Maine Gov. Janet Mills launches Senate run against one of Democrats' top 2026 targets

Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that she is running for the Senate, pitching herself as the Democratic Party's best chance to beat Republican Sen.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Tuesday that she is running for the Senate, pitching herself as the Democratic Party's best chance to beat Republican Sen. Susan Collins next fall — and saying she does not plan to serve more than one term.

"I’ve won two statewide offices, and unlike other people in the primary right now, I’ve actually won public office, won elections," Mills said in an interview ahead of her launch.

"And I’ve stood up to Donald Trump, and I have delivered progress for Maine people when it comes to health care, clean energy, public health, education. And I’m willing to fight for that in the U.S. Senate," she said.

Mills is a top recruit for Senate Democrats, and she said Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., encouraged her to run. But she will face a fight for her party's nomination, with multiple candidates already in the race and making their own pitches for why they are best suited to defeat Collins, the only Republican senator from a state Kamala Harris won last year.

Kornacki: Democrats may be facing headwinds going into 2026 midterms03:05At least two of those Democratic candidates — oyster farmer and military veteran Graham Platner and former congressional aide Jordan Wood — have pledged to remain in the race even if Mills launches a campaign. Brewery co-founder Dan Kleban did not indicate whether he would drop out if Mills ran, recently telling NBC News, “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”