Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: The Democratic Governor of Maine just announced her campaign to defeat Susan Collins. This is huge. [View all]LetMyPeopleVote
(171,379 posts)4. Maine Senate Race Moves To Toss Up With Mills' Entrance
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
Maine Gov. Janet Mills entrance into the Senate race on Tuesday marks a significant escalation in political firepower aimed at longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins, the only Republican senator representing a state carried by then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. For the first time since she was elected in 1996, Collins could face off against a sitting statewide officeholder who, like her, has a proven track record of outperforming the presidential ticket of her party.
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
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
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
12 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
119 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations

BREAKING: The Democratic Governor of Maine just announced her campaign to defeat Susan Collins. This is huge. [View all]
LetMyPeopleVote
Tuesday
OP
I like Gov. Mills, but in all honesty, I think we should be installing the next generation of leaders.
Vinca
Tuesday
#2
Maybe we should look at all the potential candidates before we declare the winner.
eShirl
Tuesday
#6
In today's political climate, it will be an easy-flip... afterwards, it will be easier to KEEP blue than to FLIP blue...
QueerDuck
Tuesday
#12
No evidence for the prediction of "1 term, then a GOPer grabs her seat" either. But okay.
QueerDuck
Tuesday
#15
Exactly! Now you're catching on... we can't "fix it" if we're not in the majority...
QueerDuck
Tuesday
#44
I like Janet Mills, let them put in the legwork, have good fair primary debate(s),
Ars Longa
Tuesday
#23
Behind the "BUT OLD": insinuation of a Grand Canyon-like policy/character divide depending on age.
betsuni
Tuesday
#39
There are many good books about American politics and the difference between the two parties and
betsuni
Yesterday
#95
What about Graham Platner? He's even more electable. Mills is pushing 80 and is 5 years OLDER than
Fil1957
Tuesday
#28
Mills is not progressive, but a solid middle. Good executive. Stands her ground. A leader.
Easterncedar
Yesterday
#96
I like Platner. I do appreciate that Mills was one of the first to stand up to Trump.
travelingthrulife
Yesterday
#106
Calls himself a New Deal Democrat (used to be FDR Democrat) as if FDR wasn't a liberal Democrat
betsuni
Tuesday
#43
The DSCC and Janet Mills have formed a joint fundraising committee together.
LetMyPeopleVote
Tuesday
#60