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RandySF

(78,569 posts) Fri Oct 10, 2025, 04:00 PM Oct 10

ME-SEN: Sanders (I): Mills (D) should stay out of Maine Senate race [View all]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) to stay out of the 2026 senate race in the Pine Tree State, arguing that it would force a heavy spending lift for candidates in an “unnecessary and divisive primary.”

Sanders, who caucuses with Democrats, instead endorsed Graham Platner, a Marine Corps and Army veteran who served in four tours overseas. The Associated Press reported Friday that the governor will enter the race to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

“Graham Platner is a great working class candidate for Senate in Maine who will defeat Susan Collins,” Sanders wrote in a statement on the social platform X.

“It’s disappointing that some Democratic leaders are urging Governor Mills to run. We need to focus on winning that seat & not waste millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary,” he added.

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5549739-sanders-mills-maine-senate-race/

39 replies

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ME-SEN: Sanders (I): Mills (D) should stay out of Maine Senate race [View all] RandySF Oct 10 OP

Both wings use this argument when it's convenient EdmondDantes_ Oct 10 #1

As a Mainer here chelsea0011 Oct 10 #2

Shed be a good congressperson SSJVegeta Oct 10 #3

Mills kcoates Oct 10 #4

I agree that we should bring in younger candidates and their ideas calguy Oct 10 #5

Mills will be 79yo in Jan, 2027.... I like her, but that is just too old a starting point for Ars Longa Oct 10 #6

On paper, Mills is the strongest candidate but there is a danger that people will think 79 is just too old for a Midwestern Democrat Oct 11 #28

Sanders is 84 JustAnotherGen Oct 11 #37

My husband and I just spent a week in Maine for our 35th anniversary Quiet Em Oct 10 #7

I think Gov Janet Mills should Do what she Cha Oct 10 #8

Gov. Janet Mills to launch U.S. Senate campaign on Tuesday, source says Cha Oct 10 #9

Why does a Senator from Vermont have any say in whom Maine Democrats vote for? MichMan Oct 10 #10

Free Speech? mountain grammy Oct 10 #11

Bernie can say what he wants RandySF Oct 10 #13

Like Fetterman? mountain grammy Oct 10 #15

Sanders was one of the earliest supporters of Fetterman. W_HAMILTON Oct 10 #16

No RandySF Oct 11 #34

but he's a Democrat... mountain grammy Oct 11 #35

Dear lord we can go round and round. RandySF Oct 12 #38

What I want to know is... Why is it Cha Oct 10 #14

I will be donating to Mills LetMyPeopleVote Oct 10 #12

Sanders posturing here is laughable. Mills is popular with a record of statewide victory, she can beat Collins tritsofme Oct 10 #17

The fact that she may be a "likely one term senator", isn't exactly a mark in her favor.... Jack Valentino Oct 10 #18

Better than Collins pulling off another win. tritsofme Oct 10 #19

I remember another supposedly 'safe bet' the party made in 2016--- with an ALL-WHITE ticket Jack Valentino Oct 10 #20

ANYTHING would be better than that! n/t DFW Oct 11 #23

At her age, Janet is indeed probably looking at serving one term. DFW Oct 11 #27

status quo jaymac Oct 11 #29

"unnecessary and divisive primary" is bad now? betsuni Oct 11 #21

One of the more "dripping with irony" statements I have seen DFW Oct 11 #24

My brains overheated as they struggled with the irony, had to go to bed with a cold towel on my forehead to rest. betsuni Oct 11 #25

Considering the source, DFW Oct 11 #26

Yes, I really lulzd at that one. Nixie Oct 11 #30

I have never met Platner, so I have no opinion about him DFW Oct 11 #22

yeah but jaymac Oct 11 #31

In 2015/16 Hillary Clinton received 55% of the vote. Bernie Sanders received 43%. Quiet Em Oct 11 #32

Rigged Democratic primaries is a conspiracy theory. This is a forum for supporters of the Democratic Party. betsuni Oct 11 #33

Primaries Are Healthy JustAnotherGen Oct 11 #36

Maine Democrats should definitely listen to a Senator from Vermont who is not a Democrat Shrek Oct 12 #39