In a series of breathless reports over the past twenty-four hours, national news outlets ranging from Punchbowl News to the Associated Press have reported with confidence that Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) will indeed announce her challenge to U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) this coming Tuesday, permitting the good people of the Pine Tree State one more weekend of nail-baiting suspense.
According to Punchbowl, Gov. Mills, 77, has been telephoning Democrat senators to let them know that the ongoing pressure campaign by their minority leader, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has finally paid off, and she will now commit her full stamina and energy to trying to defeat the last New England Republican who, in her nearly three decades in the senate, has been more willing than others to cross the aisle and work with them on legislation.
For months, Mills has been teasing out the prospect of seeking her party’s nomination. First, early this summer, she told legacy press she wasn’t saying no to requests from national Democrat leaders. Then in late August she said she’d reach her final decision by fall. Now, as the Indian Summer gave way to falling temperatures on Thursday, it seems, the waiting game was coming to a climactic end.
On Friday morning, the AP reported that Gov. Mills “will run,” citing two sources “familiar with Mills’ plans.”
A poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire in June showed 51 percent of Mainers holding a favorable view of their term-limited governor and 55 percent approving of the job Mills has been doing. In her last statewide election in 2022, Mills bested former Gov. Paul LePage by a double-digit margin. Against Collins; however, she would face an arguably less polarizing opponent.
This “give them the weekend to get excited about it” launch strategy parallels that of Cape Elizabeth healthcare entrepreneur Jonathan Bush who late last week said he’d make a major announcement this Wednesday, when he publicly declared his gubernatorial campaign.
When she declares this Tuesday, Mills will not be the only Democrat in the race. She will join left-leaning Sullivan oysterman Graham Platner, 41, whose campaign launch in late August also garnered positive attention from national media and the early endorsement of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who campaigned for him in Portland last month. Platner’s town hall meetings up and down the coast have been drawing relatively large crowds of progressive voters. He has raised over $2 million to date.
Former chief-of-staff to U.S. Representative – and California gubernatorial candidate – Katie Porter (D-CA), Jordan Wood also raised over $1 million for his bid for the Democrat nomination. On Wednesday evening, network television aired a remarkable interview with Wood’s former boss, Porter, who laughed when a reporter asked if her how she would reach out to the 40 percent of Californians who vote Republican and then angrily concluded the interview for being apparently hostile.
Interestingly, both Platner and Wood also announced their candidacies via the national media. Why, after all, bother with the hometown team if they’re already in your pocket?
At least two other, lesser known Democrats, are also running for their party’s nod in next June’s primary.
