Janet Mills: the story explained

Janet Mills launched her Senate campaign in October, Graham Platner was already drawing large crowds and raising impressive amounts of money. Janet Mills has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Canada.

Key facts

• Janet Mills launched her Senate campaign in October, Graham Platner was already drawing large crowds and raising impressive amounts of money.
• They were wrong, and on Thursday, Mills ended her campaign weeks before the June 9 primary.
• Mills supporters – including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – thought she could prevail with a pitch for electability based on her statewide name recognition, backing from Senate Democratic leadership and a tidal wave of opposition research on Platner.
• He raised $4.1 million to her $2.7 million in the first quarter of the year, and a February poll by the University of New Hampshire gave Platner a huge lead, 64% to 26%, over Mills.
• Her campaign called off an April 21 fundraiser in Washington, DC, due to scheduling issues in Maine, according to a Mills ally with knowledge of the event.

What we know

Going deeper, they were wrong, and on Thursday, Mills ended her campaign weeks before the June 9 primary.

On the substance, Mills supporters – including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – thought she could prevail with a pitch for electability based on her statewide name recognition, backing from Senate Democratic leadership and a tidal wave of opposition research on Platner.

Beyond the headlines, He raised $4.1 million to her $2.7 million in the first quarter of the year, and a February poll by the University of New Hampshire gave Platner a huge lead, 64% to 26%, over Mills.

More precisely, her campaign called off an April 21 fundraiser in Washington, DC, due to scheduling issues in Maine, according to a Mills ally with knowledge of the event.

It is worth noting that Platner struck a gracious tone, applauding Mills’ long record of public service and their shared dedication to defeating Republican Sen.

By the numbers

“We need to focus on winning that seat & not waste millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary,” Sanders wrote on X at the time.

“We should be learning from candidates who are performing and speaking and resonating with the American people,” Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that Platner’s campaign, with its strong focus on in-person events, reminded her of her 2018 primary upset.

“Maine, I’m asking you not to judge me for the worst thing I said on the internet on my worst day 14 years ago,” he said.

On the substance, the then-77-year-old governor was running for office at a time when many in her party were agitating for generational change.

What they're saying

“She’s not breaking through and she’s running out of time to course correct,” one national Democratic strategist told CNN earlier this week.

“Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats just coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine,” Sen.

“I’m not going to get into the November election at this point,” she said, later adding, “I’m not going to get into playing pundit in this race.”

The wider context

On a related note, But some of his supporters were openly ecstatic about his improbable triumph over Mills.

Going deeper, Valli Geiger said during a news conference with Platner after Mills’ announcement. “I am so excited about today, not because our governor had to submit to the inevitable and suspend her campaign, but because of what it says about the politics of what is possible.”

On the substance, But Collins has outlasted national headwinds before, and Mills supporters believed the governor was the kind of hardened political veteran up for the task.

Beyond the headlines, an oyster farmer and military veteran nearly half the age of Mills, Platner provided a sharp contrast in the primary, especially as he railed against the ultra-wealthy, lambasted foreign entanglements and called for new Democratic leadership in Washington.

More precisely, Bernie Sanders, who warned against a Mills candidacy days before her launch.

The bottom line

• They were wrong, and on Thursday, Mills ended her campaign weeks before the June 9 primary.
• Her campaign called off an April 21 fundraiser in Washington, DC, due to scheduling issues in Maine, according to a Mills ally with knowledge of the event.
• An oyster farmer and military veteran nearly half the age of Mills, Platner provided a sharp contrast in the primary, especially as he railed against the ultra-wealthy, lambasted foreign entanglements and called for new Democratic leadership in Washington.
• Searches spiking right now: Gov. Janet Mills Exits Maine Senate Race as an Insurgent Democrat Rises, Trump said he would end her political career, but Democrats did her in, Schumer faces renewed scrutiny after Mills meltdown, Schumer’s Maine pick Janet Mills drops out; VRA ruling boosts GOP path.