Maine’s Democratic senatorial primary is revealing a potential split in the party between the established Democrats who urged Gov. Janet Mills (D-Maine) to run and prominent left-wing voices and younger voters who prefer the radical but untested Graham Platner.
[RELATED: Mainstream Media Fawn Over Mills’ Candidacy, Pointedly Ignore Rocky Rollout of Her Senate Campaign…]
“Governor Mills just announced her bid for the US Senate in Maine after being urged by Senator Schumer, putting her up against @grahamformaine. You best believe we are not endorsing someone that’s taking political advice from Chuck Schumer right now,” said Sohali Vaddula, Vice President of the College Democrats of America.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) encouraged Gov. Mills, 77, to run, and she has continued to receive support from the Democratic establishment since formally announcing her campaign on Tuesday.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) recently submitted a Federal Election Commission (FEC) filing creating the joint Maine Senate Victory 2026 fund with Mills for Maine, showing that the establishment organization intends to help Mills win over the more radical Platner.
While Mills’ age could prove an issue against the 72-year-old five-term incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Platner’s more radical persona could pose a challenge for voters who have historically preferred Sen. Collins’ moderate centrism.
Nevertheless, a number of younger Democrat political groups, including Gen-Z for Change, Voters of Tomorrow, Youth Save Democracy, and College Democrats of America, all threw their weight behind the newbie Platner on the day Mills announced her candidacy.
David Hogg, a young Democrat who rose to prominence as a gun-control activist and who served a brief term as co-vice president of the Democratic National Committee, expressed his support for Platner as a younger candidate he believes can appeal to the young male voters that Democrats desperately need.
“Proud to join some of the largest Dem youth orgs and endorse @grahamformaine. After our loss in 2024, conversations have rightly centered on age, loss of young men/working class, and the growing disillusionment of young voters. Graham is the kind of candidate we need,” said Hogg.
Democratic political strategist Bhavik Lathia questioned his party’s establishment for supporting Mills over Platner.
“If the goal is flipping a winnable Senate seat in a populist backlash moment, and you’re the establishment insider without the edge, what are you doing?” asked Lathia.
Even Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed his disappointment that Sen. Schumer would push Mills to run, in a post made before her official announcement.
“Graham Platner is a great working class candidate for Senate in Maine who will defeat Susan Collins. 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,” said the socialist senator.
Despite the establishment’s support for Mills, Platner continues to pose a threat to the governor and has managed to raise $500,000 and sign up an additional 1,022 volunteers just one day after Mills announced her run, leaving him with $4.9 million to work with.
The rift apparently forming among Democrats over Platner and Mills could prove beneficial for Collins if the left-wing candidates expend their resources on a contentious primary battle.
