Graham Platner's abrupt exit from Maine's Senate race has triggered a frantic 18-day search for a replacement, with Democrats racing against a July 27 state law deadline to field a candidate against GOP Sen. Susan Collins. The Maine Democratic Party approved tentative plans Wednesday for a nominating convention to choose his successor, but the compressed timeline and crowded field threaten to expose deep divisions within the party.
The Scramble Begins
A POLITICO report Monday on a new sexual allegation against Platner set off the rush among Maine Democrats, who pressured him to step aside and began weighing possible alternatives. Platner's campaign denied the allegation, but his loss of support and financial backing accelerated the search. Some Democrats had already begun preparing before he exited the race. With less than four months until Election Day, the scramble is intensifying around who will take on Collins, the only Republican running in a state won by Kamala Harris this cycle.
Troy Jackson officially entered the race after Platner suspended his campaign. "I'm in. And we're going to defeat Susan Collins," Jackson wrote on X. "Maine deserves a Senator that will fight for working families." Jackson, a logger with long ties to organized labor, had filed his interest with the Federal Election Commission before Wednesday. Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders, has already thrown its support behind him. But some of his 20-year history in the legislature is resurfacing, including his 2009 state Senate vote against a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. He later called that the "worst vote I ever took." His closeness to Platner during the primary may also give some Democrats pause.
Dan Kleban announced his bid Wednesday. The 49-year-old founder of Maine Beer Company had dropped out of the Democratic Senate primary earlier this year and backed establishment-backed Gov. Janet Mills. "Mainers deserve a senator who will fight for them against the D.C. establishment while also doing what's right," Kleban said in a statement. "I plan to be that senator." He's never served in public office, but he's long been involved in Maine Democratic circles.
The Long-Shot List
Nirav Shah, a former public health official, told POLITICO Tuesday afternoon that he's "evaluating" whether to mount a Senate bid. He'd already called for an open process Tuesday, including at least one televised debate and multiple public town halls across Maine. Shah oversaw the state's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, mounted his first run for public office earlier this year, and finished second in Maine's gubernatorial primary. He said in an interview that he's "very, very much aligned" with Platner's politics.
Shenna Bellows, the Maine Secretary of State, said in a statement Tuesday that she would "seriously consider entering this race, because I believe I am uniquely fit to unite Mainers and defeat Susan Collins in just over 100 days." Bellows, who also ran unsuccessfully for governor, has been fielding calls about a potential run, according to a person familiar with her campaign who spoke on condition of anonymity about private conversations. The person pointed to her ideological alignment with Platner on progressive issues and her biography: she grew up poor in rural Maine and flipped a GOP-held state Senate district. Bellows previously ran for Senate and lost badly to Collins 12 years ago.
Jordan Wood, another former Senate candidate, said on X Tuesday that he was "continuing conversations with voters across Maine if I should enter an open Senate race." He wrote, "To beat Susan Collins, we need a candidate who can provide a true contrast and run an unapologetically progressive campaign: Passing Medicare for All. Stopping ICE terrorizing our streets. Standing up to Donald Trump's abuse of power." Wood, a former staffer of former Rep. Katie Porter, switched to run for the state's 2nd District after Rep. Jared Golden decided he wouldn't attempt reelection. Wood finished third in that race, with state Auditor Matt Dunlap winning the nomination after a ranked-choice count.
Paige Loud quickly filed interest paperwork with the FEC Tuesday to succeed Platner. Loud also ran for Congress in the 2nd District, coming in last during the first round of voting. She'd held an unpaid role on Platner's campaign before leaving earlier this year. "I don't think we should be electing a man," Loud said in an interview. "I think I'm tired of making women vote for a man."
Valli Geiger, a member of the state House and a top ally of Platner, has also emerged as a possible successor. People close to Platner have been quick to mention her. Geiger told a Maine local outlet that Platner said he was throwing his support behind her, but the Platner campaign then said no such commitment was made. Geiger didn't respond to POLITICO's phone call and subsequent text message Wednesday. In an interview with MSNOW, Geiger said she'd taken calls about running for Senate and that she would be willing to run, but the 70-year-old state representative said a younger candidate would be better.
Andrea LaFlamme, a write-in candidate during the Democratic Senate primary who received just over 1,000 votes, said Tuesday that she believes she's the "best person to take on Susan Collins" in a post on Bluesky. LaFlamme initially launched her write-in bid because of Platner's earlier controversies, telling the student paper of the college she works for that electing Platner "sends the message that women are not valued." Given the fate of her write-in campaign and the number of well-known Democrats already running, it's unlikely she'll ultimately take on Collins.
The Establishment Factor
Chellie Pingree, a longtime member of Congress serving Maine's safe-blue 1st District, is also being watched as a long shot. Her bid would force the party to replace her on the ballot, which could trigger another rush of names, but her reputation as a longtime party leader could put her in contention. Her daughter Hannah is already the Democratic nominee for governor. Pingree said in a statement Monday, "Mainers deserve a nominee they can trust, a campaign focused on the challenges facing our state and our country, and a Democratic Party that responds to allegations of sexual assault with clarity, compassion, and accountability," while calling on Platner to step down.
Ryan Fecteau, the youngest person to ever become Maine's state House Speaker, joined other Maine Democrats in pushing Platner to exit the race, saying POLITICO's report "make[s] it clear that Graham's campaign cannot be successful" in a post to Facebook.
Sara Gideon, who lost to Collins 6 years ago, has kept a relatively low public profile, but she remains on the list because her campaign is still sitting on $2.4 million, according to a required FEC report filed Wednesday.
Why This Matters:
The chaotic replacement process exposes the organizational risks of rushed candidate selection and the potential for intraparty conflict to undermine general election competitiveness. Collins, a seasoned incumbent with a proven ability to win in a Democratic-leaning state, faces a fractured opposition with less than four months to unify and build a credible campaign infrastructure. The compressed timeline limits vetting and fundraising, while the ideological range of potential replacements—from Sanders-aligned progressives to business-oriented moderates—suggests Democrats may struggle to present a coherent alternative. Gideon's $2.4 million war chest represents the only immediate financial advantage, but her 2020 loss to Collins raises questions about electability. The July 27 deadline leaves little room for the deliberative process Shah and others have called for, potentially forcing a choice driven more by urgency than strategic calculation.