ME-SEN: Janet Mills Considers Jumping Back Into Race

[RandySF]

A source close to Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) told CNN: “The Governor remains on the ballot, and in the wake of this week’s stories, people across Maine are reaching out to tell her they’re voting for her and encouraging her to get fully back into the race.”


https://politicalwire.com/2026/06/05/janet-mills-considers-jumping-back-into-race/

[Mossfern]

1. Now that Platner's been "muddied"

how convenient. The issue is - who is more likely to win against Collins?

[Nanjeanne]

2. Fuck me. If she had a chance of winning she should have campaigned. If she wins by jumping on this

story she will definitely lose the Senate race. Many of the people who are supporting Platner will see it as an opportunistic move and sit this one out. And vote blue no matter who would die by thousands of young enthusiastic voters since it obviously isn’t a mantra Mills can embrace.

[LisaL]

3. If she wins by jumping on this story that means

enough of the voters are concerned about this story.
It's a primary, you select the best candidate.

[Nanjeanne]

13. Yeah but in general the story is gone as well as enthusiasm. And many Dems will wither on the vine. Bad choice

[LisaL]

18. Story is gone?

How is that going to happen?

[Nanjeanne]

38. If he loses and Mills wins primary why would anyone keep the story alive?

[Boo1]

77. Bullshit

If he can't win the primary then how would he have ever won the general?

[Ziggy Beans]

25. You mean the right-wing hit piece

What the hell are we doing here people? Fuck.

[Scrivener7]

11. Yep. We need to stop putting up 79 year olds. No matter how much some here insist that 79 is younger than springtime.

[sheshe2]

72. Welp...

Bernie Sanders Files to Run for Reelection at 89 Years Old

https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-files-reelection-89-years-old-2018118

[Scrivener7]

75. Thank you for making my point.

[sheshe2]

76. You are very welcome!

[lostnfound]

81. Totally agree. Nt

[W_HAMILTON]

46. So if their candidate doesn't win, they will sit the election out?

Not the first time they've pulled that one, which makes it all the more comical that they are throwing the "we must defeat Collins!' argument in the face of loyal Democrats that would without a doubt support the eventual Democratic nominee, even if that nominee turned out to be the DEEPLY flawed Platner.

And if Platner can't beat a Democrat that didn't even campaign, he ain't gonna beat Collins, who will have the entire rightwing throwing everything at her opponent in the hopes of retaining the Senate for Republicans.

[LisaL]

56. Yep, coming from people

who have been arguing that we have to vote for a democrat no matter what, what are they worried about?

[MineralMan]

4. Oh, great. Once again, we're at risk of another six years of Collins.

Wonderful

[LisaL]

6. Seems to me we are at risk either way.

NT

[MineralMan]

8. Where do you vote, LisaL?

What candidates are you helping to win?



I live in Minnesota. We have an open Senate seat. I'm helping one of our Democratic candidates to win.

[LisaL]

15. I am in OH.

Our candidate is Sherrod Brown. And Amy Acton for Governor.

[mr715]

19. Brown is looking good.

And Acton is tied if I am not mistaken.

Ohio might make for a nice night come election day.

[LisaL]

21. It's OH so I am afraid to get my hopes up.

But of course I hope so.

[mr715]

27. I liked Sherrod Brown from the start

Something about his frumpiness and his 5-pack a day voice. He reminds me of my favorite professors.

He was right on policy like 100% of the time too.

[LisaL]

29. I like him too.

And of course Amy.

[mr715]

30. She is extremely impressive.

I know less about her, but I have a soft spot for scientists and teachers.

And, of course, she will hopefully humble Vivek.

[pat_k]

65. And Acton is up a point in a poll done for FOX

We need to win BOTH these races.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-democratic-unity-republican-crossovers-shape-ohio-senate-race

In the race for governor, Ohio voters are divided: half back Democrat Amy Acton (50%) and nearly half favor Republican Vivek Ramaswamy (49%). Fourteen percent who prefer Brown in the Senate race cross-party lines to support Ramaswamy.

