selfish ends. We shall see I guess.

On the side of optimism, I view FDR as a populist of sorts. If my memory is right, he was able to accomplish all that he did in part because he tapped into populism. He made use of the power of the people at a time when economic inequities were at their worst by consistently pointing out and hammering on those inequities. He wasn't extreme. He wasn't a socialist, he wasn't a communist, but was able to tap into peoples' disdain for the uber-wealthy and get things done that were actually great for this country and the working class.

[Flatrat]

58. Is there any evidence that he might?

If you do any research on Platner hes pretty articulate and also consistent with his messaging.

Americans are tired of timid paleolithic democrats.

[irisblue]

5. Damn. Why is young talent so hard for the state & nat'l party so hard to nuture in so many states?

Ohio is an example sad to say

[rogue emissary]

10. Guns as well.

[niyad]

17. Sadly, so very true.

[reACTIONary]

28. If he wins at all...

... does he have a chance against Collins?

[2naSalit]

35. That is...

The eleventy million dollar question. All the other novices haven't been able to unseat her yet.

People invest too much in the polls and that could be our downfall.

I just relocated but if shit goes badly in November, I'll be looking for another country. I don't want to spend my final years in a country that can't fucking see its way to right the ship. My hard won rights are being stripped away and I'm not going to hang around while the rest are taken by a gang of pedophiles.

[Karma13612]

44. I'm 72 and hubby will be 79 in November

I wish he was agreeable to going back to England. He’s a British Citizen, here in the states, on a permanent resident green card. The problem is that it is frightfully expensive in the UK. And we do live very close to the vest. Just modest social security and very modest pension/401K.

But, if he gave the OK, I would jump in a heart beat.

Anyway, you aren’t alone, there are millions of people also wishing we could get the heck out of this insanity. I’m perpetually anxious, sad—> depressed if I’m honest. Super hyper vigilant, eating wrong, not living the calm life I dreamed of once I retired.

Don’t forget to breathe….

[slightlv]

51. We're just a little younger than you guys...

I just turned 70, and hubby just turned 74. He's heading quickly into dementia land, but even HE can retain what trump has done to us, and is especially p'o'd about the traitorous actions towards us women and POC. During t's first reign, I told him then we ought to be looking for another country to move to. But, like you, we live too close to the vest, and the move would probably kill us physically at this point. But damn... I dearly wish I could move.

Maybe we ought to take a hint from the hard core religious magas, and all of us gather together in one friendly state... and make a city of our own, with no maga allowed.

[Karma13612]

56. I'm in.....

Let me know which state and I’ll start packing!

We live in a red area of NY State (Elise Stefanik’s NY-21 Congressional district) in the summer months. In the winter, we rent a house in North Carolina. We get it so cheap that we save because if we were at home, we would be spending a fortune on the high electric and oil bills to heat our house all winter.

I do want to finally find a place we can live year round again. We just finished our 6th winter away. I am in love with this area in NC (Emerald Isle on the coast). But it is waaaaay out of our price range to actually live permanently. And it isn’t blue enuf for me to feel safe that we would be protected by the state government like we are in NY.

[slightlv]

59. You pointed out two basic elements to consider...

How blue is the state? Too blue and trump's sics his goons on the state (not that I wouldn't get up in their faces with everyone else!), and price range. Not blue enough and we're harassed and tormented all the time. I'm in the central Midwest. Prices for homes, etc., are pretty cheap... all things considering... but even they are skyrocketing now that trump has done all he can to rape our economy and enable is real estate buddies. And gentrification is all over everywhere. Jacking housing prices up to unaffordable for the common person. My daughter bought a house I advised against. It was over $300k; bought by one of the "We Buy Ugly Houses" LLC's. They did do some work on it, not that much on the outside... don't know about the inside... but I do know for a fact they only paid $25k for the house! This is rampant around here in my little town. Entire neighborhoods are being gentrified and put out of reach of the ordinary person.

