General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBREAKING: The Democratic Governor of Maine just announced her campaign to defeat Susan Collins. This is huge.
This is great news. Governor Mills is very electable
Link to tweet

eShirl
(19,786 posts)Vinca
(52,844 posts)My only thought on this is when the Democratic vote matters - November 2026 - all Democrats support whoever wins the primary. No stay-at-homes, no third parties, no hissy fits because "your" candidate isn't on the ballot.
temporary311
(958 posts)but given the issues we've had with aged politicians the last few years, I'm not sure sending a soon-to-be octogenarian is the best idea. Certainly not when there are other good candidates who aren't a decade+ past retirement age.
dsc
(53,192 posts)and I would be fine with her.
Cha
(315,016 posts)Re Elected Sen Angus King last year who is 81.
The Race "Turned to Toss Up from Leans gop when she entered.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)Mills is clearly more electable than any other candidate
Maine Gov. Janet Millsâ entrance into the Senate race on Tuesday marks a significant escalation in political firepower aimed at longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins. We are moving the contest from Lean R -> Toss Up.
— The Cook Political Report (@cookpolitical.com) 2025-10-14T13:38:17.516Z
https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/maine-senate/maine-senate-race-moves-toss-mills-entrance
Mills, of course, does not have a clear path to the nomination, and there is no guarantee that she will win it. But she is a top-tier recruit in a field that currently lacks a well-known or well-established candidate. And while Collins has defied electoral expectations for decades, the political environment today is more polarized than ever, which makes Collins ability to effectively straddle partisan lines more challenging.
As such, we are moving the contest from Lean Republican to Toss Up.
There are several other Democrats in the race, but oyster farmer and first-time political candidate Graham Platner appears to be Mills most serious
eShirl
(19,786 posts)Just in case there's other good ones too.
EdmondDantes_
(1,013 posts)There should be a primary.
JustAnotherGen
(37,254 posts)Let the Democratic Candidates make their argument to the party voters in Maine.
muriel_volestrangler
(104,989 posts)(including 30% that strongly disapprove) and a 47-43 favorability rating (including 29%
that have a very unfavorable view of her). She has a 40-51 approval rating among
independents.
3) Less than half of voters have heard of Graham Platner. Platner has a 21-9
favorability rating, with 15% saying they are neutral toward him, and 55% saying they
dont know enough about him to form an opinion. About three-in-four are unfamiliar with
two other Democratic candidates (74% for Jordan Wood and 79% for Dan Kleban).
4) In the initial ballot, Platner and Collins start out tied, and Mills holds a 5-point lead
over Collins. In the initial ballot test, Mills leads Collins 42% to 37%, while Platner and
Collins are tied at 38%. Collins has about the same share of the vote against both
candidates.
5) After respondents see short biographies for both Democratic candidates, Platner
leads Collins by 14 points, and Mills leads Collins by 8 points. Post-bios, Platner
leads Collins 48-34, a net gain of 14 points from the initial ballot, and Mills leads Collins
44-36, a net gain of 3 points from the initial ballot.
https://perfectunion.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/More-Perfect-Union_-Maine-Senate-General-Election-Benchmark-Poll.pdf
leftstreet
(37,592 posts)JustAnotherGen
(37,254 posts)84 or 85. That asshole Grassley is in his 90's and wants to run again.
leftstreet
(37,592 posts)Bernie and Grassley aren't running to turn a seat blue, and keep it blue, in Maine
She'd be 84 starting her reelection campaign
QueerDuck
(216 posts)under any other "normal" circumstances. We need warm-bodies NOW in the Senate, we need our numbers up NOW. It makes little sense to me to not pursue the obvious easy advantages that we get by shifting the balance of power in the Senate rather than dismissing her as a one-term "placeholder" Senator who's not worth considering or supporting, based on the belief that someone "better" and "younger" might come along who could hold the seat for more years.
I'm very happy to hear this news.
leftstreet
(37,592 posts)QueerDuck
(216 posts)A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. This is a bird in the hand... let's keep it. Let's do all we can re-establish a Senate majority NOW... we can worry about who's "too old" to run for reelection later.
leftstreet
(37,592 posts)JustAnotherGen
(37,254 posts)We won't be returning to the Status Quo when this regime falls.
QueerDuck
(216 posts)and right now, we are NOT in the majority. We need to be, so that's the priority.
