PORTLAND — In a move that could shake up the upcoming Democratic primary, Governor Janet Mills is reminding Mainers that she is still technically in the running for the U.S. Senate.
Despite suspending her active campaign on April 30 due to fundraising struggles and trailing in the polls, Mills told the Sun Journal on Sunday that her name will remain on the primary ballot.
“People have the impression that I ‘withdrew’ or ‘dropped out,’ but I simply suspended active campaigning,” Mills stated. “I am still on the ballot.”
Because the Governor never filed the formal paperwork required by the Maine Secretary of State to nullify votes cast for her, any votes she receives will still be counted. Notably, Mills has withheld endorsing the presumptive Democratic nominee, Graham Platner, since pausing her campaign.
Scrutiny Surrounds Presumptive Nominee
The reminder from the Mills camp arrives at a tumultuous time for Platner. The 41-year-old political newcomer and combat veteran has faced waves of renewed scrutiny over past controversial online activity and personal conduct:
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Recent Conduct: Allegations of post-marital sexting with multiple women following his 2023 marriage.
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Reddit Controversy: Apologies for past Reddit posts that included blaming sexual assault victims and using slurs targeting disabled people and gay men. Platner has attributed these posts to struggles with PTSD and depression following four combat deployments, stating they do not reflect who he is today.
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Controversial Imagery: Addressing a skull-and-crossbones tattoo that reporters noted resembled a Nazi Totenkopf symbol. Platner claimed he was unaware of the similarity and had the ink covered up last October.
The Primary Landscape
Platner originally became the frontrunner to challenge incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins after Mills stepped back in April. Previous polling had shown Platner commanding a double-digit lead over the Governor, including a March Emerson College poll placing him ahead by 27 points. Even a month after pausing her campaign, a University of New Hampshire survey showed Mills still holding 10 percent voter support.
With long-shot challenger David Costello also remaining on the ballot and Andrea LaFlamme launching a write-in campaign, the primary race remains crowded.
Signaling a return to the public eye, Mills’ campaign account on X (formerly Twitter) posted its first message since April to mark the beginning of Pride Month:
“Happy Pride Month, Maine! Everyone deserves the freedom to live authentically and marry who they love without fear. I’m proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community, today and every day.”
This story was adapted from original reporting by Randy Billings of the Portland Press Herald. Read the original article on the Portland Press Herald.