One thing I've always thought would be cool would be to pull in with a bunch of people and put money down on an apartment complex or something like that. Have one major common area for everyone to gather as a community, and have a community kitchen. Plus, each month, everyone kicks in maybe $20 into a kitty help anyone who is in a huge bind. A community built on helping each other; tolerant of everyone but racists, rapists, and right wing religious nuts. I was never in a commune, they came and went before I was adult enough to check them out. But CoOp I always thought was a really cool idea. No rent for those who helped chip in and buy... there would be rules, of course. No doubt it would attract some who could fool some of the people some on the time. Or maybe at this age I've just become too cynical. After all, my favorite T-Shirt says "I Used to Be a People Person -- but People Ruined It." (LOL) I do get a lot of compliments when I wear that shirt, tho... so I think there's a lot of people out there hungry for *meaningful* community.

[Karma13612]

60. Love this idea!

All the safe blue states are too expensive. The beautiful southeast coast is red.

So frustrating.

Keep me in mind if you decide to try a community arrangement at some point!
What I would love is to get a piece of land where it is zoned for park model and tiny homes. Coop the cost of the land, and everyone is responsible for their own housing. Retired only. Set up a support system for getting to food stores and doctor’s appointments. We need to be close to them.

Basically it would need to be a VERY budget friendly version of a retirement community.

Just spit balling. We are 20 miles from food stores and doctors. We can’t live in our house too many more years before this becomes an issue. But a nicely placed park model home park near conveniences would be ideal.

[slightlv]

61. I never thought about the tiny homes angle...

what a really cool idea! Coop the land is right along my lines of thought. Damn... problem is not just *where* but getting the word out to enough people who would be serious about doing this. I hear you about the stores... our PCP is 45 minutes away. Pretty darn far when you consider our age... and the age of our cars!

[Fil1957]

9. She would have been a terrific candidate 20 or 30 years ago, but in this day and age not so much.

And on a related note, she's 78 years old! Why do so many politicians Democratic and Republican refuse to retire? Don't they have any hobbies or other interests in life besides politics?

[modrepub]

23. Thought The Same Thing

Guess the power and prestige of that position is enticing, especially if you’ve convinced yourself you’re the only one who can do it properly.

[2naSalit]

36. And how fucking old...

Is Bernie? And several others whom Democrats love?

Ageism should be a crime. I'll take age and experience over a novice with too many red flags.

[niyad]

39. EXACTLY!

[Karma13612]

46. It's a valid point, we shouldn't discount wisdom of the elderly

BUT:

Look at how we have gotten screwed over when our wise elders have died in office leaving us on the short end of the stick.

Trump got to replace Ginsberg because she wouldn’t step down under Obama. That has cost us dearly.

I’m 72, and getting forgetful. But, I know There are other examples as well.

The problem is that when an elderly person dies in office, it’s often a crap shoot on how they are replaced. Is it quickly? Does it lose us a critical vote in Congress? Do we lose out on a SCOTUS pick? Are they replaced with someone of the same party; is there a special election called? It’s disruptive, costly and can be avoided if we consider that at a certain point, it’s better to replace them thru new people running and the older ones retiring with dignity. No one says the elder has to live in a nursing home with no connection to politics. I say keep them on as consultants so we can get their wisdom.

It isn’t black-n-white. But, how many times must we get burned before we realize that it’s better to replace under controlled circumstances, than it is to deal with the upheaval that deaths in office causes.

[Cha]

57. lol.. Yes, and Sen Angus King. It's

okay for them but not for Gov Mills.

And, she's "Established".. So what. She has the qualifications and the Experience.

That word "establishment" got to be a dirty word, and it isn't. Just one of the buzzwords.

[LisaM]

11. This is too bad.

I don't know about Platner. I do not trust him at all.

[2naSalit]

37. Nor do I. ...nt

[Martin Eden]

12. How many years experience in elected office does Platner have?

Local, state, federal?

[dave99]

31. Zero

[niyad]

34. Zero.

[Skittles]

55. he's the flavor of the month

yup

[flashman13]

13. Mills forgot to mention that she has no money because she is getting killed in the polls.

I do have some reservations about Platner.

But, I think we must inject new life in the Democratic party and we need to nominate the candidate that has the best chance to win. That's Platner. I will send him a donation.