JustAnotherGen
(37,254 posts)I'll leave it up to the people of Maine. We can't assume that our country is going to look anything like it did January 19, 2025 in 6 months - or 6 years.
I'm already in a place of the Electoral Rules are no longer in place. Then again - I've lived in NJ for 20 years and I've picked up that 'anything can happen' optimism.
W_HAMILTON
(9,683 posts)QueerDuck
(216 posts)no matter how much it harms the party or the country... all in the name of purity... and virtue signaling.
Torchlight
(5,890 posts)meadowlander
(5,008 posts)PuraVidaDreamin
(4,375 posts)rzemanfl
(30,895 posts)leftstreet
(37,592 posts)There is no prejudice or stereotyping here in terms of her mental fitness or abilities
The issue is longevity and duration of service
Good grief
sheshe2
(94,353 posts)TY.
JustAnotherGen
(37,254 posts)Primaries are healthy -
To - But she's 'so old'. Over it. It's almost like people don't want to win:
Then Dominate.
Then RULE.
leftstreet
(37,592 posts)How are the octogenarians in Democratic leadership DOMINATING and RULING ?
Bless Schumer and Pelosi's hearts, but their world of polite, professional, pragmatic negotiating with a like-minded Republican party is OVER
Trump and MAGA have brought us extreme partisanship and the need to motivate dwindling voter bases
Times have changed
JustAnotherGen
(37,254 posts)And it will probably go FAR beyond what you want in terms of change.
Like most Black women I know? I'm sitting and sipping tea with my girls and enjoying it all being BURNED down.
This way we can re-make America in our image and beliefs. Amerikkka is dead -
A new day is coming. Mark me on that.
whathehell
(30,286 posts)That said, I'm curious as to what constitutes "all" of what you're enjoying "being burned down".
sheshe2
(94,353 posts)Women are known to outlive men on average.
gulliver
(13,558 posts)We need seats. We need to win elections. If there are younger candidates who want to get somewhere, they need to make themselves electable.
Ars Longa
(313 posts)and then Mainer's will decide.
However,IMO she is in for a much tougher primary fight with Graham Platner
than she and the DSCC think! I hope all can come together afterwards.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)Meiselas: What do you say to people who say while Governor Mills has been a great governor, sheâs 77 years old, and we need younger leadership?
— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) 2025-10-14T15:30:35.908Z
Mills: Itâs a fair point⦠But I donât think I could live with myself if I didnât do everything I can to reverse whatâs going on in Washington
betsuni
(28,444 posts)Assumption (never give the benefit of the doubt, jump right in) that Olds are establishment centrists clinging to ego-power-money while Youngs have exciting new ideas no Democrat has ever thought of before, like universal health care and higher wages and more equality (excuse me for a moment,
).
AZProgressive
(29,748 posts)Instead they push "strengthening Obamacare" as a counter to universal health care but when the ACA was first passed we were told that it was a stepping stone to medical for all that we could improve on it later.
What is wrong with Graham Platner is my question? The main reason why I'm against Janet Mills is as governor she vetoed a plan to close a juvenile prison and the thinking that we need to lock kids up is outdated thinking.
betsuni
(28,444 posts)what Republicans have done to stop progress.
Skittles
(168,118 posts)I too am tired of the same old same old, I wish they would pass the baton already but right now you gotta do what you gotta do to combat fascism
she's had some work done! just look at the pics of her this past year.........
and remember she will choose the corporation's side over people's every time.
SheltieLover
(74,442 posts)
carpetbagger
(5,384 posts)I appreciate what Democratic governors have done in standing up to Trump. But that doesn't necessarily translate into being an effective voice in the Senate, where the script doesn't place the politician in the role of an independent power center like a governor. Platner is promising, and he likely does as well as Mills after the first set of ads run. And Platner would be more effective at building the party, as Mills won't be in the 2032 class.
W_HAMILTON
(9,683 posts)Im sorry, after getting burned by self-proclaimed """progressives""" with little to no history of actual progressive accomplishments, I'm not too keen on supporting an unproven newcomer like that over a popular Democrat like Mills that has already proven she can win a state-wide race.
Cha
(315,016 posts)an effective vote in the Senate.
