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Mills drops out of Maine Senate race, setting up Platner to face Collins
TL;DR
Maine Governor Janet Mills has suspended her Senate campaign, paving the way for Graham Platner to challenge incumbent Senator Susan Collins. Mills cited financial constraints as a key reason for her withdrawal.
Key points
- Janet Mills suspended her Senate campaign
- Graham Platner leads in polls and fundraising
- Mills cited financial constraints as a reason for withdrawal
- Platner is set to face incumbent Senator Susan Collins
- Mills was the only Democrat to win statewide in Maine in nearly two decades
Mentioned in this story
Janet MillsGraham PlatnerSusan CollinsDemocratic Party
Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills suspended her campaign for Senate on Thursday, as her progressive challenger, oyster farmer Graham Platner, continued to lead in the polls and in fundraising.
It’s a shocking fall off for the incumbent governor, who was once the preferred candidate of national Democrats in the race and remains the only member of her party to win statewide in Maine in nearly two decades.
And it sets up a likely general election matchup between Platner and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a five-term incumbent with a formidable electoral track record who Democrats are nonetheless hopeful they can knock off amid backlash to Republicans and President Donald Trump.
“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else — the fight — to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” Mills said in a statement Thursday morning.
Mills’ campaign had just over $1 million in the bank at the end of March, far less than Platner’s $2.7 million, and had stopped running TV ads earlier this month, a sign of financial troubles.
Her exit from the race is a major loss for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who recruited Mills and saw her as the most viable option to defeat Collins. On Thursday, Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) released a statement bashing Collins and promising to support Platner.
“After years of allowing Trump’s abuses of power, Senator Collins has never been more vulnerable and we will work with the presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner to defeat her,” the pair said in a statement.
It is a remarkable ascension for Platner, who was a complete unknown when he launched his campaign last August and has faced a myriad of scandals including offensive old Reddit posts and a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he later covered up. Platner has said the past comments don’t represent him, but they are likely to feature heavily in the general election matchup against Collins: A super PAC backing her, Pine Tree Results PAC, put millions this week behind ads highlighting the comment and the tattoo.
Q&A
Why did Janet Mills drop out of the Senate race in Maine?
Janet Mills suspended her campaign due to financial constraints and a lack of resources compared to her challenger Graham Platner.
Who is Graham Platner and what is his role in the Senate race?
Graham Platner is a progressive challenger and oyster farmer who is now set to face incumbent Senator Susan Collins in the general election.
What financial situation led to Mills' campaign suspension?
Mills' campaign had just over $1 million in the bank, significantly less than Platner's $2.7 million, which contributed to her decision to withdraw.
What are the implications of Mills dropping out for the Maine Senate race?
Mills' exit sets up a likely general election matchup between Platner and Senator Susan Collins, which Democrats hope to win amid backlash against Republicans.
