Democratic Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner has suspended his campaign following sexual assault allegations, prompting the Maine Democratic Party to initiate a process to select a replacement for the November ballot. Under Maine election law, the party has until July 27 to name a new candidate, provided Platner formally withdraws his candidacy by July 13.
The Status of the Maine Senate Race
Graham Platner announced his departure from the race in an 11-minute video posted to X on Wednesday. While Platner denied the allegations against him, he stated that his exit was not an admission of guilt. As of Thursday morning, Maine’s deputy secretary of state for communications, Jana Spaulding, confirmed to The Washington Post that Platner had not yet filed the necessary paperwork to officially remove his name from the ballot.
If Platner completes the formal withdrawal by the July 13 deadline, the Maine Democratic Party is legally required to select a successor within two weeks. The party held an emergency meeting on Wednesday, where over 100 committee members voted to convene a special convention to determine the new nominee.
Candidates Seeking the Nomination
Several individuals have moved quickly to declare their interest in replacing Platner as the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins.
- Troy Jackson: The former president of the Maine Senate and a logger from rural Maine announced his bid immediately following Platner’s exit. He has received an endorsement from Our Revolution, the progressive group founded by Senator Bernie Sanders.
- Dan Kleban: A brewery founder who previously competed in the Democratic primary, Kleban confirmed he is seeking the nomination, positioning himself as a candidate who will challenge the "D.C. establishment."
- Nirav Shah: The former public health director of Maine, known for leading the state’s public health response to COVID-19, announced his candidacy on Thursday.
- Jordan Wood: A former Capitol Hill chief of staff who ran for the U.S. House in Maine’s second district earlier this year, Wood stated he is running to focus on issues such as Medicare for All and ending Citizens United.
- Paige Loud: A social worker who also competed in the second district primary, Loud filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to enter the Senate race on Tuesday.
- David Costello: Having secured eight percent of the vote in the initial primary, Costello confirmed to The New York Times that he is re-entering the contest.
Potential Contenders and Declinations
Other prominent Maine political figures have addressed speculation regarding their potential involvement. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows stated Tuesday that she would "seriously consider" entering the race, while state House member Valli Geiger indicated she might join the field.
Outgoing Governor Janet Mills, who was previously backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer before suspending her own primary campaign, has not confirmed whether she will seek the nomination. Conversely, several figures have explicitly ruled out a run. Representative Jared Golden, who is retiring from the U.S. House, confirmed on Wednesday that he will not pursue the Senate seat. Actor Patrick Dempsey also confirmed on Wednesday that he is not a candidate.
The Maine Democratic Party has indicated that specific requirements and a timeline for the nomination process will be released to the public shortly.