Growing number of Democrats urge Graham Platner to drop out of Maine Senate race
Democratic leaders and strategists are pressuring Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner to exit the race amid severe sexual assault allegations reported by Politico.
Several Democrats have jumped into the Maine Senate race since former Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out, while others are considering bids as the state's Democratic Party leaders decide the next steps.
Under Maine law, once Platner formally files the paperwork to withdraw as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party will replace him on the general election ballot by selecting a new nominee through its party process, with the replacement required to be chosen by July 27.
"Today, the Maine Democratic Party held a meeting with over 100 state committee members who voted to hold a nominating convention to choose a new nominee if there is a vacancy to fill," the Maine Democratic Party said in a statement shortly after Platner announced he is suspending his campaign, following a rape allegation by a former girlfriend.
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Graham Platner speaks at a town hall at the Leavitt Theater on Oct. 22, 2025, in Ogunquit, Maine. (Sophie Park/Getty Images)
"We will announce the full timeline, details for how the nomination process will move forward, information about how to participate, and requirements for candidates soon. We will keep the public informed throughout the process — transparency is of the utmost importance."
Several candidates have already announced they are jumping into the race, while others are still being speculated about as possible options to launch campaigns in the coming days.
Troy Jackson
Former state Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson filed the paperwork to run for Senate before Platner exited the race.
"There is a powerful movement of working-class people in the state of Maine, and millions more across America who are ready to send a progressive fighter to the Senate," Jackson said. "I’ve been fighting for that movement my whole life — and I’m sure as hell not backing down now, when this fight is needed most."
"I’m in. And we're going to defeat Susan Collins. Maine deserves a senator that will fight for working families."
Jackson, who, like Platner, is backed by Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, came in third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last month.
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Troy Jackson, who ran for governor of Maine, speaks during a town hall about a Vision for a Healthy Society on May 20, 2026, in Portland. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Nirav Shah
Dr. Nirav Shah, who finished second in Maine's Democratic gubernatorial primary, has also announced he is entering the race.
"Today I am excited to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate to defeat Susan Collins," Shah said in a statement.
Shah continued, "To the movement that supported Graham Platner, my message is this: you have a place in this campaign. That’s because this campaign represents the Maine values we all care about: building a state and country where everyone can get ahead, not just the privileged few, respecting and loving our neighbors, and holding Donald Trump and Susan Collins accountable. Establishment politicians have failed us. Maine deserves a fighter in this seat, and I will be that fighter."
Shah served as director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention from 2019 to early 2023 and steered the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He later served as principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Angus King III
The 56-year-old son of Sen. Angus King and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Angus King III, who finished at the bottom of the pack in the single digits in last month’s primary, said in a statement earlier in the week that he was considering a Senate bid.
"Right now, I'm taking time to reflect, spend time with my family, and think carefully about how I can make the greatest contribution to the state I love," King said before Platner dropped out. "I’ve never been motivated by holding office. If I decide to run again in any capacity, it will be because I believe I have something meaningful to offer and because it's the right way to help Maine move forward — not because of the office itself."
Janet Mills
Janet Mills, the state's Democratic governor, whose term expires in January, suspended her Senate campaign in April, citing anemic fundraising after jumping into the race in October 2025, even with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The 78-year-old governor remained on the ballot in the June primary and received 19.2% of the vote compared to Platner’s 72.1%.
Mills has not yet publicly stated her future plans.
Democrat Gov. Janet Mills is term limited in 2026, leading to a crowded field of gubernatorial hopefuls. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Shenna Bellows
Attention is also focused on Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was a leading contender in the gubernatorial primary. The Platner campaign reportedly polled Bellows as a potential candidate who could replace him as they mulled the decision of whether to drop out.
Bellows, the first woman to serve as Maine’s Secretary of State, grabbed national attention during the 2024 election cycle for attempting to remove President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot.
Dan Kleban
Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban announced in a post on X on Thursday that he is throwing his name in the race.
"I’ve been overwhelmed by the countless calls from Mainers encouraging me to consider this race," Kleban wrote. "I love Maine and everything it has given me. It’s where my wife of 22 years and I have raised our teenage twins. And after talking with them, I’m in."
Sara Gideon
Former Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon was the Democratic Senate nominee in the 2020 election.
Polls indicated Gideon leading longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins, but Gideon ended up losing to the incumbent by nine points.
Paige Loud
Paige Loud, a social worker, finished fourth out of four candidates in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd Congressional District earlier this year, finishing with 10% of the vote. Loud announced earlier this week she is interested in running.
"Paige has filed as a Senate candidate for the 2026 midterm in light of the Platner situation," a spokesperson for Loud said on Tuesday. "In the event Platner drops out, Paige is being proactive in keeping options open for supporters across the state who have voiced a desire for a woman to be considered as the nominee."
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Dr. Nirav D. Shah, then-director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a press conference about COVID-19 at Maine Emergency Management Agency in Augusta. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)
Jordan Wood
Jordan Wood, who served as chief of staff to former Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., last year launched a bid for the Senate in Maine. But as Platner’s political star started to rise, Wood switched his bid to the U.S. House in the race in the state’s 2nd Congressional District to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Jared Golden.
Wood, who vowed to take on the establishment and battle corruption, ended up finishing third in last month’s Democratic primary and announced on Thursday he is jumping into the race.
"I have been told that I am too progressive, that I am too young, that a gay man can’t win," Wood said in a press release. "These cynics are wrong. They have been wrong all of our lives. They remain wrong today. I’m asking for your support to take back control of our party, and our country."
David Costello
Former Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment David Costello was the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine in the 2024 election, coming in a distant third to incumbent independent Sen. Angus King.
Costello ran for a second straight cycle, coming in a distant third to Platner in last month’s Democratic Senate primary.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Costello wrote, "I’m back in, if Graham Platner withdraws," and he touted that he believes he's "the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins."
