The rat race to replace Platner: How the candidates have campaigned so far

Published July 11, 2026 6:05pm ET | Updated July 11, 2026 6:05pm ET



The race to determine who will replace Graham Platner as Maine’s Democratic Senate nominee is beginning to take shape, after a stream of candidates stormed the race to take his place on the ballot.

Former state senator Troy Jackson, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention director Nirav Shah, former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood, former congressional candidate Paige Loud, and Maine Beer Company founder Dan Kleban are six candidates who have declared their intention to run so far. Candidates to replace Platner must formally declare their campaign to do so by Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m. Then, they will take part in a whirlwind convention held by the Maine Democratic Party to select the new nominee. The party has until July 27 at 5 p.m. to formally submit Platner’s replacement.

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