Despite being done for FOX, the pollster, Beacon Research/Shaw & Company Research does qualify as an NYTimes selected pollster, so can perhaps be considered relatively reliable.

If you can, pitch in a few dollars for both candidates and help sweep the statewide offices!!

[Boo1]

79. Maybe they shouldn't have elevated a guy

like Planter before they vetted him.

[CivicGrief]

5. FFS!

That is all.

[sheshe2]

64. Interesting comment, Ars.

FFS-2!!! Now I understand...This is why people HATE the Dems!!!!

Which people HATE Democrats? I don't know any Dems that hate our party. There has been disappointment at the choices at times, happened with my rep last go around, though I did vote for him and will again if he is the only Democratic choice.

I don't hate Democrats at all.

[Ars Longa]

70. I wish to apologize to SheShe and all,and try to re-phrase my earlier thoughts. I do not hate the Dem Party...

Very far from it!! I should have said people don’t like the Dem party attacking its own.
…..,
GP’s personal stuff, while not Insignificant, is pretty back -burner In relation to S. Collins support of all Trumps
destruction of our country. And it has been addressed by GP and his wife.
I don’t live in Maine-so I’m just gonna trust those good folks make their own decisions!
Again, sorry for my earlier choice of words. thanks.. ( I deleted the earlier post)

[sheshe2]

71. Thank you, Ars.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. lol good lord

[LSparkle]

9. This is why even voters like me aren't happy with the Dems

Fucking purity tests and consultant-fueled catchphrases ... as the party drives away ANYONE who hasn’t aspired to public office since kindergarten! As Platner has said, anyone who has lived a NORMAL life is going to have skeletons in their closet. It’s how you handle them that matters and Platner has done an admirable job IMO.

Mills shouldn’t whip this vote. Let the chips fall where they will but don’t “get back in the race” now.

[Boo1]

80. So....Democrats aren't allowed to vote for the DEMOCRAT that they want?

That party, the party, the party!!!!


Is Mill wins this isn't because Planter is a bad candidate, not because the party did anything.

[Climate Crusader]

10. This will just come off as another Harris replacement of Biden scheme.

Dems will look weak and ineffective. Now it can only come down to if Maine voters believe Platner is honestly rehabilitated and worth a shot. No more "too clever by half" moves.

[LisaL]

12. If Maine voters believe Platner is rehabilitated, what is there to worry about, whether she jumps back into the race or

not?

[RandySF]

14. Mills is still on the ballot

Nobody has been nominated yet.

[LisaL]

16. I know, but she stopped campaigning.

Now apparently she is considering campaigning again.

[RandySF]

22. So?

[LisaL]

24. I am not sure where you are going with this line of questioning.

She is on the ballot, she stopped campaigning, now apparently she thinks of resuming campaigning. If Mayne voters are happy with Platner as their choice, what is there to worry about?

[RandySF]

26. Exactly

[Bettie]

67. Four days before the primary?

Not a long runway there.

[Easterncedar]

32. Four days to go?

This seems pointless

[mr715]

44. What is she going to do?

Release her zero ads?

Challenge Platner to a debate after the primary?

Host a fundraiser?

It is Friday, the election in Tuesday. This is some audacious stuff.

[LisaL]

61. Again, what is there to worry about?

If your candidate is in a strong position, that is.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

36. I think there's 2 other Dems besides Mills and Platner n/t

[RandySF]

39. Mills and Costello.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

40. So Mills, Costello, and Platner? n/t

[RandySF]

42. Yep

[Just_Vote_Dem]

43. Thanks. This just got really interesting! n/t

[Skittles]

20. yup

should not be any kind of worry at all

[FascismIsDeath]

17. She has been in the race for months, so no, nothing like that at all, not even a little.

[Boo1]

78. So is Maine voters SELECT Mills

it's rigged??


Planter fans are wild.

[mr715]

23. Jesus Christ

Run or don't!

Don't do this half assed 'Oh I'll do it but only if people ask nicely' shit.

She couldn't run a primary without being exhausted of resources. What is left for the general?

Who? Who is asking her? Is it her? Is she asking herself?

