Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspends Senate campaign - BERITAJA

Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that she is suspending her run for Senate aft trailing subject seasoned and oyster husbandman Graham Platner successful the Democratic primary, citing a deficiency of financial resources.

“While I person the thrust and passion, committedness and experience, and supra each other — the conflict — to proceed on, I very simply do not person the 1 point that governmental campaigns unluckily require today: the financial resources," Mills said successful a statement.

"That is why coming I person made the incredibly difficult determination to suspend my run for the United States Senate," Mills said.

Senate Democrats had touted Mills arsenic a apical enlistee to return connected GOP Sen. Susan Collins, the only Republican legislator representing a authorities that President Donald Trump mislaid past year. Maine is practically a must-win if Democrats are to nett the 4 seats they request to return power of the enclosure successful the 2026 midterm election. But Collins has proven a reliable force successful erstwhile elections.

After launching her Senate campaign successful October, Mills struggled to summation traction against Platner, who burst onto the segment arsenic a brash governmental newcomer and quickly built a loyal following. Platner notched endorsements from high-profile progressive leaders including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Most importantly, he built awesome support among Maine Democrats, starring by double digits successful caller polls of the primary.

Mills, meanwhile, was backed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who viewed Mills arsenic the party's champion wide predetermination candidate.

DSCC chair Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., did not reference Platner successful her connection connected Mills' departure from the race.

“Our North Star is winning a Democratic Senate majority, and complete the past year, Senate Democrats person carved retired aggregate paths to do that," Gillibrand said. "We person recruited beardown candidates who person expanded the map, a winning connection focused connected fighting for hardworking families, and formidable campaigns moving each time to clasp Republicans accountable. In 2026, Democrats will triumph a Senate majority.”

Mills, 78, sought to quell concerns about her property by pledging to only service 1 word successful the Senate. But immoderate Democratic voters were still concerned about her age and viewed Platner arsenic the campaigner pinch the champion chance astatine beating Collins, contempt a slew of arguable societal media posts from his past that generated headlines successful caller months.

Mills had based on those posts would make Platner susceptible to GOP attacks successful November. Platner was a prolific commenter connected Reddit, making statements downplaying intersexual assualt, criticizing constabulary and agrarian Americans. An Army and Marine veteran, Platner attributed the posts to his struggles pinch post-traumatic accent aft serving successful Iraq and Afghanistan.