Maine governor Paul LePage said during a radio interview Thursday morning that he may challenge Sen. Angus King in 2018.
 

AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said he may jump into the U.S. Senate race after all.

Speaking to a Portland radio station Thursday morning, the governor said he’s getting pressure to reconsider his decision to steer clear of the 2018 contest.

U.S. Sen. Angus King, a first-term Maine independent, has only one challenger to his reelection bid so far, Republican state Sen. Eric Brakey of Auburn.

LePage said Brakey is “a great guy and a good person,” but his campaign hasn’t yet caught hold with voters.

If Brakey “doesn’t start resonating pretty quick” with the public, LePage said, he may change his mind and jump into the race after all.

LePage, who can’t run for a third term as governor, said this spring he wouldn’t challenge King. But, he told WGAN radio, that he’s getting “a lot of pressure” to reverse himself.

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“It’s about getting somebody in Washington that will represent the state of Maine,” said LePage, who has said he ‘‘wouldn’t make a very good legislator.’’

LePage said he hopes Brakey can pull it off.

“I wish people would start paying more attention to him,” LePage said. “I’m hoping he takes off.”

He said Brakey, an Ohio native, has “a passion for the state of Maine” that King lacks.

Brakey could not be reached.

This story will be updated.

scollins@sunjournal.com

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