Janet T. Mills
2019 - Present
2027
6
Janet T. Mills (Democratic Party) is the Governor of Maine. She assumed office on January 2, 2019. Her current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Mills (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for Governor of Maine. She won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Mills was born in Farmington, Maine, in 1947.[1] She graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Boston with a bachelor's degree and later earned a law degree from the University of Maine.[2]
From 1976 to 1980, she served as an assistant attorney general in Maine, where she prosecuted homicide and other major crimes. In 1978, she co-founded the Maine Women's Lobby, which described itself as “an organization devoted to equal rights for men and women in Maine and to helping Maine women and girls realize their full potential."[3] She served as district attorney for the counties of Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford from 1980 to 1994.[4][5] Mills was the first woman district attorney in New England, and she won re-election three times.[6] In 1994, she ran for election to Maine's 2nd Congressional District but lost in the Democratic primary to John Baldacci.[7] She then practiced law alongside her brother Peter Mills (R) at Wright and Mills, P.A. from 1995 to 2008.[8]
In 2002, Mills was elected to the Maine House of Representatives, where she represented District 78. She was re-elected in 2004, 2006, and 2008, representing District 89. During her tenure, she served on the Judiciary, Criminal Justice, and Appropriations committees. [9] In 2008, she was elected by her colleagues in the legislature to serve as the attorney general of Maine, where she served from 2009 to 2011 and 2013 to 2019. She was the first woman to hold this position in Maine.[2] From 2011 to 2013, she was the vice-chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Maine.[10]
In 2018, Mills ran for governor and defeated Republican Shawn Moody 50.8%-30.2%, becoming the first woman to serve as governor in the state's history.[2] She was re-elected in 2022 after defeating Paul LePage (R) 55.7%-42.4%.
On her first day in office in 2019, Mills signed an executive order to expand Medicaid in Maine.[11] While in office, she also signed a law establishing a paid family and medical leave program, creating a tax credit for individuals or corporations that invest in constructing affordable housing units, and allowing access to abortions later in pregnancy in cases of medical emergencies.[12][13][14]
Following the October 2023 mass shooting at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Mills signed legislation that expanded background checks to private sales, increased mental health funding, and expanded the state's "yellow flag law."[15] She additionally allowed a bill requiring a 72 hour waiting period for firearm purchases to go into effect without her signature while vetoing a bill that would ban bump stocks.[16]
According to News Center Maine, Mills' 2024 State of the State address "announced actions on the state budget, education, health care, housing, the opioid epidemic, and child safety."[17]
Biography
Mills was born in Farmington, Maine, on December 30, 1947.[18] She received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law. Mills worked as an assistant U.S. attorney and was elected district attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties. She served in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2009. Mills also served as Maine’s attorney general from 2009-2011 and from 2013-2019. From 2011-2013, she served in the leadership of the Maine Democratic Party. Mills is a founder of the Maine Women's Lobby, which defined its mission as fighting domestic violence.[19][20][21]
Political career
Maine Governor (2019-present)
Mills was sworn in as Maine's 75th governor on January 2, 2019. She was elected on November 6, 2018, to a four-year term.
Maine Attorney General (2009-2011; 2013-2019)
Mills was the attorney general of Maine from 2009 to 2011. She was elected to a second term in the position by the Maine State Legislature on December 4, 2012. She was elected twice more in 2014 and 2016.[22][23][24]
Maine House of Representatives (2002-2009)
Mills represented District 78 and District 89 in the Maine House of Representatives. During her tenure, she served on the Judiciary, Criminal Justice, and Appropriations committees.
