Dem gov [Janet Mills] jumps into key Senate race-where surging progressive [Graham PLatner] awaits

[riversedge]

Well, the deed is done--the race is on.

Dem gov jumps into key Senate race — where surging progressive awaits
https://www.rawstory.com/janet-mills-2674184058/

Julia Conley, Common Dreams October 14, 2025 3:46PM ET

After weeks of speculation and reports that Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was privately calling on Maine Gov. Janet Mills to enter the race to unseat longtime Republican lawmaker Susan Collins—despite considerable energy surrounding the candidacy of progressive veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner—Mills announced her primary run Tuesday.

Mills highlighted her public sparring with President Donald Trump earlier this year and positioned her run as one that would focus on standing up to “bullies” like Trump, who threatened to cut off Maine’s federal funding if it allowed transgender youths to play on team sports that correspond with their identities.

She also pledged to “fight back” against efforts by Trump and Republicans in Congress—including Collins, who has represented Maine since 1997—to slash healthcare for millions of Americans while handing out tax cuts to corporations and the richest Americans.


“This election is going to be a simple choice: Is Maine going to bow down, or stand up?” said Mills.

But before Mainers decide whether to stick with Collins or unseat her in favor of a Democratic senator, they are set to choose the Democratic nominee next June—and despite being a political novice, Platner has generated excitement across the state since announcing his candidacy in August.

...............................

[msongs]

1. so the man is a progressive but the woman with similar views is not. got it. fetterman part 2?

[spooky3]

2. So annoying to have already received 4 texts begging for $ today just from her.

I blocked each one, but other texts came from different numbers.

I ordinarily would support women’s seeking office (all else being equal) but she is 77 and Platner seems to be a good candidate with a good chance of beating Collins.

(I’m also a senior and believe people should be judged as individuals. But in the case of politics, there has to be a realistic assessment of how voters perceive candidates.)

[spooky3]

5. Just got a 5th begging text. Dems REALLY need to stop this.

They are alienating their supporters. These texts are as much an interruption as unsolicited phone calls used to be.

I get dozens of these texts a week, for months, and have blocked all but one of them.

[slightlv]

6. I was just going to say I thought she was too old to run for this seat.

Look, I'm a Boomer (and a late one, at that), like a good majority of us around here. I hated having to retire when I did because of age and disability. But at least I realized I needed to do it, even if I thought I could still do the job with some accommodations that they didn't want to provide (like telework). But it's time now for our generation to step aside, help elect and mentor the next generation behind us. They have new ideas for this new world we live in. Our ideas don't work so well anymore... WE are not of this age. We live in, many of us may still work in it (by choice or need), but I think if we're honest, a lot of what is happening... especially digitally... goes beyond us at times. We need the young people in office to choose their own roads for the country. We're doing them no favors by refusing to step aside.

I'm certainly not ageist... like I said, I'm a well-worked grandma myself. I'm also disabled with 2 chronic autoimmune illnesses and a back then has me bent over much of the time. Gravity and I are not friends. I go through horrible periods where I feel like I'm neither needed nor wanted but superfluous today. There's so much I can't do, it's hard to see what I can do that means anything to anyone. I understand the mindset not to leave what was a large part of your life. But each generation has to do it; it's past our time, IMO.

[drray23]

3. Platner is a Fetterman in waiting.

I contributed to his campaign twice until I realized the bulk of his messaging, which was delivered via funding requests is that democrats suck and are doing nothing.

Mind you, going after Trump and his clique does not seem to be his top priority.
Right now, what we need is unity to push against the Trump regime, not bashing each other.
If he thinks he can do a better job, that's perfectly fine bit then, he should articulate why and what is his plan instead of just ranting.

This guy gives me the vibe of morphing into a Fetterman or Sinema.

[spooky3]

4. Uh oh, that's not good. Nt