We'll see what happens
DoBW
(2,829 posts)and Bernie's "Fight the Oligharchy" tour has been potent. Platner's has good traction in his campaign. Mills' popping up is weird
Fil1957
(271 posts)Susan Collins. This sums up everything that is wrong with the Democratic party establishment. I guess they feel it's "her turn". They need to wake up and smell the coffee. And how 'bout passing the baton once in a while?
With a few notable exceptions, elderly Democratic politicians ought to get out of the way, make room for the next generation and stop engaging in these vanity projects. Haven't they heard of retirement? Isn't there more to life than working till you drop? Don't they have any outside interests like hobbies, etc.?
W_HAMILTON
(9,683 posts)I don't even think Platner had ever been elected to anything, much less being more electable than the sitting governor of his state.
The fact that Cook moved this race to a toss-up after Mills announced her candidacy -- but not after Platner announced his -- is even further proof of this.
And older Democrats could get out of the way if the younger generation would put in the effort they did and were ready to have the baton passed to.
After getting burned by Fetterman, I'm sorry, but "I support Sanders and Sanders supports me" is not a good enough reason to vote for someone.
We progressives need to vet our self-proclaimed progressive candidates better and one way to do that is by them cutting their teeth on lower office before they decide to run for one of the most important political offices in the country.
muriel_volestrangler
(104,989 posts)A poll where, once a mini-bio of each candidate was given, Platner gets a larger lead over Collins than Mills does. So he has a year to get known.
AZProgressive
(29,748 posts)I saw red flags when he wanted to stop wearing masks and send kids back to school sooner than most people. He also supported continuing Title 42 which was supposed to be a Covid policy so that alone showed he was a hypocrite.
There was also the jogger case.
Cha
(315,016 posts)I think Gov Janet Mills is One of those Notable Exceptions"..
Torchlight
(5,890 posts)And on what objective standard is that number measured on?
SpankMe
(3,614 posts)He's an Independent who caucuses with Democrats and was just elected. His term goes thru 2031 - for cripe's sake!
delisen
(7,153 posts)Torchlight
(5,890 posts)to carry out the expansion of Maine's Medicaid program, and in 2022, she green-lit Maine state supplemental budget, which included free community college for students of the class of 202-23.
I know very little about her or her state, but upon first reflection she seems a solid candidate.
Cha
(315,016 posts)

Easterncedar
(5,043 posts)But I prefer Platner. Although skeptical at first, burned by hopes of Fetterman, I keep hearing good things from and about him. He is a progressive.
Cha
(315,016 posts)I prefer her over Planter.
I like her Accomplishments and her Style.
Easterncedar
(5,043 posts)With the wonderful Dr. Nirav Shah. I will always be grateful to her for appointing him.
BlueTsunami2018
(4,686 posts)Cant have a guy like Platner. Young, progressive, ready to buck the corporate system. Why would we want that?
Cha
(315,016 posts)who is 81... did ya roll your eyes at him?
There's more to be electable than being young.
BlueTsunami2018
(4,686 posts)Yeah, I roll my eyes at a lot of these people. Entrenched status quo politicians are why the Democratic Party has such low approval ratings. Among other things.
Cha
(315,016 posts)Since Gov Mills entered the Race Today it "Turned from leaning gop to a Toss Up".
She's a Popular Gov and "name recognition" for a Good Reason.
Personally from way out here on Kauai.. I don't like anyone that thinks they can win by "bashing Dems"
travelingthrulife
(3,521 posts)Not my state though. Certainly happy to see Susan gone.
Midwestern Democrat
(988 posts)we have paid attention when he speaks in committee, or in interviews or in town halls. ideas mean more to us and mills is just out of them.
unfortunately mills is not in any way like king.......age aside.
mainer
(12,448 posts)Janet has been great and right now she's feisty and energetic. But that age thing is an issue. I'm supporting her for now, but Graham Platner is the one getting everyone excited. I just want this primary to stay collegial, and I'm worried Platner will be too hostile.
leftstreet
(37,592 posts)...would she walk away with the primary?
And no I don't know which ones Mainers might go for
It's generally wages, healthcare, immigration, taxing billionaires, etc
Cha
(315,016 posts)Gov Mills entering the Race.. from being "Leans gop.."That's exciting to me.
Mainers Re Elected Sen Angus King last year.. who is 81 as you know.
Not in Maine but this Race has the whole Country Interested in getting a Dem Senator Elected!
