Democrats coalesce around Platner as Mills exits Maine Senate race

Democrats are coalescing around progressive political outsider Graham Platner and his bid to oust incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine after primary rival Gov. Janet Mills ended her struggling bid Thursday. 

Mills, who is term limited as governor, jumped into the race late last year as one of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) top recruits, but she had trouble gaining traction in polls and fundraising while Platner surged ahead — despite various controversies around his campaign. She ended her bid Thursday in a statement without endorsing Platner.

But Schumer and the Democrats’ Senate campaign arm got behind Platner as Mills exited the ring, joining progressive Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and nearly two dozen state legislators who were expected to endorse on Thursday. The winnowed field adds to Democrats’ bullishness about what’s expected to be one of the closest Senate races in the country this fall.

“The base couldn’t have spoken more clearly,” Democratic strategist Christy Setzer said.

“Candidates and electeds who act like we’re living in normal times won’t fare well,” Setzer added. “We’re not interested in so-called establishment candidates who are bringing a butter knife to that fight.” 

Democratic strategist Anthony Coley agreed, stating, “The electorate is restless, angry, and looking for fighters who don’t fit the traditional mold — because the traditional mold isn’t working for them.” 

Mills said Thursday she was dropping her bid because she did not “have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources.”

She had struggled to close the gap in the polls: Decision Desk HQ’s (DDHQ) polling averages of the Democratic primary showed Platner leading Mills by a whopping 30 points in the Senate Democratic contest. 

Mills also entered the race relatively late, giving Platner more time to rally energy around his insurgent bid. 

Platner, a 41-year-old progressive oyster farmer, burst on to the scene alongside several other political newcomers, including democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, now the mayor of New York City, and Democrat James Talarico, who rocketed from........

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