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Gov. Janet Mills raised roughly $ 1 million in the first 24 hours since formally entering the Democratic primary to determine who will take on Republican Susan Collins for U.S. Senate, her campaign announced Wednesday.

A spokesperson said her fundraising haul shows enthusiasm in Maine and across the country for her campaign, which received donations from all 16 Maine counties and all 50 states, with 98% of the donations being $100 or less.

“Maine people know that Janet Mills is a strong, barrier-breaking leader with a proven track record of fighting for what’s right and delivering real results,” spokesperson Scott Ogden said in a written statement.

Campaigns have until midnight Wednesday to file their latest fundraising reports, covering activity through Sept. 30, with the Federal Elections Commission.

Mills won’t have to file her first campaign finance report until Jan. 31, since she entered the race after the deadline.

Collins is expected to file her finance report later in the day, but her campaign said she has raised $8.1 million so far this cycle. That includes $1.9 million from June through September.

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“With contributions from all 16 Maine counties and every state, this quarter demonstrated strong, widespread support. We will be well-positioned to mount a vigorous campaign when the race commences next year,” said Amy Abbott, finance director for Collins’ campaign.

Mills’ leading opponents in the Democratic primary, Graham Platner and Jordan Wood, have each raised large sums. Platner says he’s raised $4 million since late August, while Wood says he’s raised $3 million since April.

Wood has been in the race the longest and has been holding town halls across the state since the spring. His campaign said he’s received 140,000 individual donations from Mainers in all 16 counties.

 “People across our state want a new generation of leadership who will stand up to Donald Trump, end the political corruption in Washington, and deliver big solutions to the affordability crisis facing Maine families,” Wood said in a written statement.

Platner, however, has captured more enthusiasm so far, drawing more than 1,000 people to a town hall event in Portland and hundreds more at events in smaller and more rural towns like Calais and Caribou. His campaign said 82% of his donations were from Maine.

“One thing that has been crystal clear is that everyone is ready for change,” Platner said in a written statement. “When I get to Washington, I will be ready to take on the establishment and actually fight to make the life of every Mainer not just better, but easier, because every Mainer deserves so much more than what we are currently getting from our leaders.”

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Platner’s campaign said it also has seen a boost since Mills entered, having raised $500,000 at a rate of one donation every 8 seconds. That total suggests Platner’s support remains strong, even with Mills in the race.

Brunswick Democrat David Costello has raised a little more than $19,800 since entering the race in June, according to his filing with the Federal Election Commission.

In addition to direct fundraising, both Mills and Collins are expected to get help from outside groups.

Mills’ campaign has already formed a joint fundraising committee with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

Collins is also expected to receive support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee. And a super PAC aligned with Collins called Pine Tree Results had raised $5.6 million through June 30.

Randy Billings is a government watchdog and political reporter who has been the State House bureau chief since 2021. He was named the Maine Press Association’s Journalist of the Year in 2020. He joined...

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