Democrats in Maine are facing a compressed timeline to select a new nominee for a critical U.S. Senate race after progressive candidate Graham Platner announced he will withdraw following a sexual assault allegation, which he denies. The Maine Democratic Party must choose a replacement by July 27, leaving the new candidate less than four months to compete against longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election.
The party plans to hold a nominating convention with hundreds of delegates to decide on the candidate, though the specifics of when and how this convention will occur remain undetermined.
Maine is considered a key state in determining control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats are eager to field a candidate capable of defeating Collins. Several Democrats have already expressed interest or formally launched campaigns to fill the vacancy.
Among those vying for the nomination is former Maine Senate President Ben Jackson. He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination earlier this year with backing from Platner and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Jackson, who launched his Senate campaign shortly after Platner's announcement, positions himself as a "progressive fighter" and has secured support from Sanders' organization, Our Revolution. He released a statement Thursday with numerous endorsements from state and local officials.
Another contender is Dr. Nirav Shah, former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Shah, who finished second in the Democratic gubernatorial primary and is viewed as a more moderate candidate, announced his candidacy Thursday. He encouraged Platner supporters to join his campaign, stating, "This campaign represents the values that we all care about."
Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company, also confirmed his candidacy on Wednesday. Kleban, who briefly entered the Senate race last year before withdrawing, endorsed Gov. Janet Mills, who later dropped out of the primary. Kleban, 49, stated he is "ready to fight for Mainers and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington."
Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, 51, announced her run Thursday, asserting she has spent her career "taking on tough fights and doing the right thing." Bellows, a former civil liberties advocate, previously ran against Collins for the Senate in 2014 and lost. She also placed fourth in the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary in June.
Jonathan Wood, 36, who initially sought the Democratic Senate nomination last year but switched to a congressional race, announced his interest in running again on Thursday. He advocated for an "unapologetically progressive campaign" to defeat Collins, citing policies like Medicare for All and stopping ICE.
Social worker and 29-year-old Louise Loud has also filed paperwork to run. Loud previously competed in the state's 2nd District Democratic primary, finishing last in the initial round of ranked-choice voting.
State Democratic lawmaker Chloe Geiger, 70, a former Platner supporter, has indicated she would consider running and expressed a desire to hire Platner's staff. Additionally, Andrew Costello, who ran in the June primary and finished third behind Platner and Mills, announced Thursday he is re-entering the race, citing his "lived experiences" rooted in "the same challenges countless Mainers face every day."
Gov. Janet Mills, who withdrew from the primary in late April, has not yet indicated whether she is interested in seeking the nomination.