Gov. Janet Mills Exits Maine Senate Race as an Insurgent Democrat Rises

Gov. Janet Mills of Maine, the Democratic establishment’s choice to run for the Senate seat long held by Senator Susan Collins, a Republican, suspended her campaign on Thursday, saying she no longer had the financial resources to compete against Graham Platner, a progressive political newcomer. Her exit paves the way for Mr. Platner, 41, an oysterman who has led her in polls, to become the Democratic nominee in a crucial Senate race that the party must win to regain control of the chamber. “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,” Ms. Mills, 78, said in a statement. She did not endorse Mr. Platner; in an interview on Monday, she had declined to commit to backing him if he became the nominee. A representative for Ms. Mills did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday morning. Surrounded by supporters, Mr. Platner claimed victory on Thursday morning in Augusta. After praising Ms. Mills’s experience in the state, he said his campaign was in the process of “taking back what is ours.” “We will defeat Susan Collins,” Mr. Platner said. “We will go to Washington and we still start tearing down the system that for far too long has forgotten and written off the people who make Maine and this country what it is.” Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.