Maine Gov. Janet Mills suspended her bid for Senate on Thursday, saying she made the “incredibly difficult decision” because her campaign didn’t have enough money.

“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,” Mills said in a statement.

Mills bowing out clears the way for oysterman and Marine veteran Graham Platner to be the Democratic nominee in a general election against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R) and completes one of the most astounding political flops in recent memory.

The race against Collins, a moderate who triumphed in a bitter and hugely expensive battle in 2020, is a must-win if Democrats hope to take back the Senate in this year’s midterm elections.

The 78-year-old Mills had been the Democratic establishment’s preferred candidate, but polls suggested Democratic primary voters preferred the 41-year-old progressive newcomer. The race split the Democratic Party, with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) backing Mills while progressives like Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) favored her challenger.

“Janet Mills has dedicated her career to this beautiful state,” Platner said in a statement. “We are all eternally grateful for her service to Maine as governor, attorney general, district attorney and in the legislature. We both got into this race because we know how critical defeating Susan Collins is. And her decision today reflects that commitment. I look forward to working with her between now and November to do just that.”

In a statement, Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said they would work with Platner to defeat Collins after previously dismissing his campaign.

“Democrats are dedicated to fighting back against the chaos of the Trump administration by defeating the Republicans who enable his harmful agenda and that includes Susan Collins,” the duo said. “After years of allowing Trump’s abuses of power, Senator Collins has never been more vulnerable and we will work with the presumptive Democratic nominee Graham Platner to defeat her.”

Republicans, who have already begun airing attack ads against Platner, suggested they would mine his already well-documented controversies to lift Collins. Mills aired similar ads attacking Platner for years-old Reddit posts he has since apologized for, but they did little to dent his large lead in the primary.

Polls have also suggested Platner holds a small lead over Collins in the general election.

“Graham Platner is a silver spoon charlatan who fantasizes about sexual assault, admires Nazi storm troopers, and role-plays as a working class Mainer when he went to a 70k-per-year private boarding school,” said Alex Latcham, the president of Senate Leadership Fund. “Now with Chuck Schumer‘s reluctant support, Platner’s attempt at the Senate will be yet another fantasy that will end when Susan Collins grinds this fraudster into dust.”

Platner has highlighted his blue-collar background as an oyster farmer and Marine veteran, while Mills pointed to his past social media commentary that suggested women could be blamed for sexual assault. Platner has said he regrets the posts.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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