WASHINGTON – Republican Kevin Raye says he is still running for Congress against Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud in the 2nd District and not for Olympia Snowe’s U.S. Senate seat.
Raye, Maine Senate President, announced his decision in a press release this morning, just hours after Michaud said late Thursday night that he too had decided not to run for the Senate.
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After Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe’s surprise announcement Tuesday that she would not seek a fourth term, Raye had been considered a strong Senate candidate by many Maine Republicans.
Among the other prominent Republicans still considering the Senate race is Richard Bennett, Maine’s Republican National Committee member. Bennett, a former Maine Senate president, lost the 2nd District congressional race to Baldacci in 1994.
Raye said that some supporters wanted him to drop the congressional bid and run for Senate, while others urged him to stick with the race for the U.S. House. Raye lost a close race to Michaud in 2002, the year Michaud won his House seat.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to remain a candidate for the 2nd District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Raye said in a statement this morning.
“With Olympia Snowe’s departure from the United States Congress, the unique combination of my years of experience working at her side in Maine and Washington, along with my proven leadership in the Maine Senate have prepared me to carry on her legacy of constructive problem-solving to help make Washington work again, and to be a stronger and more effective voice for the people of Maine’s 2nd Congressional District.”
Michaud remains favored to hold on to the seat, independent analysts say. But the northern Maine 2nd District is more conservative than the southern Maine 1st District and the GOP believes Raye has a shot at beating Michaud.
Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of the 1st District has indicated she most likely will run for the Senate.
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