Sanders publicly discourages Janet Mills run for Maine Senate seat
The article reports that Senator Bernie Sanders publicly discouraged Maine Governor Janet Mills from running for the U.S. Senate seat in maine. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sanders expressed his support for liberal oyster farmer candidate Graham platner, praising Platner as a strong working-class candidate capable of defeating incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins in the 2026 election. Sanders criticized Democratic leaders for perhaps encouraging Mills to enter the race,warning that this could lead to a costly and divisive primary. Mills, who is term-limited as governor, is reportedly preparing to announce her Senate candidacy soon. If she runs, she is expected to receive backing from top Senate Democrats like Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.Other Democratic candidates in the race include Dan Kleban and Jordan Wood. The primary is scheduled for June 9, 2026, followed by the general election on November 3, 2026.
Sanders publicly discourages Janet Mills run for Maine Senate seat
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) publicly urged Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) not to run for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat, taking to X on Thursday afternoon following reports of her expected candidacy announcement.
He wrote in continued support of liberal oyster farmer candidate Graham Platner, whose political outsider, working-class campaign has received national recognition.
“Graham Platner is a great working class candidate for Senate in Maine who will defeat Susan Collins,” Sanders wrote on X. “It’s disappointing that some Democratic leaders are urging Governor Mills to run. We need to focus on winning that seat & not waste millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary.”
Platner is one of several Democrats challenging incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in the 2026 Senate election. Reports surfaced yesterday that Mills, a term-limited governor, is expected to announce soon that she is jumping in the Senate race after originally brushing off a run in April.
If she declares a run for the Senate seat, Mills would likely have the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and prominent Senate Democratic leadership, according to Politico. She is in her second consecutive term as Maine’s governor after besting Republican challenger Paul LePage 55.7% to 42.4% in the 2022 gubernatorial election.
Sanders endorsed Platner in August, and the two have rallied together at one of the Vermont senator’s “Fight the Oligarchy” rallies. Platner, a Marine and Army combat veteran, raised $3.25 million in the first six weeks of his campaign, with an average donation amount of $31, according to his campaign.
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Dan Kleban, owner of Maine Beer Company, and Jordan Wood, ex-chief of staff to former Democratic California Rep. Katie Porter, are some of the other Democratic candidates who have attracted attention in the race to oust Collins. The primary election is set for June 9, 2026, with the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.
Mills’s gubernatorial office did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
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