Platner Opponent Janet Mills Is Solely on the Poll, For Now

Janet Mills, governor of Maine and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, throughout a roundtable dialogue with group leaders in Westbrook, Maine, U.S., on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
Picture: Sofia Aldinio/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs

The extremely watched race to dethrone five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins turned the middle of a brand new controversy this week because the presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner fended off reviews that he despatched sexually specific textual content messages to a number of ladies. Then, as Platner acknowledged his previous extramarital discretions and denounced the media protection, one former candidate, Governor Janet Mills, sought to remind voters of their choices in subsequent week’s major. However are there another indicators she may rejoin the race in gentle of Platner’s new troubles?

Mills, who suspended her Senate marketing campaign in April, citing an absence of economic sources, conspicuously famous to Portland Press Herald columnist Steve Collins that whereas she’s not on the marketing campaign path, her title can nonetheless be discovered on the poll for the Democratic major on June 9.

“Folks have the impression that I ‘withdrew’ or ‘dropped out,” Mills instructed Collins, “however I merely suspended lively campaigning. I’m nonetheless on the poll.”

It was a notable remark from Mills, who has largely remained out of the general public eye since exiting the race — and it has prompted hypothesis that she is likely to be mulling a return to the path as Platner faces continued scrutiny. Additionally on Monday, the governor shared a message celebrating the beginning of Pleasure month on her marketing campaign social-media account, the primary time she’s posted there since she dropped out.

Mills, who has a prolonged résumé in Maine politics, had lengthy trailed behind Platner with the first-time candidate regularly polling within the double digits forward of Mills regardless of a number of controversies that emerged within the race. The governor’s try and hit the oyster farmer and army veteran for his previous Reddit feedback downplaying sexual assault didn’t stick; Mills’s marketing campaign debuted an advert centered on the subject months after Platner had addressed and apologized for it.

Up to now, there’s no stable proof that Mills is planning to revive her Senate marketing campaign. Politico spoke to an individual near the governor who instructed the outlet that Democrats within the Senate have but to achieve out to ask Mills about rejoining the race. When Mills launched her bid for the Senate, she did so with the backing of Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer who helped to recruit her for the race in addition to the DSCC, Senate Democrats’ marketing campaign arm.

Democratic Senate management then coalesced behind Platner following Mills’s exit. On Tuesday, Schumer continued to specific help for Platner who traveled to Washington, D.C. that day to fulfill with members of the Democratic caucus.

“I met with Graham Platner right now. We’re going to beat Susan Collins and take again the Senate,” he instructed reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

Mills isn’t the one one who’s pushing for a doable revaluation of the Democratic area. David Costello, who labored for the state governments in each Maine and Maryland, has continued his longshot bid for the social gathering nomination at the same time as Platner is anticipated to win it subsequent Tuesday. Following information of the most recent Platner controversy, Costello took to social media to name for extra debates and make his case for being the only option for voters.

“Maine’s US Senate race isn’t settled and seems to be tightening. Maine’s major election is subsequent week and there’s nonetheless time. The cancelling of the 5 prior debates reduce quick necessary coverage discussions and shortchanged ME voters. So, LET’s DEBATE,” Costello wrote on social media, sharing two pictures of himself with each Platner and Mills.