IronLionZion
(50,096 posts)2026 is likely to be a blue wave for Dems considering how things are going.
We need good Dems running everywhere.
Fichefinder
(368 posts)leftstreet
(37,592 posts)
Torchlight
(5,890 posts)Cha
(315,016 posts)King who is 81.
DFW
(59,146 posts)Yes, her age, her age. I get it. She's not a teenager. But you saw her TV ad. She's not Chuck Grassley, either. She is a formidable speaker who wins elections.
I saw an article about Plattner, who is touted to be her main opponent. How predictable are we gonna get, here? Collins AND the Democratic Party are "proxies for corporations and wealthy interests that have used the political system for enrichment?" Wow, it's a good thing that I'm not a Maine Democrat, as I would NOT appreciate being labeled a "proxy for corporations and wealthy interests." Do we HAVE to use these slogans for the 596th time before people get turned off and tired of hearing them?
This is still the state that elected Susan Collins and Paul Le Page. We forget that at our peril. Fine, the choir is listening. But they aren't the only Democrats voting in this primary, and they sure as hell aren't only ones voting in the General Election next year, and we need ALL of them on board, or Maine's next senator will be a Republican. THEN you get your proxy for corporations and wealthy interests. Congratulations. The "no difference" crowd can go celebrate without me.
betsuni
(28,444 posts)he was democratic socialist and the Democratic Party has no idea what New Deal policies are because corrupt blah blah blah. Again! As we have seen, this has never worked. Sounds like same Justice Democrats/Our Revolution PACs. Make it stop.
Cha
(315,016 posts)GP.
There was a Poster on here a little while ago who said he was donating to him but then he kept bashing Dems so much he stopped.
BidenRocks
(2,381 posts)I see the sentiment turn against the older folks.
First we're slow.
Then we old speak in proper English.
We write in complete understandable sentences.
Now I see the start of the purge.
Get rid of old people!
Over 70? Soylent!
Now Get Off My Lawn!
Picaro
(2,228 posts)These texts are making me crazy.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)They seem worried
Cha
(315,016 posts)Janet Mills and LMPV for Posting This!!
💙
Trueblue Texan
(3,871 posts)Boy she kicks Susan Collins' ass in this ad! Deservedly so!
Cha
(315,016 posts)to that Dictator Monster.
TY!
Jilly_in_VA
(13,284 posts)she's 79 already. If I lived in Maine, I'd probably vote for the other guy...what's his name, Graham Platzner? I've liked what he's said alrerady.
dlk
(12,980 posts)Never mind shes tough and accomplished.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)aeromanKC
(3,735 posts)Stand Up!!
liberalla
(10,716 posts)I'd gladly vote for her!
If I lived in Maine!
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)Mills is clear that she has made no promises to Chuck Schumer
Mills launches her Senate bid with âno promisesâ to Schumer | Semafor
— Subconscious Proxy (@subconsciousproxy.bsky.social) 2025-10-14T16:35:34.435Z
www.semafor.com/article/10/1...
https://www.semafor.com/article/10/14/2025/mills-launches-her-senate-bid-with-no-promises-to-schumer
If Mills makes it to the Senate by navigating a tough primary and then beating Collins, she says Schumer will need to prove hes worth her support to remain Democratic leader.
Nobody in the state of Maine has asked me about Chuck Schumer. And Ive actually met with him only once in my life, seven or eight months ago. And Ive made no promises, no commitments, to anybody running for leadership, Mills told Semafor in an interview.
My vote is not guaranteed to Senator Schumer or anybody else; theyll have to earn it, she added.
The two-term governors decision to run for the Senate seat will no doubt cheer Schumer and it instantly makes Maines campaign into one of the most important in the nation. First Mills will test whether Democrats have changed their electability calculus by taking on a crowded primary field, including 40-year-old oysterman Graham Platner, who opposes Schumer as leader.
Cha
(315,016 posts)Chuck Schumer has just a bad rap.. he does a good job in the minority but he's the "boogey man"..
Cha
(315,016 posts)him Props.. him & Rep Jeffries. :patriot
AOC: 'Republicans have been getting walloped by Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer'
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220695607
TY
Response to Cha (Reply #87)
LetMyPeopleVote This message was self-deleted by its author.
RSH
(21 posts)Graham PLATNER. He sounds great and Bernie endorsed him. That's all I need to know!!!!!!!
