Maine governor says no plans to challenge Collins for Senate
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) said in an interview aired on Friday that she does not plan to challenge Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) for Senate next year, though she didn't entirely rule it out.
'I'm not planning to do anything right now, I'm just – I'm not planning to run for anything,' Mills said in an interview with Maine Trust For Local News.
'Things change week to week, month to month, but I'm not … at this moment, I'm not planning to run for another office. I love being governor, despite the hard times we've had,' she added.
Pressed again, Mills said she was 'planning to keep being governor as best I can, do my job as best I can.'
Mills is seen as one of the Democrats' best hopes against Collins, who is up for reelection next year, which would be her sixth term. Democrats tried to oust Collins last cycle with former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon (D), but fell nine points short.
A University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll released on Thursday suggested that while most Democratic respondents want to see Mills challenge Collins for Senate next year (79 percent), only 40 percent of all respondents support a Senate run for the governor.
Still, Mills performed better in that survey than Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden, with 36 percent and 29 percent of respondents, respectively, wanting to see them run against Collins.
Golden, a conservative Democrat, was the preferred candidate among Republicans polled: Twenty-five percent of Republicans said they wanted to see him run for her seat.
Senate Leadership Fund Chair Cory Gardner, a former Colorado Republican senator himself, responded to Mills' announcement, calling it a 'recruitment failure' for Democrats.
'Fresh off Senator Durbin's decision to retire and three other senior Senate Democrats calling it quits, Janet Mills clearly recognizes what the American people have long known: the Democratic Party is shattered beyond repair,' Gardner said.
'While Democrats reel from this recruitment failure and squabble about the direction of their party, Senator Susan Collins continues to deliver results for the people of Maine with effective and proven leadership,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘He Can't Be': Doc Rivers Explains Why Donald Trump Isn't The 1 Insult Everyone Uses
NBA legend Doc Rivers isn't convinced by one common insult that's been hurled at President Donald Trump. During a wide-ranging conversation with MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace on her 'The Best People' podcast, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Rivers — a self-described Democratic voter — said he's heard Trump called a 'buffoon' so many times but just doesn't buy it. 'He can't be,' Rivers said. 'Because he's the president and he's won twice. And not only did he win twice, he's got 70 million people who believe the other way. So maybe we're the ones who are the fools, and we need to wake up?' Rivers criticized Democrats for losing discipline when it comes to taking on Trump, contrasting that with Republicans' ability to fall in line behind their leader. He also suggested it 'makes no sense' for Democrats to blame Trump voters for his victories, arguing the party needs to figure out how to energize its base. As for the 2028 election, Rivers said it's 'too early' to predict which Democratic politician might emerge as a contender. Rivers added that Republicans had pulled off 'the greatest marketing coup in the history of marketing' with their narrative about the economy, pointing out that statistics consistently show the economy performs better under Democratic administrations. Watch the full episode here: 'Atrocious': Eric Trump Slammed For 'Disgusting' Use Of Offensive Slur In Interview 'Good F**king Gawd!': Trump Ripped As Putin's PR Guy After G-7 Whine 'Like A Monty Python Skit': Trump's UK Trade Deal Moment Gets Super Weird In A Hurry
Associated Press
26 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Trump says he won't call Minnesota Gov. Walz after lawmaker shootings because it would 'waste time'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he he won't call Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz after the targeted shootings of two state lawmakers because it would 'waste time.' One of the lawmakers and her husband were killed. The Republican president spoke to reporters early Tuesday aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington after abruptly leaving an international summit in Canada because of rising tensions in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. Asked if he planned to call Walz, Trump said the Democratic governor is 'slick' and 'whacked out' and said, 'I'm not calling him.' Presidents often reach out to other elected officials at times of tragedy to offer condolences. Trump added, 'The guy doesn't have a clue. He's a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call him, but why waste time?' Walz was the vice presidential running mate for 2024 Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who lost her presidential bid to Trump. During the campaign, Walz often branded Trump and other Republican politicians as 'just weird.'
The Hill
30 minutes ago
- The Hill
Trump says he won't call 'whack job' Walz after Minnesota lawmaker shootings
President Trump on Tuesday said he would not call Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) after two Democratic lawmakers were gunned down in a 'politically motivated' shooting over the weekend. 'I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I'm not calling,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way back from the G7 conference in Canada. 'Why would I call him?' 'The guy doesn't have a clue. He's a mess. So, you know, I could be nice and call, but why waste time?' the president added. The remarks come just days after state Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (D-Minn.) and her husband Mark were shot and killed Saturday by a man impersonating a police officer. Another lawmaker, state Sen. John Hoffman (D), and his wife Yvette were also injured in a separate shooting but are expected to survive after surgery. Trump shared his condolences for the victims hours after the incident. Walz, the former Democratic vice presidential nominee, previously served in the state legislature alongside Hortman. He confirmed her death in a press conference Saturday. 'My good friend and colleague, Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed early this morning in what appears to be a politically motivated assassination,' Walz said at the time. 'Our state lost a great leader, and I lost a dearest friend,' he added. The governor's office did not immediately respond to request for comment in response to Trump's statement. The White House said the shooting would be investigated as a federal crime. 'I have been briefed on the terrible shooting that took place in Minnesota, which appears to be a targeted attack against State Lawmakers,' Trump said in a statement posted by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. 'Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law.' The suspected gunman, Vance Boelter, was apprehended late Sunday. He faces stalking and murder charges in state courts. Federal prosecutors also charged him with murder earlier this week. Authorities found a notebook with a list of more than 45 elected officials in the suspect's car.
