Politics

Susan Collins Pondering Bid For Maine Governor

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins expressed interest in running for governor of her state in 2018 during an interview with WGAN radio Tuesday morning.

“Let me say that I am looking at where I can do the most good for the people of Maine,” said Sen. Collins, according to the Portland Press Herald. “In the Senate I now have significant seniority and that allows me to do a lot.”

Collins went on to say, “Coming to be governor, if I were fortunate enough to be elected … you can work on issues I care a lot [about] like economic development, jobs, education. And I would try to heal the state and bring people back together, which I think is important as well.”

The Maine Republican made news recently when she led  a coalition of bipartisan Senators to sign a letter to Senate leadership asking them to protect the legislative filibuster. Her own Senate seat is up in 2020. She was reelected in 2014 by almost 40 points. However, her first attempt at the Maine’s governor’s mansion failed against now Independent Maine Sen. Angus King.

“I really don’t have a timetable for making a decision,” Collins said in the radio interview. “I have been extraordinarily busy as we have started this new session and I answered honestly a question that I was asked this morning about my plans. And the honest answer is I simply haven’t’ decided. I don’t know what I’m going to do. What I am trying to evaluate is where I can do the most good for the people of Maine.”

According to The Press Herald, other Republicans eyeing the governor’s sear are former Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett and current state senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason.

Additionally, Democrats looking to run are Maine Attorney General Janet Mills, car dealership board chairman Adam Lee, Sanford attorney Adam Cote, former Speaker of the House Mark Eves and lobbyist Betsy Sweet.

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