NEW: Schumer Takes Public Stab At Sanders As Democrats Descend Into Chaotic Political Scuffle

Democrats are already eating their own in Maine — and the Senate race hasn’t even started.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer threw gasoline on an already fiery primary Tuesday by endorsing Gov. Janet Mills for Senate — a move that instantly put him at odds with Bernie Sanders and the party’s progressive base.

“We think that Janet Mills is the best candidate to retire Susan Collins,” Schumer said at a press conference. “She’s a tested two-term governor and the people of Maine have an enormous amount of affection and respect for her.”

But Schumer’s safe, establishment pick enraged the left. Sanders — who’s been boosting populist underdog Graham Platner, a Marine veteran turned oyster farmer — has already blasted party leaders for “wasting millions on an unnecessary & divisive primary.”

Platner, who’s drawn heavy progressive support and hauled in over $3.2 million by the end of September, didn’t mince words either. His campaign torched Schumer’s move as “the establishment backing the establishment,” vowing their guy would win “because he has Mainers behind him.”

The Democratic civil war couldn’t be clearer: Schumer wants the polished, 77-year-old governor who’s led Maine for two terms. Sanders wants the scrappy outsider who calls out the Washington elite — even if his past social media posts have become a political minefield.

Platner has been scrambling to explain a string of crude Reddit comments unearthed by CNN and The Washington Post — including one where he used a slur for the disabled, called himself a “communist,” said “all” cops are “bastards,” and downplayed sexual assault in the military.

Platner’s scandals worsened this week when he revealed he has a tattoo resembling an alleged Nazi symbol.

In a video posted to X, Platner blamed the remarks on his battle with PTSD and insisted the people of Maine know “this is not at all the person that they have come to know, and come to interact with in reality.”

The controversy didn’t stop Sanders from sticking by him, calling Platner “a great working-class candidate.” But Schumer clearly wants none of it — betting that Mills is the Democrats’ best shot at unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who’s gunning for a sixth term.

With Schumer and Sanders pulling in opposite directions, Maine’s 2026 Senate race is already shaping up as a cage match — not just against Collins, but inside the Democratic Party itself.

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