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5h ago

Maine Democrats Rush to Name Platner Replacement Before July 25 Convention

The compressed delegate process will decide whether the party can unify progressive voters to raise the money needed to challenge Sen. Susan Collins.

A person holds flowers while standing across the street from a makeshift street side memorial, a day after a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fatally shot a driver, in Biddeford, Maine, U.S., July 14, 2026. REUTERS/CJ Gunther
An election sign for Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner stands outside a home near Verona Island, in rural Maine, U.S., on June 3, 2026. REUTERS/Aleksandra Michalska/File Photo
Campaign signs for former Democratic candidate for US Senate Graham Platner are seen at his headquarters in Ellsworth, Maine, on July 9.
From left, Maine Democratic Senate candidates Troy Jackson, Shenna Bellows and Dr. Nirav Shah.

Overview

  • The Maine Democratic Party will convene roughly 601 delegates on July 25 in Bangor to pick a new Senate nominee and must file the replacement on the ballot by the July 27 deadline.
  • At least seven Democrats have filed to run to replace Graham Platner, and four leading contenders — Shenna Bellows, Troy Jackson, Nirav Shah and Jordan Wood — are set to debate on television this week.
  • Platner’s campaign reported $16.3 million raised through May 20 with about $2.2 million cash on hand, leaving any successor far behind incumbent Susan Collins and unable to tap most prior state-race funds for a federal contest.
  • Candidates and activists are scrambling to recruit county delegates in weekend caucuses and to persuade Platner’s grassroots organizers to back a new nominee by pressing for explicit policy commitments.
  • A conservative study alleges Apple News and Google News suppressed negative Platner stories and Google has denied the finding, while Republicans say they will use the scandals to attack Democrats in other Maine races, raising stakes for party messaging.