Republican Collins to remain in Senate, ending speculation about bid for Maine governor

Source: The Washington Post




By Sean Sullivan October 13 at 8:32 AM

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced Friday that she will not run for governor in 2018, renewing her commitment to serve in a sharply polarized Senate where her centrist Republican positions have made her a key bulwark against much of President Trump’s agenda.

Ending months of speculation about her political future, Collins, who does not face reelection until 2020, opted to stick with the job she has held for the last two decades, even as other moderate GOP lawmakers including Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.) and Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.) are heading for the exits.

“The best way that I can contribute to these priorities is to remain a member of the United States Senate,” Collins told the business crowd, capping a speech in which she described her role as a bipartisan figure on such issues as health care and national security in Washington.

The Maine Republican made her announcement in the coastal Maine town of Rockport, at a Penobscot County Chamber of Commerce breakfast. Her decision was closely held, leaving Republican officials to speculate about her plans in recent days.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/republican-collins-to-remain-in-the-senate-ending-speculation-about-bid-for-maine-governor/2017/10/13/222e4fd6-afd7-11e7-a908-a3470754bbb9_story.html