Janet T. Mills

Janet T. Mills is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the 75th governor of Maine, a position she has held since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, Mills has a long history of public service, including roles as the attorney general of Maine and as a member of the Maine House of Representatives. Her career has been marked by significant legal and political achievements, making her a prominent figure in Maine's political landscape.

Early life and career

Janet Trafton Mills was born on December 30, 1947, in Farmington, Maine. She is the daughter of Katherine Louise Coffin, a schoolteacher, and Sumner Peter Mills Jr., a lawyer who served as the U.S. Attorney for Maine during the 1950s. Mills graduated from Farmington High School in 1965. During her teenage years, she faced a significant health challenge, spending nearly a year in a full-body cast due to severe scoliosis, which was later corrected through surgery.

Mills began her higher education at Colby College before relocating to San Francisco, where she worked as a nursing assistant in a psychiatric hospital. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1970. While at UMass Boston, Mills traveled extensively through Western Europe and became fluent in French. She pursued a legal education at the University of Maine School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor in 1976. During her studies, she gained practical experience as a summer intern for civil rights attorney Charles Morgan Jr. of the American Civil Liberties Union in Washington, D.C.

Mills's early career in law began with her appointment as Maine's first female criminal prosecutor by Governor Joe Brennan. She served as an assistant attorney general from 1976 to 1980, focusing on prosecuting serious crimes, including homicides. In 1980, she was elected as the district attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties, becoming the first woman to hold such a position in New England. Mills was reelected to this role three times. In 1994, she made an unsuccessful bid for the United States Congress in Maine's 2nd congressional district, losing the Democratic primary to John Baldacci.

In addition to her legal work, Mills co-founded the Maine Women's Lobby and served on its board of directors starting in 1998. She was also involved in national politics, acting as a field coordinator for Bill Bradley's presidential campaign in 2000. In 2002, Mills was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, where she served on several committees, including judiciary, criminal justice, and appropriations, and was reelected in 2004, 2006, and 2008.

Governorship

Mills was elected as Maine's 55th attorney general in 2009, beginning her first term on January 6 of that year. Her tenure was interrupted when Republicans gained control of the Maine legislature in 2010, leading to her departure from the role in 2011. Following this, she took on the position of vice chair of the Maine Democratic Party and joined the law firm Preti Flaherty as a lawyer in its Litigation Group.

After Democrats regained control of the legislature in 2012, Mills was elected attorney general once again, taking the oath of office on January 7, 2013. She was reelected in December 2014, despite the Maine Senate being under Republican control. During her time as attorney general, Mills had notable conflicts with Republican Governor Paul LePage, particularly regarding legal matters where she declined to represent the state in issues she deemed lacking legal merit.

In July 2017, Mills announced her candidacy for governor of Maine in the 2018 election. She won the Democratic nomination in June 2018 after a competitive primary that utilized ranked-choice voting. In the general election, Mills faced Republican nominee Shawn Moody, independent Maine State Treasurer Terry Hayes, and independent businessman Alan Caron. She secured her position as governor with a majority of the votes, becoming the first woman to hold the office in Maine's history. Mills's election was notable for her significant voter turnout, receiving more than 320,000 votes, the highest number for a gubernatorial candidate in Maine's history.

Mills ran for reelection in 2022 and faced no opposition in the Democratic primary, solidifying her position as the party's nominee. The general election saw her continue to build on her initial success as governor, further establishing her presence in Maine politics.

Policy focus and legacy

As governor, Mills has focused on a range of issues pertinent to the state of Maine, including healthcare, education, and economic development. Her administration has emphasized expanding access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas, and addressing the challenges faced by Maine's aging population. Mills has also prioritized education reform, advocating for increased funding for public schools and initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes for students across the state.

Mills's governance has been characterized by her commitment to environmental sustainability and addressing climate change. She has supported policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy sources, reflecting Maine's unique environmental landscape and the importance of natural resources to the state's economy.

In addition to her policy initiatives, Mills's tenure has been marked by her efforts to foster bipartisanship and collaboration within the state government. Her experience in both the legislative and executive branches of government has informed her approach to governance, as she seeks to navigate the complexities of Maine's political landscape.

Mills announced her candidacy for the 2026 United States Senate election in October 2025, seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins. However, she suspended her campaign in April 2026. As of now, she continues to serve as governor, with her administration's policies and initiatives shaping the future of Maine.