SANFORD — Gov. Janet Mills said again Wednesday that she is seriously considering running for U.S. Senate but would not address reports that she has been interviewing potential campaign staff.

Punchbowl News , a Washington, D.C., political news site, was first to report that Mills, a Democrat nearing the end of her second term as governor, is in the process of interviewing campaign managers for a potential Senate run, citing anonymous sources. The news was also reported Wednesday by Politico.

“All I’ve said, and I’ll say it again, is I’m seriously considering a run,” Mills said when asked about those reports during a visit to the Sanford Regional Technical Center. “That’s about it.”

Wednesday’s appearances in York County marked the third consecutive day that Mills has visited Maine communities to tout her administration’s achievements.

She spent Monday talking to business leaders in Kennebec County and on Tuesday was in Bangor, where she spoke at MaineHousing’s annual Affordable Housing Conference.

The busy schedule comes as pressure is ratcheting up and as other Democratic candidates are out there campaigning and fundraising.

Mills, 77, has been talked about as a potential challenger Sen. Susan Collins for her seat in 2026. Collins, a Republican, has said she intends to run for a sixth term.

While Mills initially downplayed the idea of running, she’s indicated more openness to a campaign recently, telling reporters last month that she may make a decision by November.

The governor was pulled into the national spotlight in February when she got into a heated exchange with President Donald Trump at the White House over Maine’s policy of allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.

She’s also criticized other actions of the Trump administration, such as his pro-tariff and anti-vaccine policies, and is seen by some Democrats as their best chance for unseating Collins.

Mills was in Sanford on Wednesday to tour the Sanford Regional Technical Center and highlight investments that her administration has made in career and technical education. During a 90-minute visit, Mills observed pre-K students eating lunch in the early childhood education program and drove a police car simulator in front of law enforcement students.

She also criticized the federal administration’s approach to education in remarks to reporters afterward.

“I’m concerned when we have a secretary of education who thinks AI is a steak sauce,” Mills said, referring to a slip-up U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon made in April confusing artificial intelligence with A1 sauce while speaking on a panel.

“I’m concerned about the administration’s lack of interest in quality public education,” the governor continued. “We have pretty good schools here in Maine. It’s part of our quality of place and our sense of community that draw people to this state. We want to continue drawing young families to this state.”

Mills was also slated to visit an advanced manufacturing firm and a boatbuilding school in Arundel, and to tour a new bowling alley and bar with the mayors of Biddeford and Saco on Wednesday.

Asked about the unusual number of public events this week, Mills laughed.

“Any excuse to get out of Augusta is usually a good one, honestly,” she said. “It’s a good time of year to do this, to get out and about and see people and find out what’s on people’s minds.”

During Monday’s visit to Waterville, Mills was asked about Collins and whether she bears any responsibility for how the second Trump administration is playing out.

“She’s in a tough position,” Mills said. “I appreciate everything she is doing.”

The governor elaborated on her comments Wednesday, saying she believes she has a good working relationship with all four members of Maine’s congressional delegation, though she also has disagreements with Collins and the others.

“I have serious disagreements with many of her votes, but that’s for another day to discuss,” Mills said. “I think people don’t want to hear Washington-type politicians come out and attack other people right off the bat. … We can talk about criticisms and points of disagreement down the road.”