Maine Governor Janet Mills withdrew from the Democratic U.S. Senate primary on Thursday, leaving oyster farmer Graham Platner as the unopposed nominee against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Mills cited insufficient fundraising after trailing Platner badly in polls ahead of the June 9 primary.
Governor Janet Mills ended her U.S. Senate bid, announcing her withdrawal due to a lack of financial resources despite recent attack ads targeting Platner's tattoos and past Reddit comments—efforts that failed to gain traction, mirroring unsuccessful attempts last fall. Public polls showed Platner leading her roughly 2-to-1, as reported in NPR analyses and The Surge newsletter on May 2, 2026. Recruited by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Mills struggled amid post-2024 Democratic trends favoring younger, more combative candidates less tied to establishment figures like Collins and Schumer.
Platner now faces a formidable incumbent in Sen. Susan Collins, who has not lost an election since her 1994 gubernatorial race and won reelection in 2020 by 9 points in a state Joe Biden carried by the same margin—despite trailing polls throughout that cycle. Current head-to-head polls favor Platner, though Collins retains a reputation for invincibility. NPR rates the race a Toss-Up, citing Platner's progressive stance and past controversies as potential vulnerabilities in one of the nation's oldest states.
This pre-primary consolidation marks a rare win for a non-establishment candidate over a sitting governor backed by party leadership. The Maine seat is pivotal for Democrats seeking Senate control to counter President Trump's agenda in a potentially favorable wave environment.
