Several Democrats are speculated to be options to replace Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner on the ballot if he ends his campaign, which many expect him to do following an ex-girlfriend’s allegation of rape on Monday.
Under Maine law, if Platner formally withdraws as the Democratic nominee by 5 p.m. on July 13, the Maine Democratic Party can 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.
A handful of Democrats in the state are being discussed as viable options to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins.
Platner’s campaign, the New York Post reported, is deliberating about potentially dropping out, but that any potential replacement would need to align with the same political platform as Platner.
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Troy Jackson
Former state Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Troy Jackson is a name circulating on social media as someone who could potentially jump into the race a month after his failed primary bid for governor.
“This is something I never considered, but if Graham’s stepping away, I am very, very interested and think I’m the best person to replace him,” Jackson told the Bangor Daily News on Monday.
Jackson, who, like Platner, is backed by Vermont independent Senator Bernie Sanders, came in third in the Democratic gubernatorial primary last month.
On Tuesday, the Bangor Daily News reported that Jackson filed paperwork to explore a Senate run, the first potential candidate to do so.
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Jared Golden
Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who represents Maine’s right-leaning and mostly rural 2nd Congressional District since first winning election to the U.S. House in 2018, passed on launching a Senate run last year.
Golden, a Marine veteran who served in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, also decided against seeking re-election and is retiring from Congress when his term ends at the beginning of next year.
Golden, a moderate, has often been at odds with his party leadership over policy.
On Tuesday evening, a Golden spokesperson distanced the congressman from speculation he would run for the seat.
Angus King III
The 56-year-old son of Sen. Angus King and 2026 Democratic gubernatorial candidate who finished at the bottom of the pack in the single digits in last month’s primary is considering a bid for the Senate if Platner exits the race.
In a statement to News Center Maine, King said: “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. 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
Mills, the current Democratic governor of the state until her term expires in January, suspended her Senate campaign in April citing anemic fundraising after jumping into the race in October 2025 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%.
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Shenna Bellows
Attention is also focused on Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was a leading contender in the gubernatorial primary.
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.
“While Graham ignited a powerful movement to challenge the status quo, given the seriousness of the allegations, he needs to step down,” Bellows said of Platner in a social media post Monday.
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
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.
“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.”
Nirav Shah
Dr. Nirav Shah, who came second in Maine’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, is also being looked at as a potential Platner replacement.
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.
“In the past 24 hours, my team and I have received hundreds of encouraging messages, as Graham Platner signaled he will withdraw from Maine’s U.S. Senate race,” Shah said in a statement Tuesday.
He added that he has been having conversations and evaluating “whether I should enter the Senate race.”
Shah, who is viewed as more moderate than Platner, emphasized, “I’m not an establishment politician, and I’m not an insider.”
Jordan Wood
Wood, who served as chief of staff to then-Rep. Katie Porter of California, 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.
“I am continuing conversations with voters across Maine if I should enter an open Senate race,” Wood wrote in a social media post on Tuesday. “If my fellow Maine Democrats decide through an open and democratic process that I am the best candidate to defeat Susan Collins, I would be humbled by your trust.”
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 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.”
Dan Kleban
Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban is also considered a potential candidate. A source in Kleban’s camp said the former candidate has been receiving calls and encouragement to run again.
State law does not require a new primary election or specify how the replacement must be chosen, leaving the process to the Maine Democratic Party’s internal rules. Party leaders said in a Monday press release that they intend to use an open and inclusive process, though they have not yet announced exactly how a replacement would be selected.
Late Tuesday night, the Maine Democrats X account posted a video reacting to the situation.
“As you know, the Maine Democratic Party has been working around the [clock] and we are committed to ensuring that Democrats across [Maine] [have a voice in the process],” Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said.
“Unfortunately, Graham Platner’s team has repeatedly reached out to us in an attempt to put their thumb on the scale of determining our next Democratic nominee for the U.S. [Senate]. We have also reiterated [that the focus] in Maine can [now] focus on defeating Susan Collins this November as soon as Graham Platner formally withdraws from this race.”
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