Maine Gov. Mills will announce challenge to Sen. Collins in key 2026 Senate contest, AP sources say

Maine Governor Janet Mills will challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins for her Senate seat in the 2026 election, according to sources close to her. Mills, a two-term governor and a key figure in the Democratic Party, has received encouragement from national leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The Democratic Party sees this election as an essential opportunity to gain a seat in a state that supported Kamala Harris in the last presidential election. Mills previously served as Maine's attorney general and has a history of sparring with former President Trump, notably during a White House meeting over transgender rights. Collins, who has held her Senate seat since 1997, has a reputation as a moderate and has won her reelections by large margins, except for a close race in 2020.

This upcoming contest is critical for Democrats, who need to secure a net gain of four seats to reclaim the Senate majority. Mills's entry into the race follows her earlier hesitance to run, indicating a shift in her political ambitions. The race will also see other Democratic challengers, including Graham Platner, who is backed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.