Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills declares Senate marketing campaign launch, then shortly deletes put up

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Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills appeared to announce the launch of her marketing campaign for the Senate on X on Friday, however then shortly deleted the put up.

In a since-deleted announcement video, the 77-year-old Maine governor requested, "People, would you like Democrats to take again the Senate? Properly, I’m Gov. Janet Mills, and I’m operating to flip Maine’s Senate seat blue."

Within the video, Mills took goal at incumbent Sen. Susan Collins , a average Republican, saying she has "bought out Maine and bowed all the way down to particular pursuits and to Donald Trump, however that ends now."

The video directed supporters to donate to an ActBlue web page that has additionally since been deleted.

On the donation web page, Mills touted her bona fides, saying, "I’ve spent my profession standing up for Maine households as prosecutor, Lawyer Common, and Governor. I’ve taken on Massive Pharma, expanded well being care entry, and took Donald Trump to courtroom – and gained."

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Democratic Gov. Janet Mills delivers her State of the State deal with, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, on the State Home in Augusta, Maine. (AP Picture/Robert F. Bukaty)

After the posts had been deleted, reactions began to flood in on-line.

"In a now deleted tweet at 4:30pm on a Friday earlier than a vacation weekend, Janet Mills confirms she is in reality running for Senate … Some poor digital staffer is about to get fired!" posted Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee staffer Joanna Rodriguez.

A progressive political commentator named Jack Cocchiarella commented, "For those who thought democratic politics was lacking geriatric candidates with no charisma, wait till you meet 77 12 months previous Janet Mills Chuck Schumer ’s choose for Senate. She posted this launch video immediately then deleted it after two hours."

Mills’ announcement has been lengthy anticipated. She is seen because the favored candidate by Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer.

The highest Democrat within the Senate urged Mills to run and sees her as the very best candidate to defeat Collins, the one Republican senator up for re-election subsequent 12 months in a state the Democrats carried within the presidential election. A Collins defeat could be important for the Democrats to have any likelihood of successful again the Senate majority.

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Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, pushed again in opposition to Majority Ahead, a Democratic PAC aligned with Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., for adverts that recommend she has spent her profession in Washington buying and selling shares to complement herself. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs)

However earlier than she reaches the overall election, Mills first has to navigate a probable aggressive and divisive main amongst a crowded area of contenders that features a a lot youthful rising star on the left who's backed by longtime progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Mills, a former elected county district legal professional and former state lawmaker, made historical past serving as Maine's first feminine legal professional common.

She later gained election in 2018 as Maine's first feminine governor, and in 2022 comfortably defeated former Republican Gov. Paul LePage by double digits to win re-election.

Whereas she will likely be thought of the frontrunner for the Democratic Senate nomination, thanks partially to her huge identify recognition in blue-leaning Maine, she might face a critical problem from 41-year-old Graham Platner , a U.S. Marine and Military veteran and oyster farmer who launched his marketing campaign in August.

Platner, who hauled in over $3 million in fundraising in the course of the first six weeks after declaring his candidacy, is backed by Sanders, the two-time Democratic presidential nomination runner-up, who just lately stopped in Maine to headline a marketing campaign rally.

In a warning to Mills, Sanders stated on social media final week that "Graham Platner is a superb working class candidate for Senate in Maine who will defeat Susan Collins."

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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., has thrown his help behind Graham Platner, a U.S. Marine and Military veteran and oyster farmer, who launched a Democratic run for the Senate in August. (Joe Maher)

"It is disappointing that some Democratic leaders are urging Governor Mills to run. We have to deal with successful that seat & not waste tens of millions on an pointless & divisive main," Sanders added.

Different candidates vying for the Democratic Senate nomination embrace Dan Kleban, a co-founder of the Maine Beer Co., and former congressional staffer Jordan Wooden, who raked in roughly $3 million in the course of the July-September third quarter of fundraising.

Phil Rench, a former senior engineer for Elon Musk ’s SpaceX, is operating as an impartial candidate.

Collins first gained election to the Senate in 1996 and gained snug double-digit re-elections in 2002, 2008, and 2014.

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President Donald Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills clashed on the White Home over govt order compliance earlier this 12 months. (Pool by way of AP; Win McNamee/Getty Photographs)

She at present chairs the influential Senate Appropriations Committee.

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In her 2020 re-election, Collins confronted off in opposition to Democratic State Home Speaker Sara Gideon, in a hotly contested race that turned the most costly in Maine historical past. Whereas polls indicated Collins trailing her Democratic challenger, she ended up successful the election by greater than eight factors.