Graham Platner's stunning exit from Maine's Senate race has left Democrats with just over a week to pick a replacement candidate. The oyster farmer's suspension came after sexual assault allegations from a former girlfriend, which he denies. Now the state party faces a high-stakes scramble to field someone capable of challenging Susan Collins, the five-term Republican incumbent.
The deadline is July 27. Maine Democrats will hold a nominating convention to select their nominee, compressing what is typically a months-long process into days. The urgency reflects how pivotal this race is considered to Senate control in November.
Platner's primary victory was historic, drawing more votes than any Democratic Senate candidate in state history and energizing a grassroots coalition that the establishment favorite, Governor Janet Mills, never managed to mobilize. His collapse has created a peculiar challenge for whoever replaces him: carry forward his insurgent momentum without being tainted as his successor.
Several Democrats have already signaled their interest. Troy Jackson, a logger and former state senate president who ran for governor with Bernie Sanders' endorsement earlier this year, announced his candidacy within hours of Platner's withdrawal. Jackson has formed a Senate exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. The California congressman Ro Khanna, a Platner ally until this week, has publicly backed Jackson as someone who embodies progressive values.
Valli Geiger, a state representative from Rockland who backed Platner early, claims the candidate himself has asked her to run. According to Geiger, Platner told her she had "been with this movement since the beginning." Geiger said she accepted his support, though she emphasized wanting an open and robust selection process rather than a coronation.
Other names circulating include Nirav Shah, the former Maine director of the CDC who gained visibility during the pandemic, and Shenna Bellows, the secretary of state. Bellows previously lost a Senate bid against Collins in 2014 by more than 30 points, but told supporters she is "uniquely fit to unite Mainers" in this compressed race. Shah has called for a transparent selection process including televised debates.
Dan Kleban, a co-founder of Maine Beer Company who ran in the primary before dropping out, has re-entered the conversation. He framed the Senate race as fundamentally about Collins' record, pointing to her judicial confirmations that led to abortion restrictions and her support for Trump's economic policies.
Others eyeing the race include Jordan Wood, a former congressional chief of staff who previously challenged Platner for the nomination before switching to a House race, and Paige Loud, a social worker who received 10 percent of the vote in the 2nd district primary. David Costello, a former Maryland official who placed third in June's Senate primary, also indicated he is "back in."
Governor Mills, despite her national profile, is not being seriously discussed as a replacement. She had suspended her gubernatorial campaign before the primary vote after being outpaced in spending and polling.
Author James Rodriguez: "Maine Democrats have maybe ten days to pick someone who can actually compete with Collins, and they're starting from scratch with a fractured field. This could get ugly fast."
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