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Cathy Landau-Painter of Camden served as chief of staff to the Connecticut Speaker of the House, trained candidates for office, and held local elected office herself. At AARP, she led state and national issue campaigns.
We rightly condemn racism. We rightly condemn misogyny. And yet ageism — particularly when directed at women — remains one of the last socially acceptable forms of bias in American public life.
Bernie Sanders and Angus King, both older men, are routinely celebrated for their experience and passion. Their age is treated as wisdom. But when a woman of the same generation steps forward with an equally distinguished record, her age becomes the story.
That is not analysis. That is a double standard, and it has no place in this race. The real issue is fitness to serve, not age.
What Maine voters deserve is a serious conversation about fitness for office. Not age. Not novelty. Fitness.
That means asking hard questions: Does this candidate have the ethical and moral foundation to represent us with integrity? Like Margaret Chase Smith on our conscience; and like Ed Muskie on our clean air and clean water. Do they bring authentic commitment to the people of Maine, or are they running on ambition alone? Do they have the proven ability to govern? And do their proposed solutions reflect what is achievable — grounded in the real challenges Maine working families face every day?
I believe Janet Mills can answer every one of those questions, with a clear and compelling answer. She understands governance and leadership and can hit the ground running on Day One. She can both represent the people of Maine and work for the people of Maine because she understands “The System” and “The Business of Government.” And in these incredibly hyper-politicized, challenging times, I think Mills’s experience, wisdom and temperament are greatly needed in the U.S. Senate.
Janet Mills understands that Congress is not working for Maine people, which is a central reason she is running for federal office. Regardless of party affiliation, many Mainers, and many Americans have lost faith in political parties generally. Many of us feel compelled to cast our vote for someone new, someone who might change the status quo. Perhaps that is why we sometimes err on the side of electing individuals to office who are not qualified either in terms of their experience or their moral temperament.
As Mainers, we deserve to have a proven leader represent our uniquely Maine interests. As attorney general, Mills fought for Maine families against powerful interests. As governor, she made difficult decisions with steadiness and principle, even when it was politically costly. I believe she does not waver based on what is popular. She acts based on what is right for the people of Maine. That consistency of character is exactly what this office demands. And she’s shown she knows how to listen and to work with people who have different points of view from her own.
Her authenticity is equally unmistakable. Janet Mills is who she is — and Maine voters know her. She does not perform passion for this state; she lives it. Her priorities are not talking points. They have been central to her entire public life. We will not always agree with every decision she makes. No elected representative is perfect. But we can trust that her decisions are guided by a moral and ethical compass consistent with the values of the people of Maine.
From my perspective, anyone who believes the polls or Washington consultants have settled this race does not know Maine. This state does not reward candidates at the ideological extremes. What prevails here, time and again, are reasoned, independent minds who speak to the full breadth of the electorate.
Maine’s rural communities, its independent voters, its women, and its people of color, share a common expectation: that their U.S. senator will govern with integrity, practicality, and genuine care for our state. The jury is still out, and the polls cannot tell us what those voters will ultimately decide.
Maine deserves a senator whose fitness for office is beyond question, someone with the moral grounding, authentic commitment, governing experience, and the practical vision to fight effectively for our state. That conversation — about character, competency, and the real issues facing working Maine families — is the one worth having.
The double standard has been noted. Now let it be answered. I believe Maine should send Janet Mills to Washington.