Story correction updates Janet Mills and Elissa Slotkin descriptions
Updated
Updated · NPR · May 2
Story correction updates Janet Mills and Elissa Slotkin descriptions
2 articles · Updated · NPR · May 2
The revision says Mills is Maine's current governor, not former governor, and that Slotkin was running for an open Michigan Senate seat vacated by retiring Democrat Debbie Stabenow.
The correction applies to an earlier version of a report on 2026 Senate races to watch and fixes how both Democratic figures were characterised.
No other changes were noted in the correction, which addresses factual errors in candidate and officeholder status ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
With a top contender now out, can a political newcomer actually flip Maine’s pivotal Senate seat?
2026 Senate Showdowns: Platner’s Rise in Maine and Michigan’s Fractured Democratic Primary
Overview
In Maine, Governor Janet Mills' sudden withdrawal from the Senate race cleared the way for progressive Graham Platner, whose rise marks a shift in the Democratic Party but brings controversy due to his past social media posts and a Nazi tattoo. Senate Majority Leader Schumer quickly endorsed Platner, though Republicans plan to use these controversies against him. Meanwhile, Michigan's open Senate seat has sparked a fierce Democratic primary among establishment-backed Haley Stevens, pragmatic progressive Mallory McMorrow, and progressive Abdul El-Sayed, who faces criticism for controversial associations. Incumbent Senator Elissa Slotkin's refusal to cooperate with a federal inquiry complicates party unity. These races highlight deep divisions between centrists and progressives, shaping the 2026 midterms amid a polarized national landscape.