Here’s Who Democrats Could Pick To Replace Graham Platner

With the suspension of Graham Platner’s campaign for Senate, all eyes have turned to the Maine Democratic Party and who it could select to replace the scandal-plagued candidate. 

Platner said Wednesday that he had decided to suspend his campaign in the wake of rape accusations from a former girlfriend he categorically denied. His announcement came after days of feuding with Maine Democrats over how the party would replace him if he dropped out of the race.

A nominating convention is planned in the coming days, but few details are available. Democrats have until July 27 to select a new candidate to replace Platner, assuming he formally withdraws from the race by July 13. 

Candidates are already throwing their hats into the ring, including former state Senate President Troy Jackson. Jackson is backed by the leftist organization “Our Revolution,” a group founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). He previously ran for governor and was endorsed by the Maine chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. 

“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. 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,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I’m in.”

The leftist group Progressive Victory briefly posted an attack on Jackson, claiming he once threw a bottle at a woman during his time in the state legislature. That post was deleted, and Progressive Victory apologized by saying it had not vetted the allegations. 

Another candidate who jumped into the race on Thursday is Nirav Shah, who previously worked for the Cambodian government in the country’s health ministry before running the Illinois Department of Public Health and serving as the top Centers for Disease Control official for Maine. 

“I will fight for Medicare for All because nobody in the wealthiest country on earth should go bankrupt over a medical bill,” he said in a video announcing his campaign. “I will fight to make billionaires and the biggest corporations finally pay their fair share. I will fight to rein in ICE and end the targeting of our immigrant neighbors. And I will fight to end Trump’s reckless foreign wars.”

Dan Kleban, the co-founder of Maine Beer Company and a major Democratic donor, announced a run for the seat Wednesday evening — his second attempt after a short-lived first primary bid that fizzled out barely a month in.

“I’m glad that Graham Platner has ended his campaign. For too long, this race has not been about Susan Collins’ repeated failures to do what’s right for Maine. We need to get back to that,” he said. “Mainers deserve a senator who will fight for them against the DC establishment while also doing what’s right. I plan to be that senator.”

Jordan Wood, a leftist activist who was once the chief of staff for former California Rep. Katie Porter, said Thursday morning that he was also running to replace Platner. 

“I have been told that I am too progressive, that I am too young, that a gay man can’t win,” he said. “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.”

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who attempted to kick President Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot, is also considering a run for the seat. Bellows issued a ruling in December 2023 finding Trump’s primary petition to be “invalid” because of claims he violated the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause related to the January 6 riot. 

Another candidate reportedly encouraged by Platner to run is Democrat state Rep. Valli Geiger, the former mayor of Rockland.