[reACTIONary]

30. That is my question...

... who has the best chance to win the seat? Can this guy beat Collins?

[thesquanderer]

14. "Schumer has for almost two decades chosen his party's Senate candidates with little internal opposition"

WTF? Democracy is an illusion.

[KPN]

29. I do think that is how younger generations starting with the millenials view democracy. I think that's why Bernie

Sanders had the appeal he did in 2016. The same can probably be said about Trump.

Populism takes hold when democracy is broken. Maybe that is what is going on?

[Easterncedar]

45. That quote is from the New York Times

It aint necessarily so.

[Simeon Salus]

15. Just listening to Jon Stewart's interview with Platner

I'm impressed. He's a Marine. He sails a fishing boat. He's forty-one!

[Simeon Salus]

16. here's the link

[Simeon Salus]

20. He is the Democratic candidate for Senate from Maine now. I support the Dem candidate.

Get behind him, vote for Collins, or sit this one out. Your call.

[2naSalit]

22. Yup...

My call, my vote. The primary starts in 10 days and I will vote as I see fit, thank you very much.

[chernabogg]

41. Your post breaks the following DU rule:

Do not post disrespectful nicknames, insults, or highly inflammatory attacks against any Democratic public figures. Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate, and do not compare any Democratic general election candidate unfavorably to their general election opponent(s).

[Miguelito Loveless]

19. Platner is going to be another

Fetterman/Sinema, mark my words.

[Zambero]

38. Less than ideal if that happens

Far better than the current situation, if it helps get to 51.

[SpankMe]

24. If Mills can't run, then I'll take anyone with a D in front of their name

We need bodies in the D collumn to get the majority in the Senate and rule the committees and control the agenda. Now is a time for strategic voting with less emphasis on issues. I have become a Fetterman detractor. But until he changes his party affiliation I'm willing to put up with him as long as we keep that precious D in our column.

[2naSalit]

27. I think...

Like all the other novices, he'll lose to concerned susan.

[sop]

26. Schumer immediately endorsed Platner:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said in a statement that he would support Platner’s bid to unseat Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. Schumer had initially recruited Mills to run:

“After years of allowing Trump’s abuses of power, Senator Collins has never been more vulnerable and we will work with the presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner to defeat her,” Schumer said in a joint statement with fellow New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who runs Senate Democrats’ campaign arm.

https://www.jta.org/2026/04/30/united-states/graham-platner-whose-maine-senate-run-has-concerned-jews-becomes-presumptive-dem-nominee-after-janet-mills-suspends-campaign

[aeromanKC]

32. Very good. She was my original choice since she's proven she can win state wide.

But the overall importance is for the Dems to rally around one candidate and WIN!!

Now if Porter could only do the same in California!!

[Akakoji]

40. Great news

Maine really does not want another older white woman as Senator. Nor do they want data centers or Trump prison camps.

[Easterncedar]

48. "Maine doesn't want another older white woman"

Is an offensive statement and a weak generalization. Maine is not a of one mind about anything, for a start.

[wolfie001]

43. Advocating for another polluting AI data center was the final nail in the coffin

Tone-deaf.

[Easterncedar]

47. It was more complicated than that.

The project in Jay should have been allowed as one exception to the moratorium, IMO. Mills took the political heat for a tough call.

[wolfie001]

53. She's a good person, yes

She mentioned the people working the project. Hard workers putting food on their tables. You're right. I hope Platner is the real deal and boy do we have a battle coming up in 6 months.

[Intractable]

49. "the Democratic establishment's choice to run for the Senate"

Well, since you put it that way ...

[-misanthroptimist]

52. This is good news for Democrats.

Platner leads Collins in every poll I can find. In almost all of them, he is leading by more than the MoE.

[link:Real Clear Politics|https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/maine/collins-vs-platner]

[link:270 to win|https://www.270towin.com/2026-senate-polls/maine]

[RetiredParatrooper]

54. Excellent

Rally up!

[Blasphemer]

62. Will never trust Platner but Maine doesn't seem to have many options. nt