Janet Mills Is the Real Threat to Maine Health Care, Not Susan Collins

Democrats think they can finally beat Senator Susan Collins — and they’re betting that health care is key to victory. Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, recently announced that she’ll challenge Collins in the 2026 midterm election, and she and her fellow Democrats wasted no time criticizing the Republican for jeopardizing people’s access to care. But Mills should think twice, because talking about health care could cause voters to realize how much harm she’s done to her own state.

In announcing her candidacy (joining a primary field that includes the controversy-courting Graham Platner), Mills declared that she’d fight Collins and President Trump for “rip[ping] away health care from millions of Americans.” It’s likely a reference to their work requirements for able-bodied adults on Medicaid and their support for letting Joe Biden’s expanded Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year. The state Democratic Party doubled down, attacking Collins on the subsidies issue while saying that Mainers depend on the extra taxpayer help.

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About the Author

Madeline Malisa

Madeline Malisa, a former chief counsel to Maine Governor Paul LePage, is the policy director at the Foundation for Government Accountability.

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Democrats think they can finally beat Senator Susan Collins — and they’re betting that health care is key to victory. Maine’s governor, Janet Mills, recently announced that she’ll challenge Collins in the 2026 midterm election, and she and her fellow Democrats wasted no time criticizing the Republican for jeopardizing people’s access to care. But Mills should think twice, because talking about health care could cause voters to realize how much harm she’s done to her own state.

In announcing her candidacy (joining a primary field that includes the controversy-courting Graham Platner), Mills declared that she’d fight Collins and President Trump for “rip[ping] away health care from millions of Americans.” It’s likely a reference to their work requirements for able-bodied adults on Medicaid and their support for letting Joe Biden’s expanded Obamacare subsidies expire at the end of the year. The state Democratic Party doubled down, attacking Collins on the subsidies issue while saying that Mainers depend on the extra taxpayer help.