Elections
2022
See also: Maine gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Governor of Maine
Incumbent Janet T. Mills defeated Paul LePage and Sam Hunkler in the general election for Governor of Maine on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Janet T. Mills (D) | 55.7 | 376,934 | |
| Paul LePage (R) | 42.4 | 287,304 | ||
| Sam Hunkler (Independent) | 1.9 | 12,581 | ||
| Total votes: 676,819 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Governor of Maine
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Janet T. Mills in round 1 .
| Total votes: 69,422 |
||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Glowa (D)
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Governor of Maine
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Paul LePage in round 1 .
| Total votes: 59,713 |
||||
2018
General election
General election for Governor of Maine
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Janet T. Mills in round 1 .
| Total votes: 630,667 |
||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Richard Light (L)
- Betsy Marsano (G)
- Karmo Sanders (Independent)
- Ken A. Capron (Independent)
- John Jenkins (Independent)
- Jay Parker Dresser (G)
- Ethan Alcorn (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Governor of Maine
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Janet T. Mills in round 4 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
| Total votes: 126,139 |
||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Cynthia Soma-Hernandez (D)
- J. Martin Vachon (D)
- Patrick Eisenhart (D)
- Sean Faircloth (D)
- James Boyle (D)
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Governor of Maine
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Shawn Moody in round 1 .
| Total votes: 94,382 |
||||
2016
Mills was re-elected to a two-year term as the attorney general of Maine by the Maine Legislature on December 7, 2016.[24]
2014
Mills was re-elected to a two-year term as the attorney general of Maine by the Maine Legislature on December 3, 2014.[23]
2012
Mills was elected as the 57th attorney general of Maine by the Maine Legislature in December 2012.[25]
2008
Mills was elected as the 55th attorney general of Maine by the Maine Legislature in December 2008, defeating John Brautigam (D) and Sean Faircloth (D).[26]
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Janet T. Mills did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Campaign website
Mills' campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
TACKLING THE OPIOID CRISIS At least one person a day dies of a drug overdose, increasingly from heroin and fentanyl. Two-thirds of the 368 drugged-driving traffic stops in 2016 tested positive for opioids, according to the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Lab: Analysis Maine Rural Drug and Alcohol Research Program at the University of Maine. In 2015 an estimated 15,000 people received treatment for substance-use disorder in Maine, while another 25,000 could not get treatment because of a lack of capacity or lack of insurance. There is no silver bullet to this complex problem, which is not simply a public safety or law enforcement matter, but a full-blown public health crisis that leaves thousands of children without a parent, communities devastated, employers without a healthy workforce, and families torn apart. Here are 10 things we can do: Target the areas with a high number of overdoses, hospital admissions and drug-related crimes, and provide them with additional medical and economic resources — an opioid version of Pine Tree Zones. Rein in prescribing practices that encourage addiction and put opioids in the hands of people who misuse and divert them. A new law to monitor and limit opioid prescriptions, proposed by the governor and enacted in 2016, is a good beginning, but analyzing prescribing trends and providing better training for prescribers will further reduce overprescribing and diversion. Make naloxone, also known as Narcan, available to every family and agency that needs it. The Maine Board of Pharmacy drafted regulations for over-the-counter naloxone; these rules should be promulgated and adopted. Establish an opioid emergency line — a 2-1-1 line on steroids — to provide accurate information and emergency referrals 24 hours a day. Lift the state’s two-year limit on methadone treatment for Medicaid patients and raise Medicaid reimbursement rates for treatment, which are unrealistic and unsupported by research. Expand drug courts and provide medication-assisted treatment and supportive services to participants. Along with prosecuting those who poison our communities, we must also provide help to users in the most effective way. Provide treatment slots and supportive therapy across the state, along the lines of Vermont’s “hub and spokes” model, providing a “hub” of medication treatment to reduce chemical dependency and “spokes” of primary care, intensive outpatient services, and assistance with housing, employment, and so on. We cannot treat the physiological symptoms without knowing the cause and treating the whole person and his or her family. Make recovery coaches available on call at every emergency room and clinic, and medication-assisted treatment available for every person with substance-use disorder, reducing the revolving door of overdose, revival and addiction. Expand the number of detox slots, recovery residence beds and peer recovery centers, especially in underserved areas, making sure there is always a window of hope. Provide prevention programs in our schools and communities, focusing on self-esteem and decision-making skills, starting in early childhood, and identifying and addressing “adverse childhood experiences” that contribute to substance-use disorders later. