The Maine Democratic Party is planning to hold a nominating convention to select a new candidate for the U.S. Senate after Graham Platner announced he is withdrawing from the race following accusations of sexual assault from a former girlfriend. Platner denies the allegations but faced significant pressure from his party to step down.
The party announced its plan for a convention after an emergency meeting Wednesday, where over 100 state committee members agreed to move forward with selecting a replacement. According to state law, the Maine Democratic Party is responsible for naming a general election candidate if a vacancy occurs. Platner needed to voluntarily withdraw by 5 p.m. on July 13 for other contenders to be considered, and the party must select a replacement by July 27.
"There is an unprecedented amount of energy and enthusiasm among Maine Democrats, driven in part by many of the dedicated volunteers and supporters who were inspired by Graham Platner’s campaign," Maine Democratic leaders said in a joint statement. The departure of a general election candidate is rare, prompting party officials to scramble to establish a plan.
A dispute has emerged regarding Platner's influence in selecting his successor. Devon Murphy-Anderson, the Maine Democratic Party's executive director, had previously stated that Platner's campaign attempted to "put their thumb on the scale" in the selection process. Platner's team denied these claims, asserting they were only seeking to understand the replacement procedure and that the thousands of voters and volunteers who supported Platner should be considered.
Murphy-Anderson countered that Platner's campaign was "distracting from the job of defeating Susan Collins in November with false accusations against us," while the party remains "hyper focused on developing a representative, transparent and inclusive process to select a new nominee."
President Donald Trump commented on the situation, questioning whether Democrats should be allowed to replace Platner on the ballot. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, "So he won the primary. It’s very hard for them. So, you question whether you believe the woman. A lot of people say big falsehoods... I'd imagine he’s going to lose."
Several potential candidates have begun to express interest in the Senate race. Nirav Shah, former director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, is reportedly "evaluating" whether to enter the race and has communicated with the party about ensuring an "openness, transparency and robustness" in the selection process.
Other individuals considering a run include Troy Jackson, former president of the Maine State Senate, who filed paperwork to launch an exploratory committee for a Senate bid. Jackson had previously run for governor with support from Platner and Our Revolution.
Jordan Wood, who previously ran for the U.S. Senate and then for Maine's 2nd Congressional District, is also in conversations with voters about potentially joining the race. Other names being circulated include Shenna Bellows, the current Maine Secretary of State; Dan Kleban, founder of Maine Beer Co.; and Hannah Pingree, the Democratic nominee for governor.
Actor Patrick Dempsey, a Maine native, has stated he is not interested in running, despite being approached.
Supporters of Platner have expressed disappointment over the allegations. Paul Attardo of Scarborough said he could no longer support Platner after the accusation, calling it "disappointing" and "indisputably sincere." Attardo compared the situation to the unexpected replacement of Joe Biden during the 2024 election campaign, stating, "I sort of feel we’re in a similar boat."