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Whitmer and Beshear Endorse Janet Mills in Competitive Maine Senate Primary

01:24 AM, 11/26/2025

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear have endorsed Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary to challenge Sen. Susan Collins. Whitmer praised Mills’s record on Medicaid expansion and free community college, while Beshear lauded her for standing up to federal pressure over transgender athletes. Mills’s main primary rival, Graham Platner, has faced controversy after resurfaced social media posts led to staff departures and public apologies. The Cook Political Report labels Collins’s seat a "toss-up."

Two high-profile Democratic governors — Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky's Andy Beshear — have publicly endorsed Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins.

Whitmer posted a video on X praising Mills as a fighter for working families and highlighting her record on issues such as Medicaid expansion and free community college. In the video, Whitmer said she was proud to "endorse my good friend and colleague, Janet Mills," and argued that Maine needs a strong voice in the U.S. Senate amid turmoil in Washington.

Beshear: ‘Can’t stand bullies’

In a separate video shared by Mills, Beshear commended her willingness to stand up to federal pressure. He cited a dispute in which the White House objected to Maine’s decision to allow transgender women to participate in women’s sports and threatened to withhold funding. "Janet and I have a few things in common: we were both attorneys general, we’re both governors, and we both can’t stand bullies," Beshear said. He added that "Janet is the only candidate in this race who’s actually stood up to bullies, including Donald Trump."

Mills issued statements saying she was "deeply honored" and "grateful" for the endorsements. Observers noted the significance of support from governors who lead politically competitive or Republican-leaning states and who are frequently mentioned as potential 2028 presidential contenders.

Primary challenge and controversy

Mills’s most prominent Democratic challenger is oyster farmer Graham Platner, who has drawn the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Platner has faced controversy after resurfaced Reddit posts showed him making offensive comments, including asking why Black people "don’t tip," calling police officers "bastards," and suggesting the military had not attempted to cover up sexual assault. The disclosures prompted several senior staffers to leave his campaign.

Platner has apologized and said the posts reflect a period when he was "disillusioned" after serving in the military. In an apology video on X, he said, "For those of you who have read these things and been offended... I am deeply sorry. It's something that — I see someone that I don't recognize either, not in who I am today."

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report currently rates Susan Collins’s Senate seat as a "toss-up," underscoring the competitiveness of the race.

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