Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) stopped short of endorsing Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson, instead emphasizing the need to defeat longtime Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).
“We haven’t spoken, but clearly Susan Collins is vulnerable, and she should be — she should be defeated,” Mills said during an interview with Maine’s Total Coverage when asked whether she would back Jackson.
Mills argued Collins has enabled abuses of power by President Donald Trump and said the senator faces a difficult reelection fight and “rightfully so.”
“Nothing’s gotten better for families in Maine. It’s only getting worse,” Mills said. “And that lays at the doorstep of Senator Collins and the Republican majority in the United States Senate.”
When asked whether the Democratic Party’s process for selecting Jackson could leave some voters feeling disenfranchised, Mills declined to directly answer, instead pivoting back to criticizing Collins and congressional Republicans.
Jackson, a fifth-generation logger and former Maine Senate president, became the Democratic nominee last weekend and now has roughly 100 days to mount a successful challenge to Collins in November.
Although Mills has yet to endorse him, Jackson has quickly consolidated support from prominent Democrats. Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) have all backed his candidacy. Schumer said Jackson is “well-positioned” to win the general election after harnessing “grassroots energy in Maine.”
Jackson also earned endorsements from the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who had previously endorsed former Democratic candidate Graham Platner.
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Jackson announced his candidacy after Platner suspended his campaign following allegations of rape and sexual assault, which Platner has denied.
While Collins maintains a clear fundraising advantage, early polling suggests the race could be competitive. A recent University of New Hampshire survey found Jackson leading Collins 49% to 46%, with just 3% of voters undecided.