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a registry of effective programs, and the National Institutes of Health has a summary of “life-skills trainings.” Look at what Iceland has done with its community programs for all ages, along the lines of L.L. Bean’s “Take it Outside” focus, markedly reducing their incidences of substance-use disorder. What we are doing now is not winning this war. We must do more than “just say no.” The solution requires compassion, community, a change in culture and our full commitment as a state. One more overdose is one too many. One more family torn asunder is one too many. One more orphaned child is one too many. Let’s make 2018 a new beginning. GROWING THE MAINE ECONOMY Some policies we should start with include: Bringing our infrastructure up to modern standards, including high-speed internet. One step is to implement a ‘dig-once’ policy, which calls for road construction to also lay fiber-optic cable alongside. Another is to finally put in place a comprehensive statewide broadband strategy, to coordinate and connect the patchwork of private, local and state projects currently underway. Building a first-rate education system that will attract young families and train the next generation of Maine entrepreneurs and workers — including fully funding the state’s education obligations. In addition to computer science programs at the university level, we should offer similar courses at the middle- and high-school levels, as well as investing in vocational and technical programs that prepare students for good-paying jobs. And at the college level, we should partner with local businesses to match our programs to their needs, and then place graduates with Maine companies that are desperate for skilled workers. Taking stock of our competitive advantages, including beautiful and spacious abandoned mill buildings, a solid bedrock of granite, and cold temperatures. To take just one example, Maine is ideally situated to host the next wave of data storage facilities, a rapidly growing industry that spends spend colossal amounts on air-conditioning, and which requires areas without natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes. With the right investments in broadband infrastructure, data warehousing could bring good-paying construction, maintenance, programming, and business development jobs to exactly those areas hit hardest by mill closings. Investing in research and development. Currently Maine ranks only 36th among states in R&D spending as a percent of GDP. Nevertheless, projects like the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at UMaine Orono create hundreds of jobs and dozens of spin-off companies, including groundbreaking research on offshore wind energy and new wood products. As Governor, I will work to make Maine a leader in cutting-edge research, especially in clean energy and material sciences. ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER Food insecurity is a complex phenomenon, but at least one factor is clear. The LePage administration has remained committed to an ideological crusade against people living in poverty, purging tens of thousands of Maine families from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, even as more and more Mainers go hungry each year — all based on the specious premise that the lure of $4 a day keeps able-bodied adults from seeking work. If LePage’s theory was true, we would have expected to see poverty and hunger drop in the wake of his policies — instead, we saw precisely the opposite. Teachers, especially in rural areas, report that their classes are full of children too distracted by empty stomachs to focus. Food pantries can’t keep their shelves stocked. There is no reason that Maine children should go hungry more often than those in Iowa or New Hampshire, and as Governor, I’m committed to reversing this trend. I’d start by: Repealing the asset test that penalizes families for saving Taking advantage of the USDA policy allowing states to apply for broader aid in places that have experienced high unemployment, largely in western and northern Maine Growing the local food economy— small farms, processors and distributors — by supporting programs like Maine Harvest Bucks, which allow SNAP receipts to get double their monies worth of fresh, local produce at farmers’ markets, retail stores, co-ops, and farm stands Bringing advocates, public health experts, educators, and affected communities to the table to develop policies that ensure no Maine person is forced to go without food EXPANDING MEDICAID Medicaid expansion will put Maine hospitals on more stable financial footing. This is particularly important in the rural parts of our state, where many hospitals struggle with the high number of patients without insurance, and