Maine candidate leaves Senate race for House primary, shaking up 2 high stakes contests

The Democratic superior to instrumentality connected Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine looks antithetic owed to the determination of 1 campaigner to driblet retired and articulation a antithetic contention with precocious stakes

PORTLAND, Maine -- The Democratic superior to instrumentality connected Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was shaken up Wednesday by the determination of 1 campaigner to driblet retired and articulation a antithetic contention with likewise precocious stakes.

In a determination that could person implications for the intimately divided U.S. House arsenic good arsenic the Senate, Jordan Wood, a onetime main of unit to erstwhile U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., withdrew from the Senate contention to question the legislature spot representing Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, wherever incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden recently announced that helium volition not question different term.

That leaves Gov. Janet Mills, a enactment mainstay, and Graham Platner, an oyster husbandman who has gained attraction for progressive views and provocative online posts, arsenic the apical Democratic challengers to Collins.

Wood’s announcement sets up a imaginable Democratic legislature superior successful the cardinal 2nd territory with erstwhile Secretary of State Matt Dunlap. The starring Republican campaigner for the House spot is erstwhile Gov. Paul LePage.

“After galore conversations with my household and voters successful Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, I’ve decided to measurement up and to beryllium the combatant for the territory wherever I was calved and raised,” Wood said successful a Wednesday statement.

Maine's upcoming 2nd District and U.S. Senate races are some highly competitory and could assistance signifier the equilibrium of powerfulness successful Congress. Collins is the sole Republican Senator successful New England, and toppling her has agelong been a Democratic Party goal. Republicans, meanwhile, person prioritized winning back the 2nd District, wherever President Donald Trump is popular.

Dunlap announced his bid for the 2nd District weeks earlier Golden's announcement that helium is vacating. Dunlap said successful a connection Wednesday that Wood entering the contention “doesn’t alteration our run oregon our commitment” and that he's “in this to combat for the radical of Maine.”

LePage served arsenic politician from 2011 to 2019. He announced his bid for Congress months ago. Brent Littlefield, a LePage spokesperson, said successful a connection that Wood is excessively wide for the 2nd District.

“Mainers volition prime a occupation creator, Paul LePage, who volition turn the system and propulsion backmost connected precocious prices,” Littlefield said.

Two different onetime Democratic candidates for the Senate seat, brewery proprietor Dan Kleban and erstwhile Air Force civilian contractor Daira Smith-Rodriguez, precocious dropped retired and endorsed Mills. A fistful of different Democratic hopefuls remain, though lone Mills and Platner are campaigning aggressively.

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