Dan Kleban, the co-founder of Maine Beer Company and a political newcomer, has ended his bid for the U.S. Senate just over a month after launching his campaign. In a move that surprised some but clarified the Democratic landscape in Maine, Kleban announced on October 15, 2025, that he would step aside and throw his support behind Governor Janet Mills. His decision, he said, was driven by timing and a strong belief in Mills’ leadership, particularly as the state faces mounting challenges around healthcare and the cost of living.
“I’m not a politician,” Kleban declared in a public statement, according to Craft Brewing Business. “I’m a guy who loves his family and was blessed to start a business in the state that gave me so much.” Throughout his brief campaign, Kleban’s message echoed the ethos that has defined Maine Beer Company: “Do What’s Right.” That philosophy, he explained, had shaped not only his business—where employees are offered living wages, full healthcare, retirement benefits, and a commitment to clean energy—but also his approach to public service.
Though he has left the race, Kleban was clear that his commitment to Maine is far from over. “Our message was right, the timing isn’t,” he said. “This isn’t the end of my fight … I remain committed to serving Maine and advancing the values of respect, fairness, and leaving our kids a better world than the one we inherited.”
Kleban’s exit has immediate implications for the Democratic primary, which has only grown more competitive with the official entry of Governor Janet Mills. After months of speculation, Mills announced on October 14, 2025, that she would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Senator Susan Collins in the November 2026 general election. Her decision was met with both excitement and trepidation within the party, as she joined a crowded field of at least nine other Democratic contenders.
As Maine Public reported, Mills’ candidacy has already shifted the political calculus. Jim Melcher, a political science professor at the University of Maine Farmington, told the outlet, “If you’re talking about the general election, you’re talking about the best-known Democrat in the state. She has high name recognition. She’s served two terms as governor and been attorney general and been a state legislator. And none of the other candidates really have had much of that.”
Mills’ political resume is formidable: two terms as governor, a stint as attorney general, and years as a state legislator. She’s known for championing abortion rights, taking progressive stances on climate and renewable energy, enacting paid family medical leave, and expanding healthcare coverage. Notably, her national profile rose during a confrontation with then-President Donald Trump at the White House, when she famously told him, “See you in court.” That moment, according to Maine Public, galvanized many Democrats who wanted a more assertive approach from their leaders.
Yet Mills’ entry has not been universally celebrated within her own party. Some younger and more progressive Democrats see her as too establishment and, at 77, as a symbol of the old guard. Social media chatter and party activists have questioned whether she’s liberal enough on emerging issues, echoing divisions reminiscent of the Bernie Sanders-Hillary Clinton split in earlier cycles. Melcher explained, “There is a wing of the Democratic Party that thinks that Janet Mills has particularly not been as liberal on some newer issues. Whether that applies to the party as a whole, I’m not sure. But certainly among a lot of activists, there had always been some unease with her.”
That unease is fueling the campaigns of other Democratic hopefuls, most notably Graham Platner and Jordan Wood. Platner, in particular, has made a splash by tapping into voters’ appetite for something different. Drawing comparisons to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s surprise victory in New York, Melcher noted, “I think the AOC race demonstrates that sometimes the dynamic does not work in favor of the candidate that’s got the traditional name recognition if people feel like there’s a reason to vote for something else.”
Despite these challenges, Mills remains the frontrunner, thanks to her extensive connections, robust fundraising potential, and endorsements from national groups like Emily’s List and the Senate Democratic Caucus. Her campaign wasted no time in forming a joint fundraising committee with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), signaling her intent to marshal significant national resources for the race.
This influx of outside support is a double-edged sword in Maine, a state where voters famously prize their independence. “People in Maine like to say, ‘We’re independent, we don’t like being told what to do,’” Melcher observed. He pointed to past backlash against national involvement, such as the failed background check initiative supported by Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety in 2016. While some Democratic voters are likely to welcome support from groups like Emily’s List, others may be wary of the national party’s heavy hand.
In her campaign launch video, Mills wasted no time drawing a sharp contrast with Senator Collins and former President Trump. “But there are too many politicians in Washington, including Susan Collins,” Mills said, before a clip of Trump thanking Collins played. Mills continued, “who have forgotten their principles and let bullies like Trump have their way. And it’s hurting Maine people. … I hear my father’s voice saying, ‘Fight back, Janet.’ I won’t sit idly by while Maine people suffer and politicians like Susan Collins bend a knee as if this were normal.”
While Mills and Collins have maintained a respectful working relationship over the years, the campaign trail promises to test those ties. Melcher suggested that Mills’ tough rhetoric is aimed squarely at energizing the Democratic base, particularly those who want a more aggressive stance against Trump and his allies. “That’s probably smart politics on her part, to bring in Trump praising Susan Collins, even though at other times, Trump has not been nearly as happy with her,” he said.
National political analysts have taken notice of Mills’ entry, with election forecasters like The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia shifting their assessment of the race from favoring Collins to a toss-up. Melcher agreed that the race was always likely to be competitive, noting that while Mills’ name recognition and experience give her an edge, the Democratic nominee—whoever that may be—will have no shortage of financial support.
The primary itself could prove unpredictable. With so many candidates and the possibility of ranked-choice voting, there’s a real chance that no one will secure more than 50% of the vote on the first round. As Melcher put it, “I would say she’s the frontrunner, but she is most certainly not a prohibitive favorite.”
As the Democratic field consolidates in the wake of Kleban’s exit and Mills’ high-profile entry, Maine’s Senate race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in the nation. With questions swirling about generational change, establishment power, and the role of national money, the outcome is anything but certain. For now, all eyes are on Maine as the state prepares for a political showdown that could reverberate far beyond its borders.
