Maine Gov Janet Mills, 78, says she’s not ‘Joe Biden’ when pressed on age in Senate race

WASHINGTON, DC: Democratic Maine Governor Janet Mills, who is running to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins, pushed back forcefully on questions about her age and health during a recent CNN interview.

The 78-year-old governor rejected comparisons to former President Joe Biden, whose age became a defining issue during the 2024 presidential race. Mills argued that voters see her performance up close and judge her based on results, not speculation.

Janet Mills pushes back on age and health concerns

CNN’s Manu Raju asked Mills about her age, noting that it had become a recurring concern among voters assessing her electability. “Speaking of electability, the one concern, one of the big concerns I hear about you is your age,” Raju said.

Mills responded with sarcasm, replying, “No! Really? Damn! I thought that wouldn’t come up.”

Raju then pressed further, asking whether memories of the Democratic Party’s struggles over Joe Biden’s age could hurt her campaign. “Do you think that the memory in your party about Joe Biden, is that going to be too much for you too?” he asked.

Mills sharply pushed back. “Good Lord! Oh, I’m not Joe Biden, for God’s sake. I’m healthy. People see me at work every day. They know that I can deliver. And I have delivered,” she said.

This was not the first time Mills had been confronted with questions about her age since entering the Senate race. At a campaign event, a voter asked how she planned to counter arguments that she was too old to run.

“The times are too urgent, too dangerous not to send the best person we have, the most tested candidate,” Mills responded.

Joe Biden’s age shaped the 2024 presidential race

Concerns about Biden’s age and mental sharpness intensified throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, when he was 81 years old and seeking another term.

Viral videos showing moments of confusion and reports of behind-the-scenes struggles fueled doubts about his fitness to serve. The scrutiny grew after his poor performance in a June 2024 debate against Donald Trump, prompting renewed calls from Democrats for him to step aside.

Weeks later, Biden exited the race after previously pledging to remain in the fight. His candidacy became a focal point in a broader national debate over aging leadership in American politics.

Democrats see Janet Mills as key to flipping the Senate

Democratic leaders welcomed Mills into the Senate race last fall, viewing the two-term governor as a battle-tested candidate capable of defeating Collins in a critical contest that could shape Senate control.

However, Mills faces a competitive primary challenge from Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oyster farmer and political newcomer who has gained traction among progressive voters seeking generational change.

Platner, backed by independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, has held 34 town halls across Maine. Mills, meanwhile, has focused on smaller roundtables her campaign describes as “candid conversations.”

Asked about Platner’s larger crowds, Mills said, “He has energy, but you also have to have positions that are backed up by knowledge and experience and what you’re going to do and how you’re gonna do it. … It’s easy to talk the talk. It’s a lot harder to walk the walk, and I’ve walked the walk.”

Platner later called the remark “ironic” in a CNN interview, arguing that his policy proposals and organizing efforts showed a clearer vision for change. The primary winner will face a tough general election, with the Republican-aligned Senate Leadership Fund planning to spend at least $42 million to support Collins.