Sen. Snowe of Maine not seeking re-election

PORTLAND, Maine  — Three-term Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine announced Tuesday that she will not run for re-election, issuing a statement that cited frustration over the current "atmosphere of polarization and 'my way or the highway' ideologies."

Snowe, who's viewed as a moderate, said she sees a "vital need for the political center in order for our democracy to flourish and to find solutions that unite rather than divide us." She said she sees opportunities to build support for such change from outside the Senate.

The senator's campaign office issued her statement Tuesday afternoon, and it was confirmed by her campaign manager, Justin Brasell. He said the statement would speak for itself.