No longer on the campaign trail, Gov. Mills is having fun at Maine theaters
Gov. Janet Mills, whose U.S. Senate campaign came to an abrupt halt earlier this year, has been making the rounds at Maine arts venues in recent days, popping up on stages and mingling with performers in scenes that suggest she is embracing a slower pace as her time in office winds down.
On June 26, Mills made an unscheduled appearance at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, joining the Beatles tribute band The Walrus during a sold-out fundraiser. The band shared video on Facebook the following day, showing Mills standing center stage, waving her arms and encouraging the audience to sing along during a rendition of "All You Need is Love." The group's post read: "Surprise cameo from Gov. Janet Mills at last night's sold out fundraiser for Rockland Strand." They added: "Life is weird and wonderful!"
A few days later, on Wednesday, Mills turned up at the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick, where she took in a performance of "1776," the musical about the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. After the curtain fell, the theater's wardrobe department dressed her in a bright blue Revolutionary War-era coat, and she posed for photographs with the cast.
Curt Dale Clark, the theater's artistic director, said in a written statement that Mills spent time greeting cast members, musicians, crew and staff following the performance. "She was incredibly generous with her time, warmly greeting our cast, musicians, crew, and staff after the performance," Clark said. "It was clear she genuinely enjoyed the show, and having the opportunity to share this remarkable production with Maine's governor made for a very special evening."
Spokespeople for Mills did not respond Thursday to a request for an interview.
The recent outings mark a notable shift in public activity for Mills, a two-term Democrat who made history in 2018 as the first woman elected governor of Maine. She is now in the final six months of her tenure.
Mills suspended her U.S. Senate campaign in April, ending a bid that had been the subject of considerable speculation for months before she officially entered the race the previous October. At the time of her exit, she was trailing political newcomer Graham Platner, a 41-year-old military veteran and oysterman, in both polling and fundraising in the Democratic primary. Though Mills had emphasized her track record of winning statewide races, Platner's campaign drew stronger support, and questions about the 78-year-old governor's age added to the headwinds her campaign faced.
Mills, who has been described as a centrist but has moved leftward on issues including immigration enforcement and taxing the wealthy, remained on the June 9 primary ballot and drew 19 percent of the vote, compared with 72 percent for Platner. The primary also included a third candidate and a write-in.
Her recent theater visits come after several months of comparatively low public visibility, suggesting she may be settling into a more relaxed rhythm as her governorship draws to a close.
