Polling Average
80%60%40%20%0%
31.4%
55.4%
Maine Democratic Senate nominee on Jul 31, 2026?
$1.8M
JUL 31, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
Age78 years old (Dec 30, 1947)
GenderFemale
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LocationMaine
BackgroundAttorney
EducationColby College (attended)
Notable personal detailsJanet Trafton Mills is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the 75th Governor of Maine since January 2, 2019. She previously served as Maine Attorney General (2009–2011; 2013–2019) and as District Attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Boston and the University of Maine School of Law and attended Colby College. She married Stan Kuklinski in 1985; he died in 2014.
SourcesShowHide
maine.goven.wikipedia.orgwikidata.orgjanetmills.comcommons.wikimedia.orgapnews.comusa.govwww1.maine.govmainepublic.orgebsco.comlegislature.maine.govbangordailynews.comwgme.comaxios.comemilyslist.orgthehill.commainemorningstar.compressherald.comwbur.orgnewscentermaine.comwmtw.compbs.orgwabi.tvnbcnews.compolitico.comtime.comwashingtonpost.comtheguardian.comfacebook.comnga.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgking.senate.govveterans.senate.govjudiciary.senate.govoversight.house.govoversightdemocrats.house.govstatic.votesmart.orgupload.wikimedia.orgballotready.orgcollins.senate.govcongress.govgovinfo.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
As governor she has repeatedly proposed balanced budgets without broad income or sales tax increases and vetoed legislation that would raise top individual income tax rates; her budgets have relied on targeted revenue increases (for example tobacco and cannabis taxes) and spending adjustments rather than raising broad-based taxes. Mills emphasizes fiscal stability, maintaining a large rainy day fund, and using selective tax changes to address specific needs while resisting higher top income rates.
Healthcare
Supports expanding public coverage and strengthening access to care through Medicaid expansion, a state-based ACA marketplace, protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health services, and actions to defend Medicaid funding for Mainers.
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Immigration & Border
Supports protections for asylum seekers and expanded state-level supports for immigrants, including creation of an Office of New Americans and efforts to expedite work authorization for asylum seekers. Has publicly opposed aggressive ICE enforcement operations in Maine and backed state legislation to limit ICE access to schools, health care facilities, libraries, and nonpublic records without a judicial warrant. Advocates accountability for federal immigration enforcement and federal policy changes to protect immigrants' rights in Maine.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports and has acted to protect and expand access to abortion and reproductive health care in Maine, including executive orders, legislation expanding who can provide abortions, insurance coverage of abortion, and legal protections for providers and patients. Has pledged to use veto power to block efforts to roll back or eliminate the right to safe and legal abortion in Maine and has supported laws putting later-pregnancy decisions in the hands of patients and doctors. Continues to join multistate efforts to strengthen reproductive freedom protections.
Climate & Energy
Janet Mills has prioritized clean energy and climate resilience as governor, advancing offshore wind procurement and planning, creating state programs for community climate resilience, and signing legislation to support at least 3,000 MW of offshore wind by 2040 while seeking protections for fishing areas. Her administration has promoted renewable energy development, port infrastructure for floating offshore wind, and state-level planning to reduce greenhouse gas impacts and prepare for extreme weather.
Public Safety & Guns
Supports expanding background checks for advertised private gun sales, strengthening Maine’s extreme-risk ("yellow flag") law to let law enforcement seek protective custody warrants in urgent cases, and tougher penalties for selling guns to prohibited persons while emphasizing protection of lawful gun ownership and public-safety/mental-health investments.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 10, 2026
Janet Mills suspended her U.S. Senate campaign, and Graham Platner went on to win the Maine Democratic primary by a wide margin. Even after dropping out, Mills stayed on the ballot and still received a notable share of the vote. In the days before the primary, some supporters urged her to reenter the race as Platner faced new allegations, but she showed no sign of doing so. Mills also recently endorsed Hannah Pingree in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary.
maine.gov+41
Articles
TIThe Intercept28 days ago
The Right’s “Election Fraud” Cry for Midterms Previewed in Primaries
Neutral
BBloomberg1 month ago
Platner Wins Maine Democratic Senate Primary After Bruising Race
Negative
BDBangor Daily News1 month ago
Follow the results of Maine's Democratic primary for US Senate
Neutral
NNewsBreak1 month ago
Pope Leo says he ‘certainly’ will support the U.S. in the World Cup
Neutral
Polls
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
Maine Democratic Senate nominee?
Endorsers of Janet Mills for Maine Democratic Senate nominee?
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Political organization
Planned Parenthood Action Fund endorsed Janet Mills for U.S. Senate.
EMILYs List
Public endorsement
EMILYs List endorsed Janet Mills for the U.S. Senate race in Maine.
Reproductive Freedom for All
Public endorsement
Reproductive Freedom for All endorsed Janet Mills for the 2026 Maine Democratic Senate primary.
Gretchen Whitmer
Public figure
Gretchen Whitmer endorsed Janet Mills in the Maine Senate race.
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$5.8M
$4.4M
$2.9M
$1.5M
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$5.8M
$716.9K
$5.1M
$301.3K
Source: FEC