Maine Democrats Scramble for Senate Candidate After Nominee Withdraws

Democrats in Maine are in a frantic search for a new U.S. Senate candidate after progressive nominee Graham Platner announced his intention to withdraw from the race following a sexual assault allegation.

The sudden vacancy has triggered a scramble among potential contenders, with the party facing a critical deadline to select a replacement for the pivotal seat.

State law mandates that Democrats must choose a new candidate by July 27 to appear on the ballot. Whoever is selected will have less than four months to mount a campaign against longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.

The Maine Democratic Party has indicated it will hold a nominating convention with hundreds of delegates, though the specifics remain undetermined.

This race is considered crucial for control of the narrowly divided Senate, with Democrats eager to find a candidate capable of defeating Collins at a time when President Donald Trump is broadly unpopular. Platner, who denies the allegation, is expected to formally file his withdrawal paperwork on Monday.

Even before Platner’s official announcement, several individuals had expressed interest, and a growing number formally launched their campaigns on Thursday. Gov. Janet Mills, who suspended her own primary campaign in late April, has not indicated whether she will re-enter the fray.

Among those who have stepped forward is Troy Jackson, Maine’s former state Senate president. Jackson, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for governor earlier this year with backing from Platner and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, quickly launched his Senate campaign after Platner’s news.

He declared that Mainers want "a progressive fighter," and Our Revolution, the organization founded by Sanders, has since endorsed the 58-year-old. Jackson released a statement Thursday featuring dozens of endorsements from current and former state and local officials.

Nirav Shah, former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also announced his candidacy on Thursday. Shah, who finished second in this year’s Democratic gubernatorial primary as a more moderate candidate compared to Jackson, held a news conference encouraging Platner’s supporters to join his campaign.

"You have an important place in this campaign and we welcome your voices," Shah stated. "This campaign represents the values that we all care about."

Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, confirmed his candidacy on Wednesday. Kleban, 49, had briefly entered the Senate race last year before withdrawing when Mills announced her candidacy, whom he then endorsed.

"I’m ready to fight for Mainers and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington," Kleban said. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows also declared her bid on Thursday, emphasizing her career of "taking on tough fights and doing the right thing."

Bellows, 51, a former civil liberties advocate, has previously sparred with Donald Trump over ballot access. She placed fourth in the state’s Democratic governor’s primary in June and ran against Collins in 2014, losing in a landslide.

Jordan Wood, 36, who previously ran in the state’s 2nd District after an initial attempt at the Senate primary, announced his renewed interest on Thursday.

"To beat Susan Collins, we need a candidate who can provide a true contrast and run an unapologetically progressive campaign: Passing Medicare for All. Stopping ICE terrorizing our streets," Wood wrote on social media.

Paige Loud, a 29-year-old social worker who came in last in the 2nd District Democratic primary, filed paperwork to run for the Senate seat earlier this week.

Valli Geiger, a state Democratic lawmaker and former Platner supporter, is another potential candidate. While she has not formally announced, Geiger, 70, told MS NOW on Wednesday that she would hire Platner’s staff, describing them as "deeply impassioned and confident young people."

David Costello, who finished third in the June primary behind Platner and Mills, announced his return to the race on Thursday. He believes he is the right candidate because his "lived experiences are rooted in the same challenges countless Mainers face every day."