Maine Democrats Scramble to Replace Embattled Senate Candidate After Scandal
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Maine Democratic Party officials are hastily organizing a selection process to replace their Senate candidate after Platner withdrew amid sexual-assault allegations, with a looming July 27 deadline.
The Maine Democratic Party is in disarray as it scrambles to find a replacement for U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner, who withdrew after being hit with sexual-assault allegations. Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson announced the party must submit a new candidate to the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on July 27, promising a process that is 'fair, transparent and inclusive'—though critics may question how transparent the party can be after such a scandal.
Party officials are planning a massive 601-person convention on July 25, just two days before the deadline, involving 101 central-committee members and 500 delegates from all 16 counties. The process will also include input from local party meetings and voters, but the rushed timeline raises concerns about whether the party can truly vet candidates or if it’s just a scramble to save face.
'The grassroots energy that we had up until this moment needs to find a home,' Murphy-Anderson told ABC News, as the party tries to rally its fractured base.
Potential nominees include establishment figures like former state Senate president Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, entrepreneur Dan Kleban, and former CDC director Dr. Nirav Shah. Shah insisted that the campaign’s goals remain unchanged, despite the chaos surrounding the Democratic ticket.
'Our mission hasn't changed. The desire, the enthusiasm, the zeal among Democrats to defeat Susan Collins has not changed at all,' Shah said, making clear that the party’s main focus is unseating the respected Republican incumbent.
Senator Susan Collins, who has won five Senate elections in Maine and is known for her steady leadership, said she does not take any race for granted. Meanwhile, former Platner supporters expressed disappointment but signaled they would eventually fall in line behind whoever the party selects, showing the Democrats’ desperation to cling to power.
'I think people will take some time, but I think ultimately they will… support whoever the nominee is to beat Susan Collins,' said Sandra Smith Congdon, a former Platner supporter, illustrating the party’s singular focus on defeating Collins at any cost.