Janet Mills Wiki: Born in Farmington, Maine on December 30, 1947, Janet Trafton Mills is a pioneering American politician and attorney. In January 2019, she achieved a historic milestone by becoming Maine’s first female governor. Prior to her governorship, Mills twice held the position of Attorney General of Maine, where she was the first woman to serve in that role.
Janet Mills Wiki: Early Life
Janet Mills was raised in a household that prioritized public service; her father, a lawyer, held the position of U.S. Attorney for Maine. Despite encountering major health obstacles at a young age caused by severe scoliosis, she conquered them with the help of surgery.
Education
After a brief stint at Colby College, she relocated to San Francisco. Subsequently, in 1970, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston. While studying at UMass Boston, she achieved fluency in French while journeying through Western Europe. Finally, in 1976, she completed her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law.
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Career Highlights
Assistant Attorney General and District Attorney
Janet Mills started working as an Assistant Attorney General from 1976 to 1980, focusing on prosecuting serious crimes like homicides. Subsequently, she served as the District Attorney for Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties from 1980 to 1995, marking the first female DA elected in New England.
State Legislature
Janet Mills served as the representative for Farmington and Industry in the Maine House of Representatives from 2002 to 2009, setting the stage for her future positions.
Attorney General
Chosen by the legislative body on January 6, 2009 (and re-elected as of January 3, 2013), Janet Mills assumed the role of Maine’s inaugural female Attorney General. Throughout her time in office:
- Consumer Protection: Fought against dishonest mortgage lending practices.
- Opioid Crisis: Battled big Pharma over their role in creating opioid issues; used settlement funds for overdose-reversal kits that saved many lives.
- Healthcare Advocacy: Protected healthcare coverage for young adults.
Governorship
Election Victory
In June 2018, Mills won the Democratic primary with 54% support from ranked-choice voting. She then emerged victorious in the general election with over half a million votes, surpassing any former governor’s vote count. Janet Mills secured approximately 50.9% of the votes against Republican Shawn Moody’s nearly 43.2%, achieving several significant milestones.
- First female governor.
- First candidate since Angus King (1998) with more than half votes.
- Highest number of votes ever received by any gubernatorial candidate at that time.
Key Initiatives
As Governor:
- Medicaid Expansion: Signed an executive order expanding Medicaid following voter approval—a move opposed by predecessor Paul LePage.
- Climate Goals: Addressed UN leaders about making Maine carbon neutral by mid-century.
- COVID Response: Led state efforts during COVID pandemic achieving high vaccination rates among states.
In April 2022:
- Signed legislation providing free community college education for certain graduating classes.
Re-elected without primary opposition:
- Defeated former Gov Paul LePage again securing more than ever recorded gubernatorial votes—over 373k—in November 2022 elections.
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Janet Mills: Personal Life
Marriage and Family
Janet Mills married Stanley Kuklinski in 1985. Stanley was a widower with five daughters aged between four and sixteen. They raised the daughters together while Janet pursued her career. Following Stan’s death in 2014 due to stroke complications, Janet happily welcomed three grandsons and two granddaughters into her life.
Family Background
Her father served as the U.S. Attorney for Maine, and her family members consist of Peter Mills, a former Republican state senator, and Dora Anne Mills, who previously held the position of public health director.
Resilience Through Challenges
Janet’s life has been characterized by her ability to bounce back; she conquered severe scoliosis during childhood with a surgical procedure. Subsequently, she confronted the difficulties of raising five stepdaughters while working full-time.
How old is Janet Mills?
Janet Mills was born on December 30, 1947. As of February 22, 2025, she is 77 years old.
Recent Developments
Governor Janet Mills and former President Donald Trump clashed over transgender athletes in women’s sports at a White House meeting, sparking continued discussions on gender identity policies across the country.
Conclusion
Janet Mills has had a notable influence on the political landscape in Maine and across the country with her accomplishments as attorney general and governor. She pushes for the expansion of healthcare services and sustainable environmental practices, striving for carbon neutrality by the middle of the century. Her leadership approach merges economic development with efforts for social equality, such as combatting discrimination based on gender identity.