"A source close" reads to me like this is her.

Edit: Remember when John McCain pulled this shit because he was wanting for money and a message. Again, run or don't. No half measures.

[RandySF]

28. I'm sure the Platner campaign has nothing to worry about.

[LisaL]

33. Yep.

If the voters are confident in him, then he doesn't have a problem.

[mr715]

34. It won't hurt Platner

Just makes me think less of Gov. Mills.

[LisaL]

57. Well then you have nothing to worry about.

If he can't win against someone who barely campaigned, he sure isn't going to win against Collins.

[mr715]

58. Again, my disappointment is with Gov. Mills

Who I thought was a better politician than this.

The ranked choice thing cuts both ways. Where is her campaign apparatus? What is she expecting to happen over the course of 96 hours?

[QueerDuck]

31. Good.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

35. Interesting!

[LisaL]

41. My feelings exactly.

NT

[RandySF]

50. There is a provision for replacing a nominee in the Maine election code.

[questionseverything]

59. Soo even when he wins the primary you still won't stop?

[QueerDuck]

66. 😭

Good grief.

[ALBliberal]

45. She needs to back off. She was my first choice. But?

New Mexican here. She needs to back off.

[Llewlladdwr]

47. The question as I see it...

Are Maine Democrats smart enough to grab the life preserver or do they go ahead and drown?

I am not confident...

[lostincalifornia]

49. Isn't Maine a ranked choice voiting state?

[RandySF]

52. Yep

[lostincalifornia]

53. Thanks. I am not a fan of ranked choice voting, but in this case probably doesn't hurt anyone's

chances because of it.

[OAITW r.2.0]

62. I'm a big fan of RCV.

We, in Maine, passed this to insure that people like Paul LePage can't split the vote between Democrats and independents and win with a minority of voters.

I early voted for Mills, then Platner, then Costello.

[JBTaurus83]

51. Won't change anything

She ran a terrible campaign if you can call it that. One would think there had to be a better choice in the state than Mills or Platner, but, I don’t see him losing the primary at this point in the game.

[LisaL]

54. I guess we will find out soon enough.

NT

[Aviation Pro]

55. Don't

Be Stupid.

Your personal ambitions are fucking irrelevant, Mills.

[lostincalifornia]

60. Isn't that true for ANY politician? Since it is ranked choice voting, this shouldn't hurt anyone I would

think.

While I am not a fan of ranked choice voting, I thought Sanders and much of the progressive caucus were.

[Intractable]

82. The way I read it, her personal ambition was to retire, then Schumer talked her into running.

I've heard her speak. Like Schumer, she's neither energetic nor inspiring.

[democrank]

63. A personal observation in Downeast Maine....

First, I have no opinion on what would happen if Janet Mills jumped back into the race.

A friend lives in a small, poor fishing village Downeast. I spent the month of November with her and was astounded over the change I personally saw with political signs. Almost every Trump sign was gone in a 60+ mile radius. A year prior, this area….several small villages….was plastered with Trump signs, flags, bumper stickers and homemade billboards. During this trip I saw less than four Trump signs plus two signs supporting diversity. The Trump signs were replaced with pro-Platner signs.

I gained more clarity about the change in signs after having a very long conversation with a Maine lobsterman who, like his ancestors, had always lived there. It was a very sobering conversation and I’ll never forget it.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

68. I hope that she does get back in

[LisaL]

69. She is on the ballot.

So she never actually got out.

[sheshe2]

73. Oh, this uppity woman should sit down and zip it.

How dare she think that she is better than a man.

[krawhitham]

74. Good

[MineralMan]

83. We'll probably know who the nominee is sometime on Wednesday.

Then the voters in Maine will know who the Democratic candidate is in November. It will be interesting to see what happens on Wednesday, I think.

None of my business, though. I don't vote in Maine. In fact, it's one of only two states I have never set foot in. It and North Dakota. I could easily go to North Dakota, since I live in Minnesota, but I can't find a reason to do so. Maine, on the other hand is a long way from here. I was in Vermont, once, but somehow didn't go to Maine.

Maine voters will decide, not us.