ALBliberal
(3,125 posts)I am very impressed. Shes a young 77. Fearless. And vows to only serve one term. She will win.
Norrrm
(3,147 posts)Susan Collins was a 'right time, right place' candidate...
She was in a three person primary race and so far back she could not even see the other two candidates' tail lights.
The millionaire candidate sponsored an investigation of the evangelist candidate who got run out of a southern state because he was boinking his twelve year old babysitter.
The millionaire denied his involvement but the public turned against both him and the evangelist, leaving Susan Collins as the sole remaining candidate.
------------------
"I pledge that if I'm elected I will only serve two terms..."
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)Cha
(315,016 posts)


North Coast Lawyer
(216 posts)The old guard of the Democratic Party have shown over and over that they are unable to adapt to the new political reality we find ourselves in. I really wish that the establishment would support and nurture our young talent -- cause:
Your old road is rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'
Cha
(315,016 posts)when Gov Mills announced her candidacy... she's a very progressive and popular governor.
Has won State wide Elections.. and She'll Fight for Mainers!
North Coast Lawyer
(216 posts)Her fight can last at maximum only a few more years.
Cha
(315,016 posts)and Sen Angus King, who is 81 and was Reelected Last Year, will be Brilliant for Maine.
North Coast Lawyer
(216 posts)But its time for the old guard to get out of the way and let younger people take the reigns.
BTW I'm 61 years old -- I know how hard it is to stand down. However, standing down is something all us old folks need to do.
America is full of great young people. We dinosaurs need to proudly facilitate their ascendance.
Cha
(315,016 posts)they have to offer.
Just because someone is young means nothing on what they can accomplish.
SomewhereInTheMiddle
(578 posts)This is an honest question. Not a slam or a strawman.
How do you identify young talent for political leadership? And what is the right level to blood them in American politics?
The only thing I know about Plantner is what I just read on Wikipedia. Sounds like an interesting guy. I admit I am biased towards military backgrounds but know they are no guarantee of leadership potential. His positions mostly seem reasonable.
But he has never stood for office and never been elected. We have no idea how he will perform in a political context. Should his introduction to elected office be the US Senate?
I think Pete B has performed at both the local and national level so I could easily support him for a Senate run. I think the same now with AOC. I could see her moving into the Senate if she could convince enough rural/non-NYC voters in New York to elect her.
For political novices like Plantner, it seems that a local office or state legislative office might be a better context in which to learn the political trade - both getting elected and actually performing the job. I think the US Senate is too high stakes and high demand for a complete novice. Even a seat in the US House would be a better starting point - somewhat lower stakes.
How can we best grow our young politicians into effective legislators and leaders?
Somehow, I don't see throwing them into the deep end is the best answer.
North Coast Lawyer
(216 posts)New talent is always peculating up. Young people like AOC and Mamdani are all over the place. Our leadership needs to stop holding them back and start facilitating their rise.
phylny
(8,781 posts)from her campaign asking for donations.
soldierant
(9,040 posts)I'm not in Maine, but if I were, my vote would go to the oyster farmer
whathehell
(30,286 posts)but since you're not in Maine, I doubt that Janet much cares.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)Morbius
(730 posts)She's old, and that's not ideal. But she fights the good fight, and right now we need every soldier we can get. I can't afford to send her any money, but she has my good wishes.
Susan Calvin
(2,367 posts)The comments are running about 9 to 1 again, and almost everybody mentions Platner.
MaineNative
(60 posts)is on my radar. He's drawing standing room only crowds at his speaking events. I hope he speaks at the Portland protest on October 18th, No Kings. The UAW just endorsed him. Check this out.
PunkinPi
(5,213 posts)Weird how no one has mentioned that Platner worked for Constellis (formerly Blackwater)...
Vogon_Glory
(10,095 posts)Susan Collins fan dance should have ended years ago.
LetMyPeopleVote
(171,402 posts)While Susan Collins bows down to Trump, Maine Gov. Janet Mills is fighting back and winning. She's always fought for a better future for the people of Maine, and now, she'll take that fight to the U.S. Senate. That's why we're thrilled to endorse Gov. Mills for election to the U.S. Senate today.
— EMILYs List (@emilyslist.bsky.social) 2025-10-14T13:57:43.843Z
Cha
(315,016 posts)
