Gordon L. Weil
The formal announcement Tuesday by Maine Gov. Janet Mills that she will seek the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Susan Collins deserves attention.
Collins’ skill consists in convincing Maine voters she’s a
moderate. But her support for some of Trump’s
actions and appointments look less like her traditional balancing between two
sides and more like temporizing. Her support
for Justice Kavanaugh and Secretary Kennedy work against her. The political situation has become too dire
for some voters to accept her usual approach.
Mills is a right of center Democrat in a state that is majority
Democratic with a heavy concentration in the southern First C.D. and a smaller GOP
preference in the Second C.D. By her own
balancing, she has managed to rile some liberal Democrats. Whether she has pleased more conservative
voters remains to be seen.
Mills is 77 years old.
She would be the oldest first-year senator ever. Even if candidates soft- peddle the age
issue, it is sure to be a factor.
Collins is 72 and Sen. Angus King is 80. Mills has been endorsed by Sen. Chuck Schumer,
which probably means little in Maine, though it tells you something about how
he sees his role.
She will face a primary challenge next June from several
declared candidates. Right now, Graham Platner,
an oyster farm operator, veteran and local official, seems to be the most
serious. He’s raising money and has the strong backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders. Could Platner be Maine’s Mamdani (though less
progressive)?
In some ways, the outcome of a Mills-Platner contest could suggest
the direction of the Democrats. Younger
voters may want a change from the usual balancing by the state’s major politicians. For example, in the two state referendums
this fall, Mills opposes GOP efforts to make voting more difficult, and opposes
a red flag law. That’s one for each side.
Maine will be a money magnet. The referendums are attracting major funding
as will the Democratic primaries for Senate and governor. Of course, the GOP will go all out for
Collins, a possible key to their holding their Senate majority.
Collins, even when she starts out with low poll numbers, has
succeeded in defeating relatively weak Democratic candidates. This year, Mills, who has won two state-wide
elections for governor and is well-known, is a different kind of challenger with
a track record. Collins has not yet
announced that she’s running.
Are the times right for Mills rolling to primary and
election wins? Could be, but watch for
the Democratic left and if Collins can sustain her appeal as a moderate.
