Maine Dems Are Already Throwing Elbows As They Jostle To Replace Graham Platner

BRUNSWICK, Maine — Maine Democrats are already jockeying to replace Senate candidate Graham Platner.

Gobs of Democrats have called for Platner to drop out of the race after POLITICO reported that a woman who he dated said he forced her to have sex with him. He denies the sexual assault allegation and has not stepped aside, though he said minutes after the article published that he was “taking the time to reflect” on his candidacy.

One Maine Democrat, former Senate President Troy Jackson, filed paperwork exploring a run to replace him on Tuesday morning after calling for Platner to exit the race on Monday. Jackson is a former Platner ally who unsuccessfully ran for governor this year with the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and many of the party’s left flank have rallied behind him.

Jackson’s longtime allies and operatives quickly pushed out a website and digital ad to draft the progressive with long union ties into the race. He told the Bangor Daily News on Monday night he was “very, very interested” in replacing Platner.

“I'm the best person to replace him,” Jackson said.

Other Maine Democrats who fell short in the gubernatorial primary last month are also gearing up to jump into the Senate race, while working to ensure the state Democratic Party, which would oversee replacing Platner under Maine state law if he drops out, has a semi-open nominating process.

Nirav Shah, one of Jackson’s former primary foes, said he was “evaluating” entering the race in a social media post Tuesday.

“As the Maine Democratic Party determines the nominating process, one thing is clear: it should be transparent and open,” he wrote. “Mainers should see and hear directly from the candidates vying to represent our state at the highest level.”

Behind the scenes, Platner and his political operation are working to ensure any potential replacement comes from his progressive, anti-establishment wing of the party, according to two people familiar with the conversations who were granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

One person familiar with the conversations between Platner’s campaign and its progressive allies, granted anonymity to discuss private deliberations, said that Platner will stay in the race if the party tries to anoint an “establishment” candidate. The person said that another Platner ally, state Rep. Valli Geiger, may also be a viable choice to carry the torch.

Reached by phone on Tuesday morning, Geiger said “I’m not prepared to talk right now” and hung up.

The sentiment from inside Platner’s campaign is that he could still win despite many Dems pulling support over the latest scandal, the person said.

"Narrower path, but a path, yes," they said.

Some of Platner’s former supporters have quickly rallied to Jackson. Rep. Ro Khanna threw his support behind the former state Senate president on Monday, writing on X that Jackson “has spent his life standing up for these progressive values” and arguing that “the movement is about standing for Medicare for All, opposing foreign wars, and getting money out of politics.”

Progressive operatives affiliated with outside groups that backed Platner have also begun quietly coalescing around Jackson, according to two people familiar with the conversations who were granted anonymity to discuss them.

Popular socialist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker said “there is no question that [Platner] should drop out,” adding that he saw “a clear replacement that satisfies the needs for credentials and embodies some of the populist policies in Troy Jackson."

Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, another unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate, has been fielding calls about a potential run, as have former Senate candidates Dan Kleban and Jordan Wood, according to people familiar with their private conversations who were granted anonymity to discuss them. Spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Maine state law allows the state party to replace Platner if he drops out before Monday, and they must choose the successor by July 27. But the party’s charter doesn’t provide a ton of specifics on what that process would look like, past a requirement that they convene a nomination meeting.

Missing from the picture altogether is Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who ended her Senate bid before the primary and who is yet to comment publicly on POLITICO’s Monday report. A spokesperson for Mills did not respond to a request for comment.

Many Democratic voters on the ground don’t want to see her pop back into the fray.

“She represents what the electorate doesn't want: somebody who's my generation or older who operates in the old way of politics,” said Brunswick, Maine, resident Peter Simmons, 69, who is a registered Democrat and wants to see Bellows take Platner's place. “We need somebody who's going to get out and give a message that embraces positive change in ways that the standard parties don't.”

Other Mainers are still reeling from the Democrats’ rush to replace former President Joe Biden with Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election.

“We're really bummed out. We are just leery about a new kind of Kamala Harris situation, where we don't get to choose whatever Democratic candidate will be on the ticket,” said Stephanie Gardner, 38, of Topsham, Maine, a registered Democrat who voted for Platner in the primary. “We definitely liked Troy Jackson as an alternative. I think we'll just see who steps up to the plate here and shows the qualities that we really need.”

Erin Doherty contributed to this report.