Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her U.S. Senate campaign on Thursday, five weeks before Maine’s June 9 primary, after saying she did not have the money to compete with rivals [1]. Mills said, “I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” and added that she had made the “incredibly difficult decision to suspend my campaign for the United States Senate” [1].
Axios reported that Mills’ exit leaves Democrats with a clearer path to rally behind progressive insurgent Graham Platner in the race to challenge five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins [1]. The report said Mills had been out-raised and out-polled by Platner, and that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had worked hard to persuade Mills to enter the contest [1].
Collins said Mills’ decision was hard and wished her well, saying, “I’m sure this was a very difficult decision for Governor Mills” and “And I wish her well” [1]. Sen. Tim Scott attacked Schumer and Senate Democrats, saying they had “coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine” [1]. Lauren French said, “Susan Collins will be defeated in November” [1].
Senate Majority PAC has reserved $24 million in TV buys for the fall campaign, a sign that Democrats still plan to spend heavily in Maine after Mills’ withdrawal [1]. The June 9 primary remains the next major date in the race [1].