Maine Democrats' replacement process draws criticism from party insiders
Maine Democrats' candidate selection process draws backlash over transparency and procedural fairness.
Event / Politics
Maine Senate Democratic Primary 2026
Following sexual assault allegations against Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner, Maine Democrats initiated a replacement selection process with multiple candidates competing for the nomination to face Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 8 Jul, 02:53 UTC
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What happened
Shenna Bellows, Maine Secretary of State, considered as potential replacement
Shenna Bellows, 51, Maine's Secretary of State and former head of the Maine ACLU, is being considered as a potential replacement for Platner. Bellows previously ran against Susan Collins for Senate in 2014, losing by more than 2-to-1 margin. She finished fourth in June's gubernatorial primary and made national headlines in 2024 for ruling that President Trump was ineligible for Maine's primary ballot.
Jared Golden, Maine congressman, emerges as potential wildcard candidate
Jared Golden, 43, a U.S. congressman representing Maine's 2nd District, has emerged as a potential but unlikely replacement candidate. Golden, a combat veteran and Marine, announced in fall 2025 that he would not seek reelection to the House, citing concerns over political polarization and threats of violence against elected officials.
Maine Democrats set deadline for Platner withdrawal and replacement selection
If Graham Platner withdraws from the Maine Senate race by Monday, July 13 at 5 p.m. ET, the Maine Democratic Party would have until July 27 to select a replacement candidate to face Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins. The party's state committee or delegates would vote on the replacement, though the exact mechanism remained unclear.
Nirav Shah expresses interest in replacing Platner in Senate race
Nirav Shah, 48, an attorney, economist and public health official, confirmed he is considering entering the race to replace Platner. Shah previously served as director of the Maine CDC during the COVID-19 pandemic and as principal deputy director of the U.S. CDC under President Biden. He finished second in June's gubernatorial primary ranked-choice runoff after leading in first-round voting.
Jordan Wood signals interest in Democratic Senate nomination
Jordan Wood, 36, a former congressional staffer from Auburn, expressed interest in becoming the Democratic nominee for Maine's U.S. Senate seat if Platner withdraws. Wood initially ran for the Democratic Senate nomination before withdrawing when Governor Mills entered the race, then ran unsuccessfully in the 2nd District primary.
Dan Kleban, Maine Beer Company founder, considers Senate bid
Dan Kleban, 49, co-founder of the Maine Beer Company, is being encouraged to run for the Democratic Senate nomination if Platner withdraws. Kleban originally ran for the Democratic Senate nomination in September 2025 but suspended his campaign and endorsed Governor Mills when she entered the race.
Graham Platner faces sexual assault allegation in Maine Senate race
Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine, faced an allegation reported by Politico and CNN on Monday that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2021. Platner denied the allegations. The accusation prompted calls from prominent Democratic supporters, including U.S. senators and national groups, to withdraw from the race.
Troy Jackson files Senate exploratory committee to potentially replace Platner
Troy Jackson, a 58-year-old logger and former president of the Maine Senate, filed paperwork to form a U.S. Senate exploratory committee on Tuesday. Jackson had previously been Platner's ally but rescinded his endorsement after the sexual assault allegations emerged. He finished third in June's gubernatorial primary with over 31% of the vote.
Maine Democrats face backlash concerns over candidate selection process
Maine Democrats faced concerns that selecting a replacement through party insiders rather than primaries could create backlash among voters who might feel the candidate does not represent their chosen ideology. Ryan Fecteau, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, called for the process to be transparent and fair.
David Costello confirms interest in replacing Platner
David Costello, 65, a Brunswick resident with over 30 years of senior-level government experience, confirmed his interest in replacing Platner if he withdraws. Costello received 8% of the vote in the Democratic primary and unsuccessfully ran against Senator Angus King in 2024.
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2 alternative perspectives
Seven Democrats emerge as potential replacements in Maine Senate primary
Seven Democrats signal interest in Maine Senate primary as replacement candidates emerge.
Platner faces allegation, Democrats set withdrawal deadline
Platner faces sexual assault allegation; Maine Democrats set withdrawal deadline and replacement process.