Unoriginal Sin: Dems Reportedly Pinning Their Senate Hopes On a 77-Year-Old Would-Be Freshman

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Democrats, in the hopes of flipping the Senate blue, are reportedly trying to get a 77-year-old would-be freshman to run in one key battleground state.

Multiple outlets Tuesday — as part of larger articles analyzing the Democrats’ chances in 2026 — noted that the party wants Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), 77, to try to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who is 72.

“Democrats are also hopeful that Maine Gov. Janet Mills will decide to run for Senate next year, challenging Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) for the seat,” Axios reported.

“Democrats are hoping Gov. Janet Mills will challenge longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins,” CNN added.

A local story from the Bangor Daily News corroborated that the party is actively recruiting Mills to take on the incumbent.

“National Democrats have spoken with Mills about challenging Collins, the Republican seeking a sixth term,” the Bangor Daily News reported.

Mills has been in the national headlines several times this year. Back in February, Mills got into a shouting match with President Donald Trump at the White House over the executive order banning transgender women from competing in men’s sports. She was also in a recent viral video where she was confronted on the street about a decades-old accusation that she used cocaine.

Thirty-three current Senators are over the age of 70. But Mills, if elected, would be the oldest freshman senator ever — breaking the record of Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), who was 75 when he took office in January 2023. Mills will be 79 when the 120th Congress begins in January 2027 and would be 85 at the end of her term, if elected. Mills was reelected governor in 2022 by over 13 points and is term-limited.

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