AUGUSTA, Maine — As Vice President Kamala Harris consolidates support from within the Democratic Party after President Joe Biden ended his run for re-election on Sunday, Gov. Janet Mills is offering a hearty endorsement for her candidacy.
“I’m delighted that she’s going to be our candidate for president of the United States,” Mills said Tuesday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for an expanded child care center at the Sanford-Springvale YMCA.
Beyond party, Mills and Harris share a past profession. Both served as district attorneys and then served as state attorneys general, with Mills in Maine and Harris in California.
“We have a shared history that way," Mills said. "We know what it’s like to prosecute offenders."
According to the governor, they have shared dinners and attended conferences. They also worked on litigation related to consumer protection during the Great Recession.
“She’s sharp, she’s articulate, she’s passionate,” Mills added.
Harris does not automatically replace Biden as the presidential nominee. Next month at the Democratic National Convention, delegates from across the U.S. will come together to decide which eligible candidate will represent the Democratic Party in the 2024 general election in November.
Though strong in her support for Harris, Mills declined to back a specific candidate for Harris' running mate ahead of the election.
“She knows what the role is more than anybody I can think of, so she’ll be deliberative and thoughtful in her selection,” Mills said.
As that widely publicized selection process for picking a vice president plays out on the national stage, Mills is ruling herself out.
When asked whether she would accept a nomination of running mate if asked, Mills laughed.
“I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be asked, so it’s a moot issue," she said. "Not a good question.”
Mills said she plans on meeting with Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, he campaigns for Harris in Maine this week.
Beyond praising Harris, Mills offered her support for Biden's decision to bow out of the 2024 race, calling it an "act of courage."