{"id":2637328,"date":"2026-07-29T15:44:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/janet-mills-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson-but-plows-on-against-collins\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T15:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:47:04","slug":"janet-mills-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson-but-plows-on-against-collins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/janet-mills-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson-but-plows-on-against-collins\/","title":{"rendered":"Janet Mills stops short of endorsing Troy Jackson but plows on against Collins"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjanet-mills-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson-but-plows-on-against-collins%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2637328&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Maine Governor Janet mills has stopped short of endorsing Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson but has emphasized the need to defeat Republican Senator Susan Collins, whom she considers vulnerable. Mills criticized Collins for enabling abuses of power by President Donald Trump and held her responsible for Maine families&#8217; ongoing struggles, blaming the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president and logger, became the Democratic nominee after former candidate Graham Platner withdrew amid allegations of sexual assault. Although Mills has not officially endorsed Jackson, he has gained support from prominent Democrats like Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer, and Bernie Sanders, who believe he is well-positioned to win. Early polls show a competitive race between Jackson and Collins, with Jackson slightly leading.The election is viewed as highly consequential, with 100 days untill the midterms and several high-stakes primaries approaching.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) stopped short of endorsing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1964\">Democratic<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> nominee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/troy-jackson\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23248\">Troy Jackson<\/a>, instead emphasizing the need to defeat longtime Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME).<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe haven\u2019t spoken, but clearly Susan Collins is vulnerable, and she should be \u2014 she should be defeated,\u201d Mills said during an interview with <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wmtw.com\/article\/mills-calls-collins-vulnerable-but-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson\/73292374\">Maine\u2019s Total Coverage<\/a><\/em>  when asked whether she would back Jackson.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4667750\/janet-mills-cool-endorsement-troy-jackson-prominent-democrat-supporters\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Janet Mills keeps cool on endorsement of Troy Jackson<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4667656\/roy-cooper-inmate-early-release-advertisement\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Republican PAC rips into Roy Cooper for inmates\u2019 early release in $17 million advertising campaign<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4667675\/redistricting-democrats-uphill-battle-2026-map-report\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrats must win 57 out of 77 competitive House seats to take majority: Cook Political Report<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mills argued Collins has enabled abuses of power by President<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\"> Donald Trump<\/a> and said the senator faces a difficult reelection fight and \u201crightfully so.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNothing\u2019s gotten better for families in Maine. It\u2019s only getting worse,\u201d Mills said. \u201cAnd that lays at the doorstep of Senator Collins and the Republican majority in the United States Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When asked whether the Democratic Party\u2019s process for selecting Jackson could leave some voters feeling disenfranchised, Mills declined to directly answer, instead pivoting back to criticizing Collins and congressional Republicans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate president, became the Democratic nominee last weekend and now has roughly 100 days to mount a successful challenge to Collins in November.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although Mills has yet to endorse him, Jackson has quickly consolidated support from prominent Democrats. Former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"748\">Kamala Harris<\/a>, Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"384\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY), and Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5039\">Ro Khanna <\/a>(D-CA) have all backed his candidacy. Schumer said Jackson is \u201cwell-positioned\u201d to win the general election after harnessing \u201cgrassroots energy in Maine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson also earned endorsements from the Maine chapter of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-socialists-of-america\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5861\">Democratic Socialists of America <\/a>and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bernie-sanders\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"41\">Bernie Sanders <\/a>(I-VT), who had previously endorsed former Democratic candidate Graham Platner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4663743\/four-high-stakes-primaries-100-days-midterms\/\">THE FOUR MOST HIGH-STAKES PRIMARIES LEFT WITH 100 DAYS UNTIL MIDTERM ELECTIONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jackson announced his candidacy after Platner suspended his campaign following allegations of rape and sexual assault, which Platner has denied.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Collins maintains a clear fundraising advantage, early polling suggests the race could be competitive. A recent University of New Hampshire survey <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/scholars.unh.edu\/survey_center_polls\/981\/\">found<\/a> Jackson leading Collins 49% to 46%, with just 3% of voters undecided.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maine Gov. Mills stops short of endorsing Jackson, urges Collins defeat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2637329,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26156835372874.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[21510,54091,9148,5894,82490],"class_list":["post-2637328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-endorsements","tag-janet-mills","tag-maine","tag-politics","tag-troy-jackson"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26156835372874.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2637328"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2637331,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637328\/revisions\/2637331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2637329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2637328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2637328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2637328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}