Maine Democrats Rush to Choose New Senate Nominee After Platner Withdrawal

Democratic hopefuls in Maine are scrambling to secure the party’s Senate nomination after former candidate Graham Platner withdrew amid sexual-assault allegations. State law gives the party until July 27 to name a new nominee, and a convention of 601 delegates will vote on July 25 after county delegates are chosen this weekend. Candidates must also gather 500 voter signatures to qualify for the convention ballot.

The field includes former public-health director Nirav Shah, union-backed logger Troy Jackson, former secretary of state Shenna Bellows and several others who previously ran for governor or other offices. Jackson has received backing from the progressive group Our Revolution, founded by Senator Bernie Sanders, while Shah has appealed to Platner’s supporters by emphasizing his outsider status.

During a debate on Thursday, the candidates addressed a range of issues, including the recent fatal shooting by an ICE officer in Biddeford. All participants expressed support for reforming or abolishing ICE, though their language differed. Jackson described ICE as a “rogue agency,” while Jordan Wood called for a new law-enforcement entity that would earn public trust.

The candidates also fielded questions about Platner’s legacy. Jackson highlighted Platner’s advocacy for Medicare for All, Shah pledged to continue Platner’s call to end ICE, and Wood referenced Platner’s statements on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Bellows, who previously lost to Senator Susan Collins in 2014, reiterated Platner’s criticism of a political system she said is “corrupted by those in power.”

With the convention fast approaching, party members like delegate applicant Dan Jenkins expressed frustration at the rushed timeline, noting that a longer process would have allowed a more orderly selection. The outcome will determine who faces incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race that could affect control of the U.S. Senate.