are increasingly in danger of closure or consolidation. Medicaid expansion will create jobs and strengthen the Maine economy. The nearly $500 million a year in Federal dollars flowing into the state would create about six thousand new jobs — not to mention the economic benefits of a healthier, more secure workforce. Medicaid expansion will save lives. Approximately 70,000 Maine people will gain access to health insurance, and in turn be able to access regular doctor’s visits, vaccinations, and other forms of preventative care. In particular, increased access to addiction treatment and counseling are critical as we confront the opioid epidemic across our state. That’s why I was so thrilled that Maine voters passed Question 2 by a margin of nearly two to one. Sadly, Governor LePage is already looking for ways to overrule the people of Maine, arguing that they voted ‘wrong.’ Even more blatantly, Republican candidate Mary Mayhew said that she didn’t believe that the state should expand Medicaid “all because you put a couple sentences on the ballot.” This is a familiar tactic; as Attorney General, the very first battle I fought with Governor LePage was his attempt to kick thousands of low-income children off Medicaid. As Attorney General, I’m fully committed to ensuring Medicaid expansion is implemented now, in accordance with the will of the people. As Governor, I’ll continue to do everything in my power to ensure every Mainer has access to high-quality and affordable healthcare. WORKING WITH MAINE'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE As Attorney General, it has been my job to defend the state in litigation – that's the oath I took – and I don't always get to choose the cases that come in front of my office. But the role of Governor is very different from that of the Attorney General. As such, my first priority will be to improve communication and trust between the four Tribes, the state, and local governments, so that together, we can improve the lives, opportunities and wellbeing of all our people. What I’ve done as Attorney General As Attorney General and as a member of the Judiciary Committee in the past, I have worked on legislation that amended the Settlement Act to create a Maliseet Tribal Court, to expand the jurisdiction of existing Tribal Courts, to add parcels to Tribal lands and to dedicate highway fines to Tribal budgets. I have stood with Tribes across the country, including in Maine, to oppose former EPA Director Scott Pruitt's attempt to end regulations on mercury and airborne toxins – which are the biggest threat to Maine's lakes and rivers. I have strongly opposed proposals to drill for oil and gas off our shores, because of the devastation any oil spill would bring to our fisheries, to our tourism industry and to sacred Tribal lands at Pleasant Point. I have read the Truth & Reconciliation report, and my Office has worked hard to make sure that caseworkers fulfill their obligations under the Indian Child Welfare Act. I have stood up for the Indian Child Welfare Act several times in cases in the U.S. Supreme Court. I have expanded the Civil Rights Program in the Attorney General's Office, where we have partnered with nearly 200 schools and trained more than 1,500 students last year alone. What I will do as Governor I want state government to be a partner with Tribal governments, not an enemy of them. There is so much we can accomplish together – economic development, expansion of broadband, ecotourism, better health care and educational opportunity for all – when we engage in communication, rather than litigation. As Governor, I will meet regularly with the Tribal Chiefs and Tribal Councils. I will appoint cabinet members who understand Tribal issues. I will appoint people to the Maine Indian Tribal State Commission who will carry out its mission, which has too long been neglected. I will work to enhance the Commission's authority and responsibilities, making that body a forum for real communication and real problem solving and dispute resolution. I will appoint judges to state courts who fully understand the Indian Child Welfare Act, and who are familiar with Tribal Courts and customs and with the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation report. I will partner with the Tribal Nations to create jobs, bring broadband to the reservations; and work on expanding ecotourism and new industries I will work to remove once and for all, offensive names for teams, schools and mascots that have no place in our modern-day society. We have a lot to do together, whether it's fighting the opiate epidemic, preserving our clean air and water, or providing vital health care to all Mainers and to Tribal members dealing with health challenges at a much higher rate than the general population. Together, I know we’re up to the task of meeting and overcoming these challenges. |
” |
| —Janet Mills' campaign website (2018)[28] | ||
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Ballot measure activity
The following table details Mills' ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for Janet Mills | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Status |
| Maine Question 6, Require Indian Treaty Obligations and Other Constitutional Provisions Included in Official Printing Amendment (2023) | 2023 | Opposed[29] | |
| Maine Question 3, Pine Tree Power Company Initiative (2023) | 2023 | Opposed[30] | |
| Maine Question 1, Electric Transmission Line Restrictions and Legislative Approval Initiative (2021) | 2021 | Opposed[31] | |
| Maine Question 1, Religious and Philosophical Vaccination Exemptions Referendum (March 2020) | 2020 | Opposed[32] | |
| Maine Question 1, Transportation Infrastructure Bond Issue (2019) | 2019 | Supported[33] | |
| Maine Question 1, Casino or Slot Machines in York County Initiative (2017) | 2017 | Opposed[34] | |
| Maine Question 2, Medicaid Expansion Initiative (2017) | 2017 | Supported[35] | |
| Maine Question 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative | 2016 | Opposed[36] | |
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Mills was married to Stan Kuklinski from 1985 until his death in 2014. She has five daughters by marriage and four grandchildren.[37]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Governor of Maine |
Officeholder Governor of Maine |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ National Governors Association, "Janet Mills," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "About the Governor," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Sun Journal, "Mills elected to Maine Women's Lobby board," December 22, 1998
- ↑ WGME, "Janet Mills: From Farmington to the Blaine House," January 2, 2019
- ↑ Bates College SCARAB, "Mills, Janet oral history interview," December 20, 1999
- ↑ News Center Maine, "Janet Mills, Maine's first female DA, aims to be first female governor," October 16, 2019
- ↑ Penobscot Bay Pilot, "Maine’s governor born for hard times, and hard decisions," August 15, 2020
- ↑ SCORE Maine, "About Attorney General Janet T. Mills," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Democratic Governors Association, "Janet Mills," accessed August 27, 2024
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Portland lawyer chosen as Maine Dems chairman," January 24, 2011
- ↑ Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Governor Mills Signs Executive Order Directing DHHS to Move Forward Medicaid Expansion," January 3, 2019
- ↑ Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Governor Mills Signs Fecteau’s Affordable Housing Bill Into Law," February 12, 2020
- ↑ 'Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Governor Mills Signs Historic Budget Into Law," July 11, 2023
- ↑ PBS News, "Maine Gov. Mills expands access to abortion later in pregnancy," July 19, 2023
- ↑ Office of Governor Janet T. Mills, "Governor Mills Signs Legislation to Strengthen Public Safety & Maine’s Mental Health System," April 26, 2024]
- ↑ AP News," "Maine governor will allow one final gun safety bill, veto another in wake of Lewiston mass shootings," April 29, 2024
- ↑ News Center Maine, "In written portion, Gov. Mills announces actions on education, opioid epidemic, and child welfare," January 30, 2024
- ↑ WGME, "Janet Mills: From Farmington to the Blaine House," January 2, 2019
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedBio - ↑ LinkedIn, "Janet Mills," accessed September 2, 2022
- ↑ Janet Mills for Maine, “Meet Janet,” September 2, 2022
- ↑ Free Press Online, "New But Familiar Attorney General & Secretary of State and New Treasurer" accessed December 7, 2012
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Bangor Daily News, "Attorney general, secretary of state re-elected, state treasurer ousted by Legislature," December 4, 2014
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 The Washington Times, "The Latest: Maine legislators re-elect AG Mills," December 7, 2016
- ↑ PretiFlaherty, "Preti Flaherty Attorney Janet Mills Elected Maine Attorney General," December 6, 2012
- ↑ Pine Tree Politics, " Janet Mills to Serve as Attorney General," December 2, 2008
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Janet Mills for Governor, “Issues,” accessed September 13, 2018
- ↑ Spectrum News, "Portland Press Herald: Gov. Mills, lawmakers clash over printing tribal treaty language in Maine Constitution," March 8, 2023
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Janet Mills opposes utility takeover on Maine's November ballot," September 20, 2023
- ↑ Maine Governor, "Governor Mills: Why I voted No on Question One," October 28, 2021
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Janet Mills opposes vaccine-choice referendum," January 31, 2020
- ↑ Maine State Legislature "Actions for LD 1850," accessed August 27, 2019
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Maine gubernatorial candidates on York County casino: Vote it down," September 21, 2017
- ↑ Mainers for Health Care, "Yes on 2 Endorsers," accessed May 13, 2021
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "What stands between Maine and legal marijuana use?" May 4, 2016
- ↑ Janet T. Mills, "About," accessed May 13, 2021
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Paul LePage (R) |
Governor of Maine 2019-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Attorney General of Maine 2012-2019 |
Succeeded by Aaron Frey (D) |
| Preceded by - |
Maine House of Representatives 2002-2009 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
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