State Sen. Rick Bennett is the first Independent to turn in petition signatures to appear on the primary ballot for governor.

Bennett is among four independents in the race to replace Gov. Janet Mills when she’s term-limited out of office.

His campaign says the signatures were approved on Wednesday, the same day they were turned in.

Bennett is a former Republican who was once chair of the Maine GOP.

The race for governor remains crowded, with recent polls showing Dr. Nirav Shah leading in the Democratic primary and Bobby Charles now the favorite on the Republican side.