Window Closing for Democrats to Replace Maine Senate Candidate

Washington — The Democratic Party faces a crucial deadline to replace Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner following allegations of sexual assault. Platner is accused of assaulting Jenny Racicot, a woman he dated in 2021. Platner denies the allegations but remains under pressure from both the Maine Democratic Party and national Democrats to withdraw from the race. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has vowed not to invest in Platner’s campaign, which collapsed shortly after the allegations surfaced.

Platner has previously been involved in scandals, including allegations of inappropriate texts, troubling behavior towards women, problematic posts on Reddit, and a past tattoo linked to a Nazi emblem. While he denies misconduct, he has apologized for past comments, attributing them to PTSD from his military service.

Maine Law for Candidate Replacement

State law allows Platner until Monday, July 13, to withdraw from the race and be removed from the ballot. If he withdraws, the Maine Democratic Party has until July 27 at 5 p.m. to nominate a replacement. According to the law, if a party nominates a replacement, the Secretary of State must update or supplement the general election ballots. The law does not specify how the replacement process should be conducted, but party officials are expected to hold a nominating convention, said Dan Shea, a political science professor at Colby College.

The Maine Democratic Party has stated that, if necessary, the nominee selection process will be “open, transparent, and inclusive” with broad participation from Mainers and Democratic voters.

Shea noted such a sudden need to replace a nominee for statewide office is unprecedented in Maine. However, national Democrats faced a similar situation when former President Joe Biden stepped aside during his reelection bid, leading to then-Vice President Kamala Harris’s nomination.

Potential Replacement Candidates

Platner won last month’s primary with 72% of the vote, leaving uncertainty over who might replace him. His main rival was outgoing Gov. Janet Mills, but she suspended her campaign and it’s unclear if she remains interested. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, former state Senate President Troy Jackson, and former Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah are potential candidates. Bellows, Jackson, and Shah have urged Platner to quit due to the assault allegations.

Jackson, backed by independent Sen. Bernie Sanders during his gubernatorial campaign, expressed interest in replacing Platner. He has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to form a U.S. Senate exploratory committee. Shah has also indicated interest, stressing the need for a transparent nominee selection process.

Other notable figures include moderate Rep. Jared Golden, state Sen. Joe Baldacci, and former House staffer Jordan Wood. However, Baldacci has ruled out replacing Platner. Progressive groups former supporters of Platner emphasize selecting a candidate who shares Platner’s outsider image.

Joseph Geevarghese, of Our Revolution, warned against selecting a “status-quo candidate” like Mills. Adam Green, of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, recommends choosing an economically focused candidate to challenge powerful interests.

Democrats’ Chances Against Susan Collins

The Democratic nominee will challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, known for her moderate stance, in November. Collins won her 2020 race by an 8.6-point margin even as Joe Biden won statewide. Her campaigns emphasize federal funds secured for Maine, making her a strong contender.

Political science professor Ronald Schmidt believes Collins will be difficult to defeat due to her consistent re-election success and appeal to voters. However, Democrats could still mount a competitive challenge despite Platner’s withdrawal, though significant voter turnout will be necessary to unseat Collins.

Shea suggests replacing Platner might improve Democrats’ chances. Many voters aligned with Platner’s views but harbored concerns about his character. The situation might turn in Democrats’ favor, he inferred.