Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is abandoning the appearance of 2026 neutrality as controversies pile up around progressive candidate Graham Platner.

Why it matters: The Maine Senate primary race is a full-fledged fight between the party's establishment and its left wing. • Schumer favors Maine Gov. Janet Mills to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins, as Axios previously reported. But he had avoided a public endorsement in the competitive race. • That flew out the window Tuesday, when Schumer said Mills "is the best candidate to retire Susan Collins."

The other side: "This is the establishment backing the establishment," a Platner spokesperson told Axios. "Graham was never going to win this race because he had the DC establishment behind him. He's going to win because

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