Gov. Mills said she voted for Jackson, despite lack of endorsement

While never endorsing him, Gov. Janet Mills said she voted Thursday for Troy Jackson, the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race, a nomination she initially sought. 

Mills, also a Democrat, wrote on social media that she cast her ballot in Farmington on the last day of early, in-person voting. She voted strictly down the party line, also backing Hannah Pingree for governor, Matt Dunlap for the 2nd Congressional District, Scott Landry for Maine House of Representatives District 75 and Bob Sullebarger for Maine Senate District 5.

“I encourage Maine people to vote for Democrats up and down the ballot who will stand up for our values and stand up to Trump,” wrote Mills.

Mills had launched her bid to challenge Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Susan Collins last October but suspended her campaign in April, citing a lack of funds, though she’d also been trailing in polls. The governor did not endorse Graham Platner, who secured the Democratic nomination in the June primary but dropped out in July after an accusation of sexual assault, which he has denied. 

Since Jackson, former logger and Maine Senate president, replaced Platner later that month, Mills has remained silent about his candidacy.  

Mills and Jackson clashed during their time together in state government. During Jackson’s primary bid for governor, he frequently highlighted his disagreements with Mills and her vetoes of bills he sponsored.

Ahead of Mills sharing who she voted for on Thursday, Jackson told reporters at a press briefing in Westbrook that he wasn’t bothered by the lack of endorsement.  

“Look, this race is not about me and Janet or anything like that,” he told MS NOW. “This race is about people that don’t have health care, people that don’t know how to fill their oil tanks, people that don’t know how to get their prescription drugs.”

He said he doesn’t “take it personally” and pointed out that U.S. Sen. Angus King, Collins’ independent Senate colleague, also